How to Build a Solar Furnace
Building a solar furnace is one way of harnessing the sun. In this time of high energy costs, alternate means of generating heat are welcome. This article can help. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Buy or make mirror chips from glass or plastic. The chips need to be about ¾ inch long. If you need to cut them, use a glass cutter that's oil-fed, as the cuts are cleaner than with a diamond-wheel glass cutter.
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Use plywood that is ½ inch thick when you build a solar furnace. The plywood could be thicker if you wish to make the solar furnace very wide. Pre-drill the holes for the screws that you use to secure the mirrors in place on the plywood.
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Make four squares of mirrors if you choose to make your solar furnace very wide. Tilt the mirrors toward the middle of the plywood. You can use toothpicks secured in place with hot glue as spacers.
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Create hinges for the mirrors when you make a solar furnace by putting a bit of RTV silicone caulk at the mirror's corners, with a piece of toothpick as a spacer. You can adjust the mirrors still further, as needed, with screws. Allow the silicone to harden before securing the mirrors with screws.
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Cover all of the mirrors except one near the center with Post-it notes. Take the solar furnace into the sun, and use the one, uncovered mirror, as a reference to focus all of the other mirrors.
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Focus the solar furnace in the direction of area you wish to heat.
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