rack heating problem

[crazyboy]

i have a small three shelve high rack with 3" heat tape down the back. the heat tape gets hot but the rbbermaids dont get hot at all. i think maybe the heat tape is oo far away but it cantgo any closer to the rubbermaid. I dont really want to have to undoo it and cut up the heat tape and but it under the rubermaid but if i have to i guess i would.

[mykee]

3 inch heat tape really doesn't put out the kinda surface heat that you'll need to heat a rubbermaid ambiently. Either put it under the rubbermaids, or switch to 11 inch.

[crazyboy]

ok i guess ill put it under but how can i router out a channel for it. should i use a router because that would take a lonmg time to just go back and forth. thanks

[joshm]

If you use a jig saw the heattape will pass through it nice. All you have to do is drill ahole that the blade can fit into and jig away.
Thanks

[mykee]

It's not completely necessary to router out a channel for your heat tape. You have 3 levels, I would just lay it down, and raise your rubbermaids off the tape with a spacer. You'll get the same effect.

[Stockwell]

To start with, do you have a back on your rack?
I have used 3inch behind a wall of trays, horizontally, with no problem but you need to have a back to hold the heat in, and the trays have to slide in close enough to almost touch it.

And if you're putting it under the trays, you don't have to router it. Most guys don't have the tools or will to do all that.
Just stick it down with duct tape.The silver stuff is very thin and designed to take the heat. Put a piece along both edges, that will keep the tray from going bump when it hits the edge.
Just be carefull not to let the silver metalic duct tape accidentally touch any live parts because you don't want the entire piece of tape becoming live and causing a shock hazard.

[crazyboy]

ok thanks