Solar ovens

[Irving]

Are you going to make one that can be disassembled and the parts laid flat for storage and transport?

[gnihcraes]

TimK interested in a design that works well and the pieces to assemble one. I'm thinking of trying a few types.

We built ones in middle school back in the late 70's. Aluminum foil inside half a cardboard oat container. Coat hanger poked through both ends for a hot dog holder, warmed up a dog pretty well.

[Tim K]

Are you going to make one that can be disassembled and the parts laid flat for storage and transport?

Dunno. I haven't selected a design yet. Certainly flat storage is important for something I'm unlikely to use after trying it once or twice. Got one you think looks cool? That question applies to you all, BTW.

[Aloha_Shooter]

If I find a design that works well, I was thinking I'd cut the panels out of 1/8" MDF for more durability.

A lot of good designs out there but are you sure you want to be cooking with high temps inside something embedded with formaldehyde resins? Since portability isn't a factor, why don't you use kiln-dried wood that you don't have to worry about?

Also note some of the designs for solar ovens can also be used as rdiant refrigerators at night. Heck, you can even freeze stuff with the right ambient night temperatures.

[Irving]

Dunno. I haven't selected a design yet. Certainly flat storage is important for something I'm unlikely to use after trying it once or twice. Got one you think looks cool? That question applies to you all, BTW.

I honestly don't know much about them. In one of the links posted up, a lot of those looked like open air designs. I figured you'd make one like that pre-made one in the second link for $379. Something that is enclosed to trap heat in.

I did have an idea today, and don't be too hard on me if it is stupid (because it very well might be). I was thinking that if you made one that was the same curve as your windshield, you could cook small meals by setting the oven up on your dashboard. If that worked, and was safe, I'd probably bring lunch for when I'm shooting matches. Go throw a potpie into my dashboard mini oven between stages, and go check it after the next stage.

Also note some of the designs for solar ovens can also be used as radiant refrigerators at night. Heck, you can even freeze stuff with the right ambient night temperatures.

Are you being facetious? If not, I don't understand what you mean at all. I'm under the impression that cold, is merely the absence of heat; so I'm not sure how you could radiate it, or get temperatures colder than ambient. If this is possible, then I am just as interested in this, as I am a solar oven.

[Wulf202]

Are you being facetious? If not, I don't understand what you mean at all. I'm under the impression that cold, is merely the absence of heat; so I'm not sure how you could radiate it, or get temperatures colder than ambient. If this is possible, then I am just as interested in this, as I am a solar oven.

you're not radiating the cold into the object you're radiating the heat out of the object, directly reversing the process. It's the same reason your solar cells have diodes otherwise they'd charge during the day and discharge at night.

The circumstances have to be just right though. If you need solar refrigeration you're going to have to look into the modern icy ball projects that are going on. Unfortunately my patent/experiments into a multi phase icy ball have stalled due to lack of funding and time.

[Irving]

Hmm, I'll have to look into that. I've never heard of it.

[The Norseman]

OK, before the crash I posted pics of the solar oven my son and I built. It is a "Heaven's Flame" design, made with recycled cardboard, aluminum foil, and a piece of glass.

Here: www.backwoodshome.com/articles/radabaugh30.html

[Tim K]

OK, before the crash I posted pics of the solar oven my son and I built. It is a "Heaven's Flame" design, made with recycled cardboard, aluminum foil, and a piece of glass.

Here: www.backwoodshome.com/articles/radabaugh30.html

That's actually the one I was leaning toward. What do you think of the deign? I was considering making mine out of plywood for durability.

[The Norseman]

Tim, as built, it is pretty tuff. There is a lot of cardboard for insulation, so it is actually rigid and a bit heavy, sturdy I'd say. Th most fragile part is the glass (mine's been broken already). What I have cooked in it has cooked relatively quickly. What I like best is the cost of materials...next to nothing for a pretty efficient oven/cooker.