Forums Login/signup

Toaster oven to solar oven conversion

(5 apples) 11
+Pie Number of slices to send: Send
I found a toaster oven in some trash, and the way it felt, and how it looked, told me that it would make a lovely little solar oven. Two layers of thin metal, no insulation, nice clean interior with rack, not a lot much else to it, easy to abuse!

I introduce to y'all my victim that's having it's warranty violated REALLY well, a Black and Decker model TO14913. I don't think the exterior is stainless steel, if so it's the absolute thinnest stainless I have ever met. I think it's shiny aluminum.

Very grubby exterior, and that's kind of weird. The interior is really clean, looks like used half dozen times or so. The exterior has grease all over it... all over. 5 sides of the cube. The bottom isn't greasy. But the back, both sides, the front and top are. How on earth do you even get such a consistent grease pattern on something? Rotate it every week? I have no clue. Really odd.

The grubby front face of my victim


The grubby side of my victim


Nice clean interior


So I took it apart. They thought they were clever, used some odd screws to deter casual warranty violation. I'm more clever, and have a good tool selection  :D

Pile of dirty pieces parts


All degreased, cleaned nicely and drying


I have a question about the heating elements in this thing. They look like shiny glass rods with springs in them. I like the shiny glass rods! If I want to play with them, are they coated on the interior with anything I need to remove carefully? Anything toxic?

Heating elements that may have weird stuff in the shiny glass tubes


More to come. This looks like it will be a pretty easy project. Getting it's warranty violated REALLY well!!

Any info about what the elements contain would be appreciated :D
(1 apple) 7
+Pie Number of slices to send: Send
Those are quartz heating elements. As far as I know there is nothing toxic in the quartz.
(1 apple) 5
+Pie Number of slices to send: Send
 

Jordan Holland wrote:Those are quartz heating elements. As far as I know there is nothing toxic in the quartz.

That's what Hubby said, although he did suggest you clean them well in case there was something in the metal heating wire that off-gassed onto the quartz.
4
+Pie Number of slices to send: Send
Just read this with my kiddo next  to me and he was impressed"Whats that about playing with glass rods?Are they holding those with their toes? Your friend is real creature!(that is high praise coming from my scurrying goblin boy!)
(1 apple) 5
+Pie Number of slices to send: Send
Yes, I was holding them with my toes. I have very usable toes, I used to be able to write halfway decently with my right foot. Tell him to use his toes for more things, and when he's my age, he'll still be able to do it  :D

I find it useful to have four hands sometimes!
4
+Pie Number of slices to send: Send
Have you try cooking food with it? The weather is cooling down quickly.
I have a broken icecream chest freezer with sliding glass top. The inside stays at 135F from noon till 4-5pm when the ambient temperature is at 75-80 F. I use it regularly for drying leaves but thinking about doing sous vide with it.
A sonic boom would certainly ruin a giant souffle. But this tiny ad would protect it:
Our PIE page has been updated, anybody wanna test?
https://permies.com/t/369340/PIE-page-updated-wanna-test
Free heat movie Green Living Book SKIP=SKills to Inherit Property PEP Permaculture Experience According to Paul


reply
reply
This thread has been viewed 673 times.
Similar Threads
Eulogy for a garden bed
Cooking Fall Decor pumpkins/squash
Eye of the Tater
Clean Interior of Fridge - PEP BB nest.straw.interiorfridge
Clean an Oily Dish Without Soap - PEP BB nest.sand.oilydish
permaculture bootcamp - gardening gardeners; grow the food you eat and build your own home
permaculture thorns, A Book About Trying to Build Permaculture Community - draft eBook
More...

All times above are in ranch (not your local) time.
The current ranch time is
Mar 11, 2026 03:10:16.