What you want is a thermal mass to absorb or disperse (if that is the right word) the heat energy out from the heater into the object. An animal can be the thermal mass. So can some substrates. Wood shavings are not a great mass because they insulate so well.

I've had Kanes covered with a very thin layer of shavings so you could still see the red color between the particles. They worked fine as long as they are controlled. But really, there is no reason to bury them. Do you want to for aesthetics?

Use a dimmer and/or thermostat.
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Mark

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