After using my Richard Simmons Steam Heat Pasteurizer a few times I could see some room for improvement. For one steam leaked out around the steam unit and heat was escaping all over. I found another bin at the Salvation Army and put the hole thing inside it and insulated with low expanding spray foam.
Substrate now heats up to 164F in about .5 of an hour with three elements on. Then after .5 hour on one burner, the temp was 180 F. At that point the unit was turned off and left the substrate temp was still over 165 F over a hour later.
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- Cut out an opening in the new bin
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- Checking the fit on the steamer
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- Cover steamer and line bin with plastic
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- The bin from the previous version of the pasteurizer fits inside
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- Use minimum expanding foam
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- Fill the gap with foam. The plastic should probably be perforated as the foam needs air to cure.
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- Trim the foam from around the steamer and cut out the bottom of the inner bin
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- The foam expands so use sparingly. I used about 3 cans for this project
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- An electric carving knife is a great tool for trimming the extra foam, also from the Sally Ann
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- Insulating the lid
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- Water helps the surface cure and separate from the plastic
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- Cover the slightly cured foam with wet plastic
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- fit the lid while the foam is still soft
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- Ready to go
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- Load up with substrate loose or in bags
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- It needed a weight to stop the top from curling and popping off, maybe some plywood with the foam on it will be better