RawDrop
03-10-2008, 11:46 AM
I didn't have a dehydrator, or the money for one. Here in England they are about twice the price in the States. So, I went online and searched for a homemade one.
Here is what I did, with the help of my partner.
I grabbed a big moving box, I would say it is about 2 1/2 foot by 2 1/2 foot. We cut it open along one side so we could lay it flat.
The using gaffer/duct tape with covered the whole thing with foil. I would use heavy duty foil. We just used turkey foil and it is getting a bit ripped.
Then using the tape again we put the box back together and completely tape up one end of the box.
Then we cut a small whole in the lower rear of the box. Through this whole we put a small light fixture and taped that down. We used a light fixture from a lamp we already had, the cord attached has a little on/off switch. Which is nice.
To create 'shelves' use small dowels stuck through holes in the sides of the box. For the bottom shelf we have a cooling rack. This makes sure that the air can circulate.
We started out with a 60 watt bulb in it, but have moved up to a 100 watt. This seems to work alot better. I don't know what the exact temp inside is when it is on. I would grab a thermometor.
Keeping it closed it the only 'hurdle'. We fold in a side, top, side and lastly the bottom and then set something heavy in front of it to hold it closed.
I think this whole thing cost about £5/$10. It is the cheapest way to have a dehydrator until you can find a real one somewhere else. And it works!
Thought I would share.
Here is what I did, with the help of my partner.
I grabbed a big moving box, I would say it is about 2 1/2 foot by 2 1/2 foot. We cut it open along one side so we could lay it flat.
The using gaffer/duct tape with covered the whole thing with foil. I would use heavy duty foil. We just used turkey foil and it is getting a bit ripped.
Then using the tape again we put the box back together and completely tape up one end of the box.
Then we cut a small whole in the lower rear of the box. Through this whole we put a small light fixture and taped that down. We used a light fixture from a lamp we already had, the cord attached has a little on/off switch. Which is nice.
To create 'shelves' use small dowels stuck through holes in the sides of the box. For the bottom shelf we have a cooling rack. This makes sure that the air can circulate.
We started out with a 60 watt bulb in it, but have moved up to a 100 watt. This seems to work alot better. I don't know what the exact temp inside is when it is on. I would grab a thermometor.
Keeping it closed it the only 'hurdle'. We fold in a side, top, side and lastly the bottom and then set something heavy in front of it to hold it closed.
I think this whole thing cost about £5/$10. It is the cheapest way to have a dehydrator until you can find a real one somewhere else. And it works!
Thought I would share.