I want to build my own heater like the one on:
http://ffaat.pointclark.net/blog/archiv ... eater.html
I am hoping someone here has knowledge about these things. I am not very good at DIY and working with tools and not strong. But I really need a heater and this type works for many people, so I have begun this project.
First of all, I purchased three 100 foot rubber black air hoses. Did I mess up by getting air hoses instead of garden hoses or irrigation hoses? Will they not be as effective for some reason? They are meant to withstand high PSI, are non-kink. They have metal couplings at each end. Will those rust? Should I cut off those metal ends? Should I coat them or anything? I'm thinking it was a stupid move but it's hard to find hoses that are 100 foot and black and not pvc or reinforced... and not too fat or skinny... and not really expensive. I feel like garden hoses might be made to not absorb the heat as much. If I have to, I will return those hoses. I would want to know as soon as possible so I can send them back and get others soon.
If I have to return them -- does anyone have a link to a place to buy 250+ feet of good hose? If I am going to keep these hoses -- I would appreciate some advice on what type of connectors to buy (although Lowe's people can help advise me too). Thanks.
Secondly, I am unsure of how to calculate how big my final coil will be (which then tells me how big of a piece of wood to buy for the background). I was hoping to make a rectangular shaped frame instead of square but am willing to do square if it's easier. I think that rectangular would be nice because of not taking up as much ground space, and it would rise higher and i think it would catch more sun rays that way. I know that the guy in the post was using 200 ft and his frame was 4 ft x 4 ft. My air hoses are 3/8 inner diameter and 5/8 outer diameter, and my method of affixing the hose to the wood would make it take a little more space, so more like 2/3rds of an inch per loop of coil. Of course not all 300 feet would go in my frame, I would leave about 24 feet outside the frame.
http://ffaat.pointclark.net/blog/archiv ... eater.html
I am hoping someone here has knowledge about these things. I am not very good at DIY and working with tools and not strong. But I really need a heater and this type works for many people, so I have begun this project.
First of all, I purchased three 100 foot rubber black air hoses. Did I mess up by getting air hoses instead of garden hoses or irrigation hoses? Will they not be as effective for some reason? They are meant to withstand high PSI, are non-kink. They have metal couplings at each end. Will those rust? Should I cut off those metal ends? Should I coat them or anything? I'm thinking it was a stupid move but it's hard to find hoses that are 100 foot and black and not pvc or reinforced... and not too fat or skinny... and not really expensive. I feel like garden hoses might be made to not absorb the heat as much. If I have to, I will return those hoses. I would want to know as soon as possible so I can send them back and get others soon.
If I have to return them -- does anyone have a link to a place to buy 250+ feet of good hose? If I am going to keep these hoses -- I would appreciate some advice on what type of connectors to buy (although Lowe's people can help advise me too). Thanks.
Secondly, I am unsure of how to calculate how big my final coil will be (which then tells me how big of a piece of wood to buy for the background). I was hoping to make a rectangular shaped frame instead of square but am willing to do square if it's easier. I think that rectangular would be nice because of not taking up as much ground space, and it would rise higher and i think it would catch more sun rays that way. I know that the guy in the post was using 200 ft and his frame was 4 ft x 4 ft. My air hoses are 3/8 inner diameter and 5/8 outer diameter, and my method of affixing the hose to the wood would make it take a little more space, so more like 2/3rds of an inch per loop of coil. Of course not all 300 feet would go in my frame, I would leave about 24 feet outside the frame.