Stove pipe hot box

[Key]

I put three sections of six inch stove pipe together and I am going to place a light bulb in  and cap the ends. I read where this is one way to take the mosture out of a stave. Questions.

What temp. should I shoot for inside the pipe, size of light bulb if you will?

How long should a floor tillered bow or blank stave be left in the pipe?

Should I use the pipe to remover mosture before I heat treat the belly of my  bows?

Thanks in advance for the help.

[Pat B]

Roger, You will have to play with the temp. You will have good air movement with a stove pipe and heat about 90deg to about 110 will be fine. Start with a 40 watt bulb. The best way to tell if the M/C of your bow has reached equilibrium is to weigh it every other day and when it stops loosing weight, its ready. With a stove pipe you should flip the bow every day to dry both limbs evenly.
  You only want to heat treat dry wood or you will cause drying checks(cracks).     Pat

[Key]

Thanks Pat, I have the stove pipe project complet now. I put a thermometer and humidity gage through one side in the middle. The bulb is at one end so I will rotate the bow every day as you mentioned. I am going to let the bulb on all night and see what the temp is in the morning.  No bow in the pipe at this point.

I have a good set of plans for a real nice hot box that includes a thermostate. I need to make time to build it. The pipe was quick and easy for now.

[Coo-wah-chobee]

Roger..........Ifn ya put another bulb in the other end ya wont have ta flip the stave end ta end. Or a fan, go ta a auto parts store ya can find a small fan used in vehicles. Ifn ya move air over the wood it will dry faster and wont check. Kinna like dryin' clothes on a line outside in the wind si ? I have a 8 " pipe dryer with a center section that I can open er close as  needed. Funny, built it but never use it ! Duh ! Cost me about $25..............bob