low-temp resin/RTV curing oven

This will show you how to make a simple low-temp resin/RTV curing oven from a spare ice chest and lamp with a flexing arm so that you can cure your resins under ideal conditions no matter how bad the weather is.

You will need:
1 Large Ice Chest.
1 Lamp with a flexing arm.
Small amount of strong adhesive (I used some spare epoxy)
Magic Sculpt self-hardening epoxy clay or other filler material.

*A Dremel is HIGHLY recommended!*

Step 1 Remove the drain plug

The first step is to remove the drain plug. You won't need this when you're not storing liquids in here, and it makes a convenient place to run your power wire.

I've checked on a few different coolers and they all seem to just unscrew, doing this can be as easy as jamming an oversize flat head screw driver in and twisting.

Comments

[Narlo11]

could post cure it in one of these as well. good idea. Although a thermostat heater inside a insulated box works as well. I use it in a 4X4 ft box though.

[JolieK]

Great idea. Thanks!

[underwhelmed]

I work in a fiberglass repair shop (Aviation) and when I need to accelerate a resin cure for a small part I use a blow dryer set on low and a cardboard box. Cut a small hole to put the nozzle of the blow dryer into in one of the sides, usually at the bottom, place the part inside on a stand of some sort ( I use a paper cup we mix resin in, but a small block of wood will work too) and cut a flap on the side near the top to avoid excessive heat build up. This works very well for room temperature curing resins and resins that take 12 hours or so to cure. Speeds it up to 2 to 3 hours on low setting.

[stringstretcher]

Thanks for this tip! I will make one and put it to good use. Do you work with silicones?

[idmain]

I've used it with silicone and polyurethane more times than I can count. Worked wonders in a cool climate.