Ideas for an Estufa?

[FilJos]

After making wine for a few years I'm going to try my hand at a Madeira. In order to recreate the estufagem process, I'll need to develop a method of heating the wine to about 130 degrees f, and holding it there for about three months.

There was a plan in an old wine making book that consisted of a drop-light with a 100-watt bulb inside a box lined with tinfoil, but that seems unreliable at best and a fire hazard at worst. (By the book's own admission, it is dangerous and unreliable)

I looked into pail and drum heaters, but they run about $250-300. Way too much.

I thought about using a submersible heater, like for an aquarium, but they usually don't heat above about 90f.

It would be nice to come up with something with variable temp so that I could slowly raise the temp up to 130, and slowly cool it back down again.

Any Ideas?

 

[LayMeister]

When I lived in Florida and went Shrimping, we would use some submersible light bulbs to attract the shrimp. You could buy them in most bait shops. Just had to make sure that you didn't turn them on until they were under water and turned them off before you took them out. Maybe you can buy one at at Bass Pro Shop.

Cheers,
Paul

 

[MrFebtober]

actually, I think a light bulb in an isulated box may be one of the safer heat sources, but the key to keeping it safe would be the temperature controller needed to keep it within the desired range. A controller can keep the temperature in the box from ever exceeding the target of 130F. Such controllers can be had for $35-$45 on ebay and aren't too difficult to set up. You can even wire in an audible alarm if you want.

BTW, I'd never heard of Madeira wine before. Looked it up. Sounds delicious and neat.

 

[Cape Brewing]

What about dropping a hot water heater element into the carboy (assuming the opening would fit it).

http://cgi.ebay.com/Electric-Hot-Wa...77|39:1|66:2|65:12&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14.l1318

I don't know exactly how you would wire it but I'm guessing you would get an answer to that question pretty quick on this site.

Although... I wonder if the high temp on the element would scorch...

 

[Wrathbone]

What about dropping a hot water heater element into the carboy (assuming the opening would fit it).

http://cgi.ebay.com/Electric-Hot-Wa...77|39:1|66:2|65:12&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14.l1318

I don't know exactly how you would wire it but I'm guessing you would get an answer to that question pretty quick on this site.

Although... I wonder if the high temp on the element would scorch...

Dropping the element into a water bath might be a solution to scorching.

 

[springer]

could use a 2-4 ft baseboard 120v heater hooked up to a Johnson control

http://www.houseneeds.com/shop/Heat...lectrical/qmark/qmarkhydronicbaseboardbuy.asp

Actually this may be better suited to your needs
http://www.houseneeds.com/shop/HeatingProducts/heatingunits/electrical/industool/indusfootwarmer.asp

Heats to and maintains 130* could just wrap the carboy with it like an electric blanket. Could also use a coolant heater to heat a tub of water and place the carboy in it. Tractor supply has them fairly cheap also.

 

[LayMeister]

I doubt that a baseboard heater is rated for a 130F ambient. Might be OK, but definitely not optimal.

Paul