[Milsurplus] [Boatanchors] Water, Water Everywhere.

[hwhall at compuserve.com]

>
I'm thinking of light bulbs with the radio in a thick 
cardboard box, *outside* in case the box decides to 
catch fire or something.
>

Several times I've used corrugated cardboard boxes that fit an entire radio chassis. Heating was from 60W incandescent bulb in a "trouble light" hood running off a variac (a motor speed conroller may work, too). Temp was monitored with a long (~14 inches) glass thermometer - it's an old lab-type one that I got cheapo from American Science & Surplus - inserted through one of the folds of the box flaps. One of the upper box flaps is not closed down, leaving an opening that I can 'adjust' with a slab of wood. I monitor the temp every half hour or so at first, later less often, until I get the variac & box flap hole adjusted to hold somewhere around 120-150 deg F. I'll start it up in the morning when I'll be home all day and then shut it down at bedtime for 12 or more hours of baking each day.

If worried about the cardboard paper overheating, try lining the box interior with kitchen foil. It will make the hot box more effective, too. My wife has a "box stove" made that way for Girl Scout camp cooking and they heat it with a metal pan full of hot charcoals. It has been used for years without combusting!

Wayne
WB4OGM