Show and tell!

[eggonomist]

Deleted untill photo's upload, i hate dial up
Back again hopefully with pictures.
It's raining so I have had to abandon the coop building for a bit and decided to play with the incubator. I found some 50w heating elements for $2.99 each, a huge 12v fan for 1.49 and a handle for the turner for 49c.
I have built a sump to hold the water, I just need to find a container that will fit in there. I'm going to try and use the fan to keep a lot of air moving, the heater will be on a dimmer switch and if I need to slow the fan down I'll just put a resistor in line to drop the voltage. My theory is to keep everything at a constant, using the dimmer to keep the temp the same, the air to keep the circulation the same and the vents to keep humidity the same. I may end up with a thermostat but I'm going to see if I can do without, the cupboard it's going to live in is in the center of the house so will be pretty constant temp in there. I guess it's all about seing what works.

This shows the tray, capacity is 33 but I don't think I'll ever have it full.

The tray at opposite tilt, the tray can only tilt 45 degree's each side before it stops.

Double glazed door

Crank for turner

50w heating element

Door with catches fitted and light working. Also trying to decide where to put the fan, probably over the water container and have a multi-voltage adaptor wired up to see what works.

 

[hatchcrazzzy]

you are well on your way to an incubator

 

[seminolewind]

THAT is one nice incubator! Maybe I can get DH to build me something like that. I love the turner, I like it a whole lot better than the store bought one I have.
I keep thinking, for a styrofoam incubator with an egg turner, fan, it costs at least 100 bucks. If you built your incubator and sold it for 100 bucks, how much profit would you make?

 

[eggonomist]

It's a bit unfair as I have a lot of material to hand. The wood I get for free, foil from the kitchen, I used silicone to stick the foil down but I also had to seal a shower unit. The glass I had in an old window. The light I found in the shed. The design I stole from somewhere on the internet and I wish I knew where so I could pay kudos. The heater element (2.99) and fan (1.49) and the crank (49c) is all I had to buy, oh and the hinges (2.99) and the catches (2.99). I have 2 heaters as they were so cheap and I have a few fans. I found a 12v adapter for $2. I guess $20 covers all materials and a few spare hours.
My next one will be 2 large plastic buckets, one smaller than the other. one will fit inside the other with expanding foam insulation between the 2. i will support the inner one off the floor of the outer one to house the water compartment, cut a big hole in the base of the inner one and then the hardware cloth will sit one the hole. The dehydrator element will do warming duties and I have a different idea for the turner. The lid will house the window and the turner will be operated like a salad spinner. Being plastic it will be easy to clean and hold humidity (maybe to well).
I think I need to prove this one actually works first and hold heat and humidity. The proof is in the hatching I guess. At the moment I'm just having fun.

 

[MissPrissy]

That looks awesome!

 

[eggonomist]

Coming from the queen of the home-made I feel honoured.
I spent a lot fo time with the search function and lurking around the board before I even started to cut wood. most of you girls/guys paved the way, I just copied what I saw and made sure I had the option of changing the design later (adding an auto turner/thermostat, back up heating (light bulb) ) if needed.

 

[Dawn419]

That's really nice!

I'm just getting into incubating (strictly research right now) and I'm totally torn between building my own versus buying.

Dawn