Hi basilp,
I'm just beginnig to work with clay, before that I've been custom painting small objects, like helmets etc....
So to heat the clear coats, I needed an efficient and inexpensive solution.
I will try to post pics of this "warmer" next few days, here's how it's made :
1__ I found a metal case large enough for the objects I wanted to heat. Metal is your best solution. I think you could build your case with wood as the heat you need is about 55°C , but it's less safe than metal .
cost: free (recycled) 2__ I suppose you know these interior electric grills ? they're not expensive an it's the heat source I chosed .
I think using lightbulb is even more easy and powerful enough, but my case is big and for my clear coats I needed to increase the temperature fast and reach about 100°C .
So that's what I chosed.
cost: about 50 euros Another good thing is that my grill has a thermostat so I can set the temp I want precisely.
3__ To control the temp. I bought a digital thermometer
with a separate sensor so I can read the temperature without having to open the oven during the warming process.
cost: 20 to 40 euros 4__ I don't think it's a must-have, but the last thing I did was to install a small computer fan to allow the temperature to be homogeneous in the oven.
It's important if you dont want your clay to be "burned" on one side and not warm enough on the opposite side.
cost: free (recycled) 5__ Haven't done it yet, but soon I will cover the oven with insulator material, because the metal case makes me waste some heating power, and in the summer the room were the oven is ( the same room I'm working in ! ) becomes really warm after few hours of use !
Total cost is less than 100euros, maybe a little more if you have to buy the case and if you want to insulate it . I'm using this oven since more than 3 years for clear coats and about a month as a clay warmer.
It works great , it is safe ( we're not dealing with important temperatures for clay warming ) .
Now that my temp. setting is ok , I can switch the oven on in the morning , and go to prepare my design ( or make some tools ! ;D ;D ) waiting the clay to be warm enough without being effraid of burning it ( or the house ! ) .
As Steve said, you don't need big money to express yourself in this industry.
It's not the tools you use that provide great results , it's your hands and brain .
Here you are. If you or anybody wants, just ask me, I'll send photos to Steve in the week to put them online.
See you
Seb