food warmers to dry out plaster molds

Ted Metz · Post by **Ted Metz** » Sat Oct 25, 2003 12:22 am

I am new to glass but not to scavenging. I recently scored a large food warmer from a cafeteria and am using it to dry out plaster/silica molds for kiln casting. This thing is an insulated stainless steel warmer that is bigger than a refrigerator, has adjustable rack shelves, a timer, and recirculates air at 168 degrees. It works great. You folks probably already know all about these food warmers but just in case...
I also scored a large gas fired hamburger grill (24"X36") that I will use as my heat source for a lost wax steam out system. Sorry if this is all old news.

rosanna gusler · Post by **rosanna gusler** » Sat Oct 25, 2003 4:58 am

i think that classifies as a bonified tool gloat. lol rosanna

Don Burt · Post by **Don Burt** » Sat Oct 25, 2003 7:58 am

Implicit in Ted's gloat is the fact that he has room in his studio for all of this stuff. How annoying. Good score though, Ted - DonWithBookGloatToday

rosanna gusler · Post by **rosanna gusler** » Sat Oct 25, 2003 8:05 am

so, db. whatcha gloating about? rosanna

Bert Weiss · Post by **Bert Weiss** » Sat Oct 25, 2003 10:19 am

ted metz wrote:I am new to glass but not to scavenging. I recently scored a large food warmer from a cafeteria and am using it to dry out plaster/silica molds for kiln casting. This thing is an insulated stainless steel warmer that is bigger than a refrigerator, has adjustable rack shelves, a timer, and recirculates air at 168 degrees. It works great. You folks probably already know all about these food warmers but just in case...
I also scored a large gas fired hamburger grill (24"X36") that I will use as my heat source for a lost wax steam out system. Sorry if this is all old news.

Ted

I think you need to devise a way to let the moisture vent and escape to optimize the unit.

The traditional steamer is made with a pressure cooker. You direct the steal out of the top to a flexible tube and melt out the wax with it.

I would keep the grill and cook burgers. I just got a 12" x 30" grill as part of a commercial range in my kitchen, under a hood, and I love it.

Don Burt · Post by **Don Burt** » Sat Oct 25, 2003 5:03 pm

rosanna gusler wrote:so, db. whatcha gloating about? rosanna

A book over in spab's place.

Also am gloating because I'm on vacation for a week. Get to work on my Christmas suncatchers, carve my pumpkins for halloween (my primary talent and real reason I have been allowed to survive and not be struck down by lightning) and sleep in. No staring at a damn computer monitor all day....well, not all day.

rosanna gusler · Post by **rosanna gusler** » Sat Oct 25, 2003 6:15 pm

you go! wallow in it i say. rosanna

Ted Metz · Post by **Ted Metz** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 9:29 pm

Hi all, computer problems and a little travel have kept me from responding. The tool gloat was not my intention. I figured that all restaurants and cafeterias have these things and that there can't be much of a resale market, therefore they could be had cheaply. I find that it works very well and just wanted to share the information. I appreciate Bert's recommendation that I vent the unit to maximize the drying. Do you think just some holes at the door top will allow proper venting?

As far as the grill as a heat source for a steam out unit, I have used the oil drum steam out as described in Henry Halem's book and have found it very effective. The molds are getting larger thus the need for a larger steam out unit.

I am very new to cast glass. I have kiln cast several pieces in a couple of kilns and am still waiting to open the lid. The molds were 6" thick so I selected an annealing schedule based on 6" thick glass. I am using Bullseye cullet and they recommended a 21 day anneal, Graham Stone would do it in 15 days and Libensky would do the same in about 9 days.
I am certainly confused. I

Ted Metz · Post by **Ted Metz** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 9:31 pm

Hi all, computer problems and a little travel have kept me from responding. The tool gloat was not my intention. I figured that all restaurants and cafeterias have these things and that there can't be much of a resale market, therefore they could be had cheaply. I find that it works very well and just wanted to share the information. I appreciate Bert's recommendation that I vent the unit to maximize the drying. Do you think just some holes at the door top will allow proper venting?

As far as the grill as a heat source for a steam out unit, I have used the oil drum steam out as described in Henry Halem's book and have found it very effective. The molds are getting larger, thus the need for a larger steam out unit.

I am very new to cast glass. I have kiln cast several pieces in a couple of kilns and am still waiting to open the lid. The molds were 6" thick so I selected an annealing schedule based on 6" thick glass. I am using Bullseye cullet and they recommended a 21 day anneal, Graham Stone would do it in 15 days and Libensky would do the same in about 9 days.
I am certainly confused. I choose the longer Bullseye schedule but even without experience feel this is conservative. I am a sculptor and figure that my work will probably just get thicker. I would appreciate any suggestions on the schedules.
Thanks, Ted Metz

rosanna gusler · Post by **rosanna gusler** » Fri Nov 14, 2003 12:07 am

can't help you on the annealing schedule but i can clear up your tool gloat guilt. a tool gloat is a good thing. rosanna

Don Burt · Post by **Don Burt** » Fri Nov 14, 2003 7:47 am

rosanna gusler wrote:can't help you on the annealing schedule but i can clear up your tool gloat guilt. a tool gloat is a good thing. rosanna

Tool gloat guilt. Tool gloat guilt, Tool gloat guilt.

Its not that difficult.

Peggy Babcock, Peggy Babcock, Peggy Babcock.

is still more difficult to say.

WarmGlass.com

food warmers to dry out plaster molds

food warmers to dry out plaster molds

Re: food warmers to dry out plaster molds