Hi ladies! I'm sorry I haven't been contributing to the forum lately. I am just soooo busy I can't even keep up with my email or FB and have no time to read and post here. I have 3 (4 if possible) custom babies to finish before Christmas and I have my 3 mo. old granddaughter 9 hours a day. Even though she is a very good baby, she suffered some serious injuries during birth and has physical therapy and exercizes I need to do with her pretty much constantly when she is awake. She has a severe congenital torticollis (injury to her neck) and also had 2 badly broken arms, now healed. In case anyone is curious, here is a link about torticollis: http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/tc/congenital-torticollis-topic-overview

I am getting a new oven for Christmas (and a red toy poodle puppy! but she's not born yet. I have a 5 yr. old silver mini poodle.) and I am having a hard time deciding what oven to get. The top ones I am considering are Whirlpool and Amana. I'd like to know if it is worth the extra $ to get a "true" convection (with the extra heating element) or just the convection with the fan. Also, I need to chose between self cleaning or self steem cleaning. Please tell me what is your "dream oven"! What oven do you have and what do you like or not like about it. I just can't decide!

Sorry Janie, I can't help you with convection ovens. I used one once and melted a head so I'll never go near another one again. I did get an infrared oven for Christmas that I'm excited to use, though!

Oh no! I know they cook faster and you have to adjust the cooking temps, etc. What is an infrared oven?

Halogen oven, turbo oven all the same...its like this

http://www.amazon.com/Morningware-HO1200-Halogen-Oven/dp/B000B8YOHG

I have an InfraChef oven. I've heard you want to get the dials, not digital. Otherwise, I don't know much. Just make sure you get an extender ring. You MUST use it with the extender ring at all times with a baby. The first time I used mine, I didn't have an oven thermometer, so I just set the dial at 265. BIG mistake. It got too hot and I nearly ruined my Tayla head. Now, I always bake kits with the thermometer in the oven, so I can keep an eye on it and make sure it doesn't get too hot.

Edit: here's a picture of mine:

Janie, your granddaughter is very lucky to have such a caring grandma. Interesting link on her disorder, hope she has an excellent prognosis and with you giving her physical therapy, she is on her way! I am guessing you are getting a big built-in or free-standing oven for your kitchen? I can`t help you there because I am nursing an older electric built-in wall oven that has temperature issues! I bought a Nu-Wave Halogen counter-top oven, simillar to the one on Karen`s link; for my reborns this year and am just loving it. Only use it for vinyl doll kits and they never baked better, highly recommend it for your dolls. There are quite a few topics in Cozy Lounge about the halogen ovens over the past months, so check that out. Congratulations on your not yet born puppy, so jealous!

Hi Janie, Barry bought me a table top convection oven, I have made the 3rd bedroom into my dolly room and have the oven on a large long table, with all my paints etc.

I find it really good, it is a dial temp, so barry checked the temp with a gauge then put a mark on where to turn the dial too so as it did'nt go over temp.

I lay every piece down on a towel after the sovent has dried and put it into the oven,

I don't cook anything else in the oven except the babies lol

I think Barry paid about $100.00 for it it takes all of bethany in one fire.

Hope this helps

Oh thank you ladies! Now I am thinking maybe I should go with the less expensive oven and get a halogen/infrared oven too. I have a spare bedroom upstairs that I use for storage of dolly stuff but I paint and bake in my kitchen (in the oven we use for food - the only one I have to bake babies). I could put the halogen oven in that room and maybe I could bake when the baby is here if I shut the door and crack open the window? I don't bake when she's here just in case there might be fumes that would be bad for her. I love to paint in my kitchen because there is a big island with sky lights over it. I could just bring the halogen oven down when the kids aren't here.

I will have to check out those threads and start looking at halogen ovens! I never even thought of that! Thanks!

I recently bought a Nuwave Halogen oven and I LOVE IT , can't say enough good things about it. I bake the babies at level 6 for 9 minutes and they perfectly cure

Janie, if you decide on getting a NuWave Oven Pro for baking your dolls, it is exactly as Michelle said, Level 6 for 9 minutes, simple! Here is a link for the model I have:

http://www.nuwaveoven.com/nuwave-infrared-ovens/nuwave-oven-pro-black.asp

I bought mine through Amazon because I didn`t have to pay shipping but a few women on this forum bought from the dealer and had great service. So far I have the Nuwave on a counter sort of in my kitchen (I have a great room with kitchen at one end) and it has worked out nicely. But with Christmas and a small grandson visiting, I am going to move it to my laundry room counter which will be its permanent home. It is not like I spend hours in the laundry room, ironing and stuff! My oven is digital and I have never had any sort of problem with the temperature settings. I do recommend testing your oven with an oven thermometer first. The analog or dial type is also fine. Always use the extender ring, as you want your vinyl as far as possible from the heat source which is in the top of the dome. If you get one of these, I know you will be pleased!

Just wanted to add that you will want to find a permanent place for your oven because it is not that easy to carry it around, especially up and down steps! I would use it in my doll room if I had more space.

I have the same NuWave halogen oven and I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT !!! I also set mine on power level 6 the only difference is if it's the first bake of the day I run it for 9 min. If I'm doing quick turn arounds ... yanking one set out stuffing the next in ... I'll go shorter on the time because there is the residual heat built up that doesn't need to build up again ...

if that makes any kinds of sense at all! LOL I've taken (as my 18 yr old grand daughter calls them "my night night pills) and at times speech and thought processes are a tad hampered.

Gads!! If I hit send on this without correcting the typos ya'll would think I'm drunk as a skunk!! hahahaha

Anyway ... love the NuWave ... must MUST have the extender ring and then just sit back and love how it bakes your babies!

I have the same nu wave. So far I have only used it for food but I really like it. I got mine from Kohl's with a 30% off coupon. I don't know if they carry them any more though as I can't find them online at kohls.com. By getting it in the store, I figured if I didn't like it, I could return it without having to ship it back.
I did finally find the one I got in the store but it says online it is no longer available.
kohls nu wave oven(click here)
Cheri

My new Amana convection oven with the all glass top burners was delivered yesterday. I bought a less expensive one so I can now get my Nu Wave oven too! Thank you so much ladies! When I get my Nu Wave I may need to ask some questions about it.