Author Topic: Question on $10 jerky drier dimensions  (Read 7207 times)

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Offline Josh

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Question on $10 jerky drier dimensions
« on: June 28, 2009, 12:22:35 am »
Hi there. I've got a question on Lex's cardboard jerky drier. I can get a cardboard box of roughly similar dimensions here. http://www.postpack.co.uk/acatalog/white-archive-storage-box.html

However, they also do ones with the same height but longer. I'm thinking it might be good to have a longer one and get more meat in, however Lex might have had a good reason for using a cube box.

What do you reckon to using a longer one?

Not too worried about the tray size as I'd have to use something different anyway - cross that bridge later - but do you think the lamp will work for that area etc.

Cheers, Josh

Offline lex_rooker

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Re: Question on $10 jerky drier dimensions
« Reply #1 on: June 28, 2009, 10:51:03 am »
HI Josh,
Nothing special about the dimensions.  I chose 12" wide because that is the length of common skewers so they would fit well.  The other dimension just worked out well for about a 150 watt heat source.  If you use a bigger box, you'll either need to up the wattage on the bulb or use two bulbs.

The height is important to keep the strips of meat from getting to close to the heat source.  That's it.  No rocket science.

In fact, my original design used a 12" wide by 18" long by 12" high box.  It was assembled the same and used 3 PVC supports, one at each end and one in the middle.  9" skewers were perfect for this design but it did take two 100 watt bulbs in the summer and 150s in the cooler months to heat it.

The 9" skewers went from the support in the center of the box to the left or right end support.

----------------
|         |         |
|         |         |
|         |         | skewers alternate and lay across the supports.
|         |         |
----------------

I currently use a 24"x24"x24" with 3 supports and 12" skewers.  This gives me a bit more than 4 times the capacity of one 12" square box.  Same skewer arragenemet as above only 12" skewers meeting in the center rather than 9".

A 24" square box takes 300 - 400 watts to heat it adequately but I can easily dry 40 lbs or more at one time.  If you are handy you can put four 100 or 150 watt light bulbs in the box and put them on a light dimmer to control the heat to anything you want.

OOooops, I just checked the link you provided.  This is a storage box and doesn't have the necessary four "flaps" on top and bottom.  you need these flaps to provide the necessary height.  Go to a local Moving & Storage company.  They have good sturdy boxes of the correct type.  Also, the local Stationary Super Stores like Staples or Office Depot have them here in the USA, but they are in the shipping supplies department not in the file box area.  The box you show is a file storage box not a shipping style box.

Lex
« Last Edit: June 28, 2009, 10:58:58 am by lex_rooker »

Offline Josh

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Re: Question on $10 jerky drier dimensions
« Reply #2 on: June 29, 2009, 02:39:02 am »
Thanks for spotting that Lex. I'll have a look for something else. Staples doesn't seem to have them in the UK, but there might be something.

The jerky drier is genius BTW...I didn't get round to looking for a while, because I assumed it would be woodwork but it's great that it can all be done with office tools!

Offline Josh

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Re: Question on $10 jerky drier dimensions
« Reply #3 on: July 10, 2009, 05:19:51 am »
In the end, I used an ikea cardboard box which was approx. twice the length of that in the instructions and somewhat taller. I cut the box in half to make it the same size as lex's as I thought it would have enough capacity, and would be good to make jerky fresh. It was a pita cutting and sticking it right, and it didn't have internal support to stop it folding. I stuck some legs on off cardboard veg trays from the supermarket. It looks like the hideous kludge it is, but it works ok!

I bought an ikea 'dimma' cable to control heat, but it worked well enough without it.

I couldn't find a work light. I got a light fitting from a pet shop similar to the arcadia one here, but more basic with a metal attachment that I screwed onto a bit of wood - cost £3. I've got a 100w bulb in it...saved building the light fitting.

Jerky tastes good.

Offline lex_rooker

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Re: Question on $10 jerky drier dimensions
« Reply #4 on: July 10, 2009, 01:00:18 pm »
Congratulations Josh.  Sounds like the first one I made - a real kludge but it worked great and that's all that matters.

Lex

William

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Re: Question on $10 jerky drier dimensions
« Reply #5 on: July 10, 2009, 08:29:15 pm »
Lex, can you confirm that the 12" shipping box makes an 18" tall dryer?

Offline lex_rooker

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Re: Question on $10 jerky drier dimensions
« Reply #6 on: July 10, 2009, 11:20:20 pm »
Lex, can you confirm that the 12" shipping box makes an 18" tall dryer?

Yes, 18" is about right for a 12" shipping box.  The actual hight is certainly not critical but you do want it tall enough so that there is several inches between the hanging meat and the heat source.  If the heat source is too close then the meat right above it will get too warm and cook.  If there is 4" to 6" between the meat and the heat source then the natrual movement of the air will even out the heat so that nothing gets to hot.  In short, taller is better.

Lex

 

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