Incubators: Buy or Build?

[Cyprus]

It's become a difficult decision about whether I should buy or build an incubator.
I've built 3 incubators now and only one worked really well. After a total fail with a major heat spike in my most recent incubator, I've decided to look at buying. But I don't know where to start or who to trust.

Do you prefer to buy or build an incubator? Why? If you build, what materials do you use? If you buy, which incubator(s) did you buy?

 

[Spartan22]

Buy a good one, after the heart aches. Been hatching with Ovation 28 EX for couple of years now and getting great hatched all near 100%. Last year I decided to buy a Brinsea Mini II EX for small hatches and consistently getting 6/7 which is phenomenal.

 

[rjohns39]

Buy, too many potential issues with homemade and my environment (inconsistent room temp) makes hatching difficult. I went with the Brinsea Ova-Easy 380 with humidity pump. It works great and remembers my settings, so a few days before I start, I'll give it a good cleaning and plug it in.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Buy...for economy of scale and expertise of the manufacturers. I run a Brinsea Advance 20 (older model) and GQF Hova-Bators (1588 and 2370). The Brinsea is just rock solid, with nice features like auto-cooling and easy to clean. I'd buy another just like it if I had the opportunity. The GQFs are pretty dependable and higher capacity than my Brinsea, but they are styrofoam construction: easily damaged, prone to bumping, lid design that has hand holds begging for improvement, more difficult to clean (and easy to stain). Big price difference between the Brinsea and the others, of course.

 

[Fairview01]

Best incubators ever built. Can find them on craigslist for a couple 100 dollars at times.

 

[Cyprus]

Best incubators ever built. Can find them on craigslist for a couple 100 dollars at times.View attachment 1738299

What is this?

 

[CarpCharacin]

What is this?

It looks like an incubator.

 

[Fairview01]

What is this?

A Leahy redwood. Double walled redwood with insulation in the middle. Probably asbestos. Can find them for $100 in rough condition and needing to be rewired, some of the older units are nearing the century mark with equally old wiring. Can also find them $600+ for ones that have been restored to furniture quality finish. The smaller the unit the more expensive they are. I picked up a Brower model with a 1200 egg capacity for $100. A Leahy 416 for $200. Takes time and patience on craigslist.

If you can find one for a reasonable price jump on it. You wont ever be disappointed.

 

[Cyprus]

It looks like an incubator.

 

[ColtHandorf]

I hadn't incubated in over 15 years Cyprus but I borrowed a friend's Rcom incubator. And I love it. Way easier than the Little Giant incubators I used to use. I still miss my GQF Sportsman incubator and would like to get another one, but I haven't had any luck finding one that's in decent shape and not way, way out of my price range for the condition I find them in.