Todays Parabolic cooker on the Cheap. Cooks good.

[HBARleatherneck]

The previous people who lived here at satellite. They left the dish. I pulled it off today, applied HVAC tape to the surface. I then mounted it to a couple pieces of plywood.

Dish = Free.
HVAC Tape = $3.25.

I see the dishes on craigslist everyday for free. And as much as $20-30.

They sell much better reflective adhesive material you can apply. But, this was my first attempt. And I allready had the HVAC tape and the dish. It heats water quick. I cooked the kids stew for lunch.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2cf36b3127ccef1f6405099c500000030O03AbuGLdk3aA9 vPgQ/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2cf36b3127ccef1f7c8f0b96d00000030O03AbuGLdk3aA9 vPgQ/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/

[Wulf202]

nice if you want more dishes let me know i throw them away often

[Irving]

That's pretty cool, AND it won't muck up your pan like fire will. I've got a dish just sitting on my roof right now.

[Irving]

Can you talk more about how you mounted the pan? I'm thinking that one of those teepee style hangers would work okay, and then you could move the dish all over to get the best light.

I also wonder if you could use that to direct heat to a certain area that you needed more heat in, or at a solar heater or something.

[HBARleatherneck]

the tripod hanger would work well. and great for larger configurations. just youtube it.

on mine there are two holes in the arm where the pan is. i notched the end of the arm with snips. just so the handle kind of sat in the groove. i used some cable to make the holder. then i used a piece of bailing wire to hold the pan level. a coat hanger would have worked better, but we only have plastic hangers. total time to make was 30 minutes. only took that long because i cut the plywood. you dont need to. it will sit on the ground. but, i think its a little more stable. anyone can make this.

[kwando]

Nice! I have several dishes laying around as I work in that line of work. Will build one when I'm bored.

[jerrymrc]

It would also help to heat one of the solar showers http://www.ecrater.com/p/10153036/camping-shower-outdoor-solar-heat?gps=1

[Tinelement]

Very cool idea.

Got a dish also. Might have to try that!

[tactical_2012]

How is the cooking time. How long does it take to boil water?

[cofi]

How is the cooking time. How long does it take to boil water?

[gnihcraes]

I built one today from this thread. I didn't have a lot of sun left to do much testing, but it does get friggin' hot. Able to make a soda can smoke as it cooks off the paint etc.

Unfortunately the dish I used is a double, so I'm not sure if I'm getting as good a focus like on the single more round type.

[Great-Kazoo]

With the dish being Al, couldn't you strip the finish then polish.Or is it a waste of time & labor? Also could you use the small mirror squares with the adhesive backing (or glue) to form a deeper, tighter focused heating area around the perimeter of the dish?

[cstone]

I've been considering this thread for some time... Do you need to consider what is behind your target (pot/food)? You just may have the making of an inexpensive energy weapon. It reminds me of a larger version of the magnifying glass we used as kids to burn insects. This is just pointed up rather than down, although I guess you can point it anywhere as long as you can get a reflection from the sun.

I just wouldn't want to read about a fire started on a neighbor's house because it happened to be right behind your dinner. [Flower]

[Irving]

I was thinking the same thing. Maybe you could cook birds right on the telephone pole without even killing them first.

[USAFGopherMike]

I've been doing research on this too. Did you apply a mirror coating to the dish? I'm also looking at Fersnel lenses.

[Tim K]

I've been considering this thread for some time... Do you need to consider what is behind your target (pot/food)? You just may have the making of an inexpensive energy weapon. It reminds me of a larger version of the magnifying glass we used as kids to burn insects. This is just pointed up rather than down, although I guess you can point it anywhere as long as you can get a reflection from the sun.

I just wouldn't want to read about a fire started on a neighbor's house because it happened to be right behind your dinner. [Flower]

A parabolic reflector concentrates the suns energy at a specific point, namely the spot where the satellite receiver sits. Past that, the beams diverge again. Whatever you want heated must be at the focal point of the dish.

[Wulf202]

With the dish being Al, couldn't you strip the finish then polish.Or is it a waste of time & labor? Also could you use the small mirror squares with the adhesive backing (or glue) to form a deeper, tighter focused heating area around the perimeter of the dish?

Most dishes are powdercoated steel

[TFOGGER]

Most dishes are powdercoated steel

Saweeeet! Polish and then chrome plate it! Oh wait, this is about being inexpensive...nevermind [ROFL1]

[Wulf202]

Chrome? I say we go with gold!

[gnihcraes]

I used the HVAC foil tape, already had a roll of it. got a suntan while applying it to the dish. The first couple of strips, and things were heating up. haha

I'll mess more with it this weekend if time permits.

[hghclsswhitetrsh]

Thats pretty neat. I got rid of one not too long ago.

[Great-Kazoo]

Most dishes are powdercoated steel

You can still polish steel. granted removing the powder coating is not worth the time or hassle. How about that spray on chrome paint. It's really popular in greeley, all big box auto parts stores carry it:)

Interesting, a simple metal tape job and we are (ok I'm) trying to build a better mouse trap.

[JM Ver. 2.0]

Thats pretty neat. I got rid of one not too long ago.

I think I have two on my house... Lemme know if you want one.

[Rust_shackleford]

The previous people who lived here at satellite. They left the dish. I pulled it off today, applied HVAC tape to the surface. I then mounted it to a couple pieces of plywood.

Dish = Free.
HVAC Tape = $3.25.
Thanks

I see the dishes on craigslist everyday for free. And as much as $20-30.

They sell much better reflective adhesive material you can apply. But, this was my first attempt. And I allready had the HVAC tape and the dish. It heats water quick. I cooked the kids stew for lunch.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2cf36b3127ccef1f6405099c500000030O03AbuGLdk3aA9 vPgQ/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2cf36b3127ccef1f7c8f0b96d00000030O03AbuGLdk3aA9 vPgQ/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/

[Wulf202]

You can still polish steel. granted removing the powder coating is not worth the time or hassle. How about that spray on chrome paint. It's really popular in greeley, all big box auto parts stores carry it:)

Interesting, a simple metal tape job and we are (ok I'm) trying to build a better mouse trap.how about spray adhesive and the inside of a bag of doritos?

[HBARleatherneck]

I did some testing today. Remember the sun is very low. So, cook times will be much shorter other times of the year.

11:24------ 65.2 degrees out of the water filter tap. 8 ounces of water/ copper bottom pot.
11:29----- 144.1 degrees
11:34----- 172.2 degrees
11:39------183.9 degrees
11:44------ left lid partway off/ no data collected
11:49------192.7 degrees
12:00------203.4 degrees full boil

[Inconel710]

HBAR - did you have to repoint the dish during your data collection? Just wondering how direction sensitive these dishes are.

[HBARleatherneck]

yes, I did move the dish to follow the sun. Barely had to move it. But, since I dont have the really shiny film, I decided to move it. Every ten minutes or so.

this experiment with 32 ounces of water

12:15------65 degrees out of the tap
12:25------115.3 degrees
12:35------155.3 degrees
12:45------175.5 degrees
12:55------184.4 degrees
13:05------181.7 degrees.

obviously it didnt reach boiling, and its losing temperature as the sun drops in the west.

[ChunkyMonkey]

Not bad.. at least you can cook meat w/ that thing going above 160 F.

[Wulf202]

hunting craigslist

2 in loveland
http://fortcollins.craigslist.org/zip/3426248758.html
ft collins
http://fortcollins.craigslist.org/zip/3412580689.html
boulder
http://boulder.craigslist.org/zip/3424975447.html
2 in se denver
http://denver.craigslist.org/zip/3371225878.html
west arvada
http://denver.craigslist.org/zip/3418269669.html

[Tim K]

I just noticed my neighbor has an old mid-size dish in her yard. I'm going to ask her if I can play with it. Must be 4-5 feet in diameter. I wonder what I could use to line it. The dish seems to be some sort of expanded metal.

[Inconel710]

Thanks HBAR.

[HBARleatherneck]

here is some more testing
today it was cold and breezy at my house.

32 ounces of water
9:40am......64.5 degree water out of tap........27 degrees outside temperature 6 mph wind
10:10........140.1 degrees..............................32 degrees outside temperature 8 mph wind
10:30.........174.2............................... ...........34 degrees outside temperature 11 mph wind

I didnt get the temperature to rise after the last entry. you could still cook meat at that temperature. its not hot enough to boil 32 ounces of water right now. But, it should be plenty warm to cook most foods.

Keep in mind I am also still using the dull HVAC tape. If you were to get something more reflective, I am sure your temperatures would rise.

[DSB OUTDOORS]

This looks like fun. I'll dig my old dish out and have some fun. I also have a 6 foot dish out back to play with if it works good.

[gnihcraes]

here is some more testing
today it was cold and breezy at my house.

32 ounces of water
9:40am......64.5 degree water out of tap........27 degrees outside temperature 6 mph wind
10:10........140.1 degrees..............................32 degrees outside temperature 8 mph wind
10:30.........174.2............................... ...........34 degrees outside temperature 11 mph wind

I didnt get the temperature to rise after the last entry. you could still cook meat at that temperature. its not hot enough to boil 32 ounces of water right now. But, it should be plenty warm to cook most foods.

Keep in mind I am also still using the dull HVAC tape. If you were to get something more reflective, I am sure your temperatures would rise.



I also tested today with almost the same temp results.

The 140 degree water was nice when I did it in a small gatorade bottle. (clear)

I also hung out a cold soda in the can unopened, in about 15 minutes it exploded like a rifle. Soda everywhere. :)

I do find that mine has a better focal point beyond the existing arm. Also, being the oblong dish version, it appears to have a longer sweep through the sun movement. Set it for hot, it will cool a little and then warm backup on the other side. (two head LMB style dish)