Lets work backwards and determine the range of materials we would like to use in it then we can calculate the required power needed.

the spiral heating elements from a stove were my first thought as well.

Then I thought, how about the heating elements from ovens?

I expect both might work.

a gas burner might be an option too.

I'm excited about this build, and glad to see posts in here!

Riley

Not that I am an expert on this, but I was a fry cook back in the 80's.

Heat lamps have two issues from what I can see, first is that they radiate heat in a circle, so covering overlapping zones means many more lamps, where wire or a heating element can just be aligned closer.

Second is that they are very expensive both cost and power consumption. Now I know our power is paid for, but still I think to get the 20 lamps we would need to build a larger table, it makes much more sense to go with the NiChrome or with what Jude had originally thought was to raid the elements from a couple of old electric ovens.

Now I know we can find ovens on Craigslist, or Freecycle, but it of course would be more work than the Wire. I do have some free time at the moment, so if we want to go with stoves, we can talk to Jude who had a couple of possible sources and pick those up, or find others.

I've seen spools of nichrome on eBay for uber cheap before (shipping is the real issue there) useful stuff to have handy if we get a spool. I would use the stock toaster zig zag for the pattern, that's just one length on the side lines and 9 side lengths at 6" apart. That's a good 40' of wire. You likely are going to want to put a fan (or fans) on the other side of that to circulate the heat and keep it blowing on the plastic.

Man, I haven't done vacuum forms since shop class at school!

Here's an idea:

http://hackaday.com/2011/08/31/how-to-b ... very-time/

I think the best part was the link in the comments to here,

http://tk560.com/vactable4.html

which looks like pretty much what the group is talking about, it reminded me too that I may have the perfect stand-offs for the nichrome. I'll bring some in for folks to check out.

Pete

looks like you can get nichrome wire , 22 gauge, at $20 for over 100 feet.

If that will do the job, sounds like the way to go.

Riley

There was some 22 gauge nichrome on the junk shelves in a small orange plastic bag, though I imagine it might have gotten thrown out.

Negative, I believe I placed it on the tool shelf thing, near where the foam cutter is hanging.

Good man!