I found a neat item for model RR and other hobby use when recycling something that many of us commonly get, use, and throw away - the humidifier tank from a CPAP machine. CPAPs are used by folks with sleep apnea to keep breathing while they sleep. The humidfier tanks are now commonly conisdered a use items and mine are replaced every 3 months.
Here's one of my Resmed tanks, a very common brand, and the packaging with part number on it.
It's mostly plastic, but what I've been looking at is the stainless steel bottom. This metal part is mostly enclosed by the tank's plastic shell, but the bottom is left with metal open to quickly transfer heat from the pad that warms the water.
The metal piece can be pretty easily extracted from the plastic shel with some cutters or rail nippers. Wear gloves while cutting to protect your hands from any sharp plastic edges, but the metal piece is sandwiched in between two parts of the plastic shell and once this is mostly defeated it'll pop right out.
The metal is shaped in such a way so that there's a pretty ideal pool for most decals. The sides offer a couple of "lounging areas' for decals to rest, either wet or not. The edge is raised all along, making it easier to get the needed wet spot to your workbench without sloshing out along the way.
Finally, the rim is shrouded in a silicone bumper, leaving it very safe to use.
The only thing thing it may need is a leg under the side that has the raised platform to keep it from tipping in that direction. As is, the weight and limited volume of the lower tank area tends to resist tipping. Otherwise, a useful find that is common enough you should be able to come up with a tank to recycle and it will last more than a lifetime once you do.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
I'm not sure if you had one but my old cpap had the more square humidity chamber. The aluminum heat transfer bottoms were great for drawer organizers. The sides came up about an inch. Its nice to see at least one possible purpose for the newer design. Thanks for posting.
Eric
I'm all for reusing stuff that normally gets tossed. One of my medications comes in a stamped aluminum tray that's great for parts bins, decal soaking, and paint brush washing. Rolled edges with nothing sharp. About 3 inches by 4 inches and an inch and a half deep. Very useful. Better than the old glass baby food jars with the lids screwed to the cieling of the workshop. Most of mine are gone now but the lids are still there.
Pete.
I have used an orange plate I bought at the Dollar Tree maybe ten years ago.
For hobby dollars spent compared to hours of use, that might be the best purchase I ever made.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Thanks for the great idea, Mike. I have that same model of CPAP machine. I am awaiting new supplies, and once they get here, I will have a new decal swimming pool.
Nice going with the recycled tray. That is a perfect side for multiple other things. One of them is paint. Speaking of, I would cut part of a cardboard box and it becomes a makeshift pallette. Once done, it gets recycled.