If you have insulated your HUKY

[SusanJoM]

will you please share pictures of how you did it?

I picked up some 8" flashing, some insulation, and some high-temp foil tape today and am thinking to build a small tunnel for the body of the HUKY.....something that will stop just short of the ventilation holes on the side.

I'm thinking this will mitigate the extreme temperature differences between MET and BT ?

And then I'll probably have to learn everything all over again, or just take it apart 

[Chert]

I'm not sure if this represents it that well.  I started out to cover the holes on the sides so that the air intake would be hotter than drawing from acorss thos holes.  My open burner is about 2 inches below the bottom of the roaster so the flames are 1 inch below and there is plenty air for the combustion without the HUKYholes.  Just lately I placed braids of ceramic fiber insulation for  oven doors in between two sheets of sheathing.  And a little aluminum foil to try to avoid fibes drifting out.

I have used two layers sheathing over the HUKy and an additional piece across the bottom on the outside as well as two small pieces inside theHUKY hull to hold the nuts that go on the bolts through holes I poked or drilled through the sheathing.  You could use that method and still leave three holes uncovered to provide air to your infrared heater.

THese pics were pretty early on,  I will try to make time to photograph the little beast as it now stands.

I'm sure there is a better sheet insulation material available but it needs to withstand oven temperatures.  I may have even put some in an espresso restore recently.

[SusanJoM]

Just lately I placed braids of ceramic fiber insulation for  oven doors in between two sheets of sheathing.

This is sort of what I am thinking of:  an insulation sandwich.  Two layers of flashing with a layer of fiberglass insulation between them, and the edges closed with the foil tape.    In my imagination it works a charm....

[SusanJoM]

Well phooey.  Shoulda read the CAUTION on the insulation, which clearly states "do NOT use to insulate .....hot surfaces...."   

I'll have to find some of that stuff Flint used....

[SusanJoM]

Okay, so I've ordered this stuff and will continue when it arrives...

[monkey_lever]

I think that high temp insulation paint for the interior of the  huky is going to be more effective for a roaster.

[Chert]

Okay, so I've ordered this stuff and will continue when it arrives...

WIll you direct the foil facing to roaster or outward?

[SusanJoM]

I'm thinking out.   

[Chert]

Perhaps these two images give some answer to the question of what difference would insulation make, but it probably doesn't help due to excessive difference in the application of heat.  I think I was reliatively shy with the heat back then.

I think my intro to HUKY forum thread might have more before-after, dunno. [Edit: it don't, neither the one about thermal mass]

[SusanJoM]

My plan for this project and the results are quite divergent and I haven't tested it yet,
but at least I have an entry for the "Ugly HUKY Contest" should we ever have one.

And I'm still hopeful that this will have more impact on my perforated drum HUKY than it had on your solid one.  At the end of the last few roasts I was noting how MET had plunged below BT....which led to this particular rabbit hole.

Tomorrow I may be brave enough to light the stove.

[Chert]

Can that tape stand up to the heat?  Check it's ignition heat and make sure it's below 300C, 600 F or so; or do you have that insulation material protecting it?

Pretty little roasting doggy, you have there...

[SusanJoM]

Can that tape stand up to the heat? 

Uh Oh....
That tape is what I used between the vent bowl and the exhaust where it didn't need to be anywhere near as hot.
Guess I'm gonna go and take it apart....
Before it hurts someone.
 

[easygene]

Just ordered 1" flat ceramic insulation(used for stove doors and kilns) along with ceramic braided rope for edging.  Tomorrow will decide on metal for sandwich that will be shaped to contour.

Chugging along!

[Jayel]

Just ordered 1" flat ceramic insulation(used for stove doors and kilns) along with ceramic braided rope for edging.  Tomorrow will decide on metal for sandwich that will be shaped to contour.

Chugging along!

Perhaps these two images give some answer to the question of what difference would insulation make, but it probably doesn't help due to excessive difference in the application of heat.  I think I was reliatively shy with the heat back then.

I think my intro to HUKY forum thread might have more before-after, dunno. [Edit: it don't, neither the one about thermal mass]

How did this come along for you two? I am seriously considering insulating mine but I don't know the first thing about insulation so i'm glad this thread was started.

[Chert]

Perhaps these two images give some answer to the question of what difference would insulation make, but it probably doesn't help due to excessive difference in the application of heat.  I think I was reliatively shy with the heat back then.

I think my intro to HUKY forum thread might have more before-after, dunno. [Edit: it don't, neither the one about thermal mass]

How did this come along for you two? I am seriously considering insulating mine but I don't know the first thing about insulation so i'm glad this thread was started.

Why try this?  I wanted the machine to heat up more quickly for more efficient use.  Maybe use less fuel?  And on forums about roasting and on-line I see reports of the heat mass of larger roasters adding a dimension to the roast.  That is how I decided to insulate mine.  Does it make any sense or actually make much of a difference?  I can honestly say I don't know.  I liked the results of many roasts before and I still do.  Light and nuanced roasting still remains the challenge.   I find my city+ to city ++ roasts to have nice acidity and sweetness both with my insulated Huky.  And the occasional full city or Vienna - dark-er - roasts also appeal.