Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just got done with this New freezer Incubator, well almost done I have a few small details to iron out. I just thought I would show you all my new incubator for this season. It is made out of a old montgomery ward freezer that I purchased at a thrift store for 60.00. Here ya go. Thanks and hope you enjoy.

here is a second photo

and a third photo. So far I have tested it to hold a temp of 96-97 degrees and that is with a small heat pannel and a helix dbs 1000 temp control. Sso the 89-90 degree temp will not be a problem. Thanks david

also did you cut the door panel for the glass out yourself what is your email so i can send you some pics of the one that im building mine is nyhellraiser@earthlink.net

Nice project!

Do you find variance in heat between lowest shelf and highest?

Where did you place the heat source?

Ben

heated from the bottom. I am not totally sure of the bottom top heat. I will be checking that out. Also the temp prob is in the center of the cage mid ways so I believe the temp tobe correct through out the cage. I am pretty sure after I add the mini fan to circulate the air the temps will be steady through out the Incubator. Thanks

what are u using for a heating element im finishing mine up out of a refrigerator i used 2 little giant incubator heating elements but i am having a problem with my thermostat i cant calibrate it my analog,digital,crystal thermos are within a half of a degree of eachother but the johnson control thermostat that i have is like 3-4 degrees warmer than the other thermometers im about to ask the forum ill even post a pic of it when im done

I am using a heat pannel and a helix dbs 1000 temp control, YES I did cut the door and add the 1/2 inch glass that was (Reg 75.00 on sale for 30.00). Thanks

Do you notice any heat loss using the huge window?

I was going to do the same but went with 3 tiny windows instead.

Also, my windows always get covered with condensation, does this happen when using just 1 big window?
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Well, Al so far I have not noticed any heat loss, but then again my glass is around a inch thick. I kranked the temp up to 100 to see what would happen and the heat panel or whatever would only go to 96-97 degrees. not sure why this is but it never went up to 100. I have not used this set up before so I am not sure what will happen once I put a tub of water in the incubator. I may have that problem, I will test that one tonight I guess. I will post results sometime later. back to the heat loss at 90 degrees the incubator has no problems, no matter when i come in the incubator is on 90. and that is with it in a room temp of 70 degrees, when I get the collection moved to the new room the room temp will be higher. Thanks David

Howdy,
I was thinking about a window in the door to the incubator I am building and remembered the condensation on the window in a hovabator. So while trying to come up with a solution I looked out one of my windows and realized there is no condesation on it. I am in Maine and the temps outside are around 35 outside right now so there is a good 35 degree difference on either side of the glass. This should be enough to fog it up, however my windows are the double pane kind. So what I was thinking of doing is trying to find a window about the size I want and cut the door to accomodate it. The reason I am not going to try to set up 2 panes myself is quite simple, thermal windows are made with argon between the panes. Argon is used because it is a slow-moving gas which does not heat or cool well, thus temps stay on their respective sides of the glass. Maybe you can find some renovators that are replacing some windows and would let you have the old ones either free or dirt-cheap. This would solve your condensation problem. Hope this helps, Matt

Is it double pained?
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www.NEWReptiles.com

Ok first off, The glass I used is 3/8 inch thick. And as of last night and all day today, I had NO condensation on either side of Any part of my GLASS. I put a tub of water directly on my heat source. I would also like to make a comment about the last poster from Maine, I would have to say that you might get condensation on one side from a 35 degree to a 89 degree on the other side of the glass but I would figure you wouldn't on a 75 to 89 split. My temps were 90 degrees in the Incubator and 70 out in the room but as of now I have no snakes in the room with the Incubator, I am in the process of switching rooms. My Incubator when done will have 4 shelves for eggs and one right above the heat source for water tubs for humidity. hope this helps other people working on new Incubators, My Incubator appears to be right on. Thanks David

Howdy, I think I must not have been clear about my experiance with condensation. I ran a hovabator last spring and found that the window was always covered in condensation. This was inside my house of course, but at that time I lived in Miami, Fl. My air conditioner was set to 68 degrees, and the hovabator was naturally at 89, this created alot of condensation of inside of the little window. Now keep in mind the window is a thin piece of plastic, not thick glass. I am sure the thick glass would keep temps separate enough to keep condesation down, but I was making a suggestion to keep the cost of the incubator down. I believe you said the glass you got was normally $70 or so, this is a big chunk of money simply to be able to see inside. I am sure there are many ways to keep condesation down and keep costs down as well, I would like to hear others thoughts on the subject. It is discussions like this that make all of our incubators better. On that note I have found a good resource for old fridges and freezers for free, it is a yahoo group called freecycle. There are groups all over the country, and you'd be amazed at what people offer all for free. Hope to see more suggestions and opinions, Matt

Yea, Matt I wish I could have gotten mine for free and i probably could have if I would have looked harder, But I looked and nothing came up like I was wanting. I hated spending the 60.00 on a working upright freezer to tear up...lOL...But I am looking at several clutches of pastels and the 250.00 or so I spent on building the incubator is a small price to pay for all them baby pastels. I looked at several other Ideas like just buying a good one but at 800.00 for what I needed I decided to go with the freezer. I am sure I could have found one on the side of the road sometime but its time for eggs NOW so I needed to get with it. Yes the Glass would have costed me 75.00 but I got it for 30.00 and it was a 3/8inch thick X 18inX42in. The same size double pane with the argon gas in it custom made by a local glass shop is 45.00 but would take 2 weeks to get, I didn't want to wait 2 weeks so I got that 30.00 3/8in 18x42. But I am sure I could have just used the freezer with/out the window and that would have cut costs a lot or If I would have just got the freezer off of the street, my next Incubator probably will com off the street or where ever I can find it but I have time on that one. But I wouldn't cut costs too much or it might cost you in the Long run. I know people that still use hova bators with no problem and they range from 30-75.00 and I have seen them at shows for 15.00. I have a few but have never used them. Thanks David