Solar Cooking Archive Discussion Forums

SharonID · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Posts: 74 Location: northern Idaho

I found these shiny 'tiles' for sale:

http://www.carolwrightgifts.com/cwg_v2/cwg_layout_base2.cfm?mid_sec_page=cwg_prod_detail&seq_no=2&min_seq_no=406&SingleItem=58820

I'd been wondering if there was a compromise on the black/shiny controversy for box cookers, especially the Heaven's Flame, so now I'm wondering if I could stick a few of these tiles (in the "chrome" finish) here and there on the black sides to bounce a few more UVs around inside the cooker without totally losing the heat-sink qualities of the black cardboard. Anyone got an opinion on the subject?

Regards,
SharonID
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DerekPearcy · Joined: 15 Sep 2007 Posts: 9 Location: Shelbyville, IL

For a set of 24, thats not a bad price at all either. Might be worth a try, but careful with some of that stuff, it can do strange things and smoke if you get up to 400 degrees. For black metal, thinner is better, so if those are thick, they are going to delay some of the heat that should be going into your food. Read up on the "Research Page" on http://www.FreeEnergySolutions.net and there's some info about IR absorption materials.

Its not a bad idea, but just using aluminum flashing is probably cheaper and easier in the end. Especially since you can cut it a lot easier. But very cool find, I like it!
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SharonID · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Posts: 74 Location: northern Idaho

The tiles came in an order on Weds. I got the shiny chrome ones, which we'll put here and there on the black walls of the Heaven's Flame box, so at least some spots will be shooting UVs around while the rest of the black walls can do their heat-sink thing. I put replaceable liners/bottoms in all my box ovens, so if it doesn't work out, I'll be able to change it without junking the whole box (also because I could recover from a nasty boil-over more easily or if food odors accumulate over time). Instead of using the adhesive pads that were included, I'll use thin pieces of cardboard and white glue to attach them, so fumes shouldn't be a problem. The catalog says you can cut them with scissors (though probably not dollar store cheapos), but I don't plan to cut them, so that shouldn't be a problem anyway. Anyway, they seem like nice, strong, thin shiny metal that hopefully won't lose it's shine to oxidation as aluminum seems to do (at least foil does).

Now if only our various ongoing furnace, chimney, and water system issues would finish getting resolved so my husband can get back to working on the Heaven's Flame! (I could probably make it myself, but it's supposed to mostly be a birthday present for me. Wink

) Oy, it's just one breakdown after another this year!

Regards,
SharonID
_________________
Idaho Regional Representative, International Women's Writing Guild
Visit the Guild at: http://www.iwwg.org/