Todays Parabolic cooker on the Cheap. Cooks good.

[Tim K]

I just noticed my neighbor has an old mid-size dish in her yard. I'm going to ask her if I can play with it. Must be 4-5 feet in diameter. I wonder what I could use to line it. The dish seems to be some sort of expanded metal.

[Inconel710]

Thanks HBAR.

[HBARleatherneck]

here is some more testing
today it was cold and breezy at my house.

32 ounces of water
9:40am......64.5 degree water out of tap........27 degrees outside temperature 6 mph wind
10:10........140.1 degrees..............................32 degrees outside temperature 8 mph wind
10:30.........174.2............................... ...........34 degrees outside temperature 11 mph wind

I didnt get the temperature to rise after the last entry. you could still cook meat at that temperature. its not hot enough to boil 32 ounces of water right now. But, it should be plenty warm to cook most foods.

Keep in mind I am also still using the dull HVAC tape. If you were to get something more reflective, I am sure your temperatures would rise.

[DSB OUTDOORS]

This looks like fun. I'll dig my old dish out and have some fun. I also have a 6 foot dish out back to play with if it works good.

[gnihcraes]

here is some more testing
today it was cold and breezy at my house.

32 ounces of water
9:40am......64.5 degree water out of tap........27 degrees outside temperature 6 mph wind
10:10........140.1 degrees..............................32 degrees outside temperature 8 mph wind
10:30.........174.2............................... ...........34 degrees outside temperature 11 mph wind

I didnt get the temperature to rise after the last entry. you could still cook meat at that temperature. its not hot enough to boil 32 ounces of water right now. But, it should be plenty warm to cook most foods.

Keep in mind I am also still using the dull HVAC tape. If you were to get something more reflective, I am sure your temperatures would rise.

I also tested today with almost the same temp results.

The 140 degree water was nice when I did it in a small gatorade bottle. (clear)

I also hung out a cold soda in the can unopened, in about 15 minutes it exploded like a rifle. Soda everywhere.

I do find that mine has a better focal point beyond the existing arm. Also, being the oblong dish version, it appears to have a longer sweep through the sun movement. Set it for hot, it will cool a little and then warm backup on the other side. (two head LMB style dish)