Question about making a Foam Latex Oven

Kitchen ovens can be used for foam latex (as long as you don't plan on using them to cook food), however, they are not ideal.

Kitchen ovens are often too small to properly bake larger molds and allow air to flow around them evenly.  They also typically operate at much higher temperatures than foam latex needs so dial markings may not be accurate or even display low enough temperatures for foam, which usually bakes around 160°F.

If you plan on running smaller parts and can find a kitchen oven that would fit your molds (and ideally have convection so the molds can heat evenly) then it would be an option. 

Laboratory ovens can also be used if you don't wish to make an oven, though they can be a bit expensive depending on the size, model, and manufacturer. 

While making your own oven does take time, you can customize it to your specific needs and the end cost is much lower than purchasing a kitchen or lab oven.

/Chris

Hi. Toran,

There are a few concerns about your suggestion.  I assume by wallpaper stripper you mean a heat gun?  Leaving any type of heated device unattended in a plastic container does not sound safer, and in fact, sounds rather risky.

In terms of cooking the foam in half the time, it can at times be desirable to intentionally bake foam slower.  Precise control of time and heat can produce different results depending on your application, formula, and desired effect.  I don't think that a heat gun would be providing precise control over the temperature.

/Chris

Can you elaborate on "wall paper stripper" then, as that is a general term.  Heat based wallpaper stripping can use a wide array of devices from standard heat guns to steamers, so more information would be helpful.

/Chris