Conveyor Dryer Alternative - Conveyor Pizza Oven??

10376 Views 19 Replies 5 Participants Last post by TableSyrup, Mar 25, 2012

TableSyrup

Discussion Starter · Mar 22, 2012 (Edited)

I started looking at Conveyor Dryers... not in my budget right now... yet...

Eventually I'll get a Little Buddy, but for now would like an alternative

I found a Conveyor Pizza Oven that I can score for $400, maybe less
All stainless, including the 'belt'
19" wide 'belt' and just shy of 4' long.
300 - 800 Degrees F (A bit on the high end, but it will run low enough)
Runs 120 or 210 V
Plenty of gate clearance (Up to 5")
Not sure of speeds, but it is adjustable
Shorter than the Little Buddy, but if the speed was slow enough might be ok?

Maybe not ideal, but beats using my flash dryer????

Your take on this?

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ScreenFoo

· #2 · Mar 22, 2012

Thread from a couple months ago with some good info:

http://www.t-shirtforums.com/screen-printing-equipment/t175857.html

Reactions: 1

TableSyrup

Discussion Starter · #3 · Mar 22, 2012

WOW... sorry.... seemed so obscure to me that I didn't search it first.

Sorry, I'll see if I can figure out how to delete my post.

Thanx

Rodney

· #4 · Mar 22, 2012

TableSyrup said:
WOW... sorry.... seemed so obscure to me that I didn't search it first.

Sorry, I'll see if I can figure out how to delete my post.

Thanx

No need to be sorry. It's sometimes surprising how much information there is here at T-Shirt Forums

It's easier for us that have seen lots of posts go by to remember all that gets talked about.

Sometimes starting a new topic can also bring up new answers from people that didn't get a chance to read the older thread.

Reactions: 1

TableSyrup

Discussion Starter · #5 · Mar 22, 2012

Cool cool. I'm a big fan of SEARCH FIRST !

So often, Q's are already answered... don't know why I didn't search this one.

Good info through a few results so far -

HOT SPOTS on the stainless belt...
(Haven't seen this as a confirmed problem tho)

ELEMENTS ON TOP AND BOTTOM
(Might make sense to put bottom on a switch, use both when curing two siders that have only been flashed?)

UTILITY BILL..
(???? Really? More than a ScreenPrintConveyorDryer? Seems odd)

BELT SPEED
I can see this as an issue.. yeah, would have to speed up probably..
I would think it would be adjustable, but maybe not by enough.

I'll keep diggin, and maybe even bring a wet shirt to test.

Alternatively, I found a 3' x 6' Conveyor with a Teflon Coated high temp belt, but no motor. $300, maybe I can score for $200
I'm going to try to get a make/model, motor specs
Maybe I can throw a motor in it, get a second flash dryer, and build a housing....
Maybe that's a better move...
I would think that'd put me at $400-450 if I shop right, total...

Hmmm... I hate cuttin corners, but this is a sideline/personal thing... and investible budget is limited

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ScreenFoo

· #6 · Mar 22, 2012

The belt speed thing could be a big deal--back when I delivered for a living, our pretty good sized oven would keep a pizza in for eight or nine minutes. They never let us lowly drivers play with the settings though. I'd think they might go fast enough, it wouldn't be hard to check out if you can play with it powered up and time it. If it's only 4' long, (how big is the chamber?) and you have to cure for four or five minutes, you could just as well be using a flash cure.

I think the outfeed issue would probably be the tough part, after re-reading the thread. Too little outfeed=prints stuck together, in my experience.

Another possibility if you're on a tight budget and already have a flash, especially if you're doing thin ink deposits, would be the rotary index for flash curing. I thought this was pretty neat.

http://www.t-shirtforums.com/screen-printing-equipment/t167502.html

TableSyrup

Discussion Starter · #7 · Mar 22, 2012

Foo, I saw that...

It is a slick design, but I just don't really see any huge benefit to it over flash curing

The belt design seems far more practical.

The more I think about it, the more I think it may be worth grabbing this belt setup missing it's motor, and building off of that....

6' should be enough for the front and rear to have plenty of 'infeed' and 'outfeed' ????
I would probably just use a good flash dryer and build a housing around it - fiberglass board insulation, fans, gates.... Might work ok ???

BroJames

· #8 · Mar 23, 2012

have you considered an second hand conveyor dryer?

Most pizza ovens have a belt speed of 1 minute up. It can be fixed by a technician though.

D3L0C4T3D

· #9 · Mar 23, 2012

I just watched some yoi yube clips and I will start building 1 next week

Sent from my SPH-D710 using T-Shirt Forums

TableSyrup

Discussion Starter · #10 · Mar 23, 2012

BroJames said:
have you considered an second hand conveyor dryer?

Most pizza ovens have a belt speed of 1 minute up. It can be fixed by a technician though.

Yeah, but anything in the $500 range is archaic and HUGE - at least that I am seeing

The cheapest used HBE or L.B. I've seen used is $1000

I would love to just grab a Little Buddy, but out of budget right now.
Size is a bit of an issue.... would like to stick to the smaller units

I think I can build this 3' x 6' conveyor up without too much issue

ScreenFoo

· #11 · Mar 23, 2012

If you are great at building things, you have sources of lots of scrap metal (don't be one of those people building a wood dryer unless you have excellent insurance,) and you know for a fact you can get all the electrical and IR stuff for cheaper--go for it. I'm sure it will be a learning experience, if nothing else.

The belt design is far more practical, that's why most people have no problem buying a dryer when the volume justifies it.

The flash rotary is for people who can't afford one, so you don't warp your platens--assuming you care about that kind of thing.

TableSyrup

Discussion Starter · #12 · Mar 23, 2012 (Edited)

"Assuming you care about that kind of thing"

Hahahaha

Sure do, did that once

Not doing it again if I can avoid it.

I'm on a Antec Tracer 6/1
I've been flashing on the platten, curing on a stand, moving the flash dryer over to it to cure.

A bit slow going this way.

I want to get a conveyor going ASAP

Also, I ordered the flange bearings, and materials (steel and aluminum, and bearings for the gates) to convert it to a rotating 6 station.

I have a lot of fabrication experience, and have done a lot of electrical modification.
I am by no means an electrical expert, but I'll figure out the temp and motor variable controls.

I'm in Minneapolis MN, we have 'Discount Steel' here. GREAT RESOURCE for materials.
I can usually find the steel I need from their scrap selection at 55 Cents per pound (Sheet, Channel, Tube, Plate, Angle, Rod, Etc)
Aluminum is a little more, but not by much.

We also have 'ABC Electronics' which has EVERYTHING from Component Level (Resistors, Caps, IC's, Potentiometers, Etc) to Motors, etc etc etc.
They are an electronics Surplus Store...

We also have Ax Man, who have a little bit of everything, and great motor selections between a couple stores.
They are a Jack Of All Surplus Store...

I'm hoping I can score this conveyor assembly for $200, since it will make a fantastic start.
I am also hoping to find a good deal on a second Flash Dryer - That or just buy the components.
Add a motor, controls, fans, and housing, and I should be in business.
That said, I think I can be all in for around $400-450 for a solid unit fairly similar to a Little Buddy... Dang near identical?

Black Body Little Buddy Conveyor Dryer (18" x 18"), 120V, 1941W, 16.2 amps
Black Body Little Buddy Conveyor Dryer, 120V, 1941W, 16.2 amps

HBE Flash (18" x 18"), 120V, 2000W, 17Amp (What I have, would use similar)
HBE Flash 18 x 18 [HBEFL1818] - $399.00 : Atlas Screen Supply Company

Theoretically, it would be virtually the same thing... unless I am missing something?
Looks like they both utilize the same infra red quartz type heating elements???
I'm looking at some LB documentation but no listing of the coil spacings....

I guess if I don't find a second flash dryer donor for cheap enough, I can go get the element itself

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BroJames

· #13 · Mar 24, 2012 (Edited)

If you can build the conveyor with the correct variable speed everything else should be peanuts. IR tubes would be the best.

Hope this Little Buddy can help(although it uses a coil).
[MEDIA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeacnMscnz8[/MEDIA]

You can see the spacing of the quartz tube on a workhorse [MEDIA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ky9elW4Gv4E[/MEDIA]

The most important tool you can buy right now is a temp probe(or at least an IR temp gun).

TableSyrup

Discussion Starter · #14 · Mar 24, 2012

BroJames said:
If you can build the conveyor with the correct variable speed everything else should be peanuts. IR tubes would be the best.

Hope this Little Buddy can help(although it uses a coil).
[url]Little Buddy Conveyor Dryer - YouTube[/url]

You can see the spacing of the quartz tube on a workhorse [url]What's inside the Workhorse Powerhouse Quartz 2608 Conveyor Dryer - YouTube[/url]

The most important tool you can buy right now is a temp probe(or at least an IR temp gun).

Thanx Bro, but I was picking apart the LB assembly stuff early yesterday, and there is no relative scale or specifications/dimensions on the coil... no tellin what the spacing is based on this. I also searched their part number for the element to see if I could find the manufacturer for specs, but as I suspected, no luck... they use their own number. I also searched the wattage to see if I could find it, again no luck. (But I didn't spend much time searching for Quartz/Infrared Elements either, I'm sure I could find it... unless someone wants to save me the time?)

We'll see, maybe I'll buy a quarts element like the LB, maybe I'll buy tubes like the WorkHorse... Maybe I'll price out bulbs.... Thing is, once I build the enclosure (Which I am going to leave oversized just in case I want to modify later) I will be able to change it out to anything I want at any time with very little modification. I've drawn it up, and I am going to install the heating elements in a tray that sets in place so it will be an easy change/conversion should I ever need.

I just figured that for a first run, the idea of grabbing a 2000W Flash Dryer for cheap on the used market, gives me what I need as a donor, and I essentially have the same thing as a Little Buddy... Really... That's all it is in there. Same thing. Granted, I'll be needing to add a fan, I'm just saying, all they are using is the same element as a Flash Dryer.

Anyone know: How high off the belt are the elements in a Little Buddy??????
Also, How high are bulbs supposed to be off the belt on that style???

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BroJames

· #15 · Mar 25, 2012 (Edited)

Will you be using a coil?

I recall that most heating elements are adjustable from 2-7" above the belt. If you can do that with a 2000w heating element or higher, again have an IR temp gun or preferably a probe, then you should be on the right track

TableSyrup

Discussion Starter · #16 · Mar 25, 2012

I was thinking of a coil, yes... I was thinking that a donor flash dryer would do fine. 2000W 110V 17-20A... that's near exactly what the Little Buddy is.... and that's what a lot of lash dryers are.... practically the same thing, or exactly....

Are some conveyor dryer elements adjustable? I didn't think so, and I know some are not.

I would think that even with a fixed height, with gate adjustment, and temp adjustment adjustment, and belt speed adjustment, that you wouldn't have to worry about the height??????

I was thinking of using a temp gauge to monitor internal temp as reference, but yeah, I will have my Off Contact Thermometer this week for ideal monitoring.

I had even thought of getting another one, and using the components to set up an internal, or at exit, thermometer to monitor the shirt temp constantly in real time, with the display panel mounted for reference. Might be a beneficial addition...?

Anyway. I will be building a conveyor dryer. Hoping to score the conveyor I've been scoping this week.. waiting to hear from the seller. Then it's just a matter of finding a donor flash dryer, and fabricating and wiring up the rest.

Anyway... once I get at it, I'll post up a detailed thread.

Thanx for the info and direction guys!!!!!!

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BroJames

· #17 · Mar 25, 2012

Maybe some are not adjustable but that is what is stuck on my mind. The adjustable height allows one to cure caps and other items that is more than shirt-thick.

TableSyrup

Discussion Starter · #18 · Mar 25, 2012

I think that with the screen press, doing transfers, and having this hat press, I won't find the need to cure hats in a dryer, so I only see it as a need for shirts

So much easier to do my screen printed transfers to the press for hats, rather than screening them...

Also, seams aren't an issue that way, at least not as much

I think

BroJames

· #19 · Mar 25, 2012

I recall reading one at 8" but 7"(maybe 6-7") should be a more common element to belt distance.

TableSyrup

Discussion Starter · #20 · Mar 25, 2012

My flash dryer is near exactly the same specs as the element in the Little Buddy 110V

I would really like to know the spacing on the Little Buddy. That would give me a very very good model

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