"john royce" > wrote in message
...
>
(snipped)
> Grateful especially for the information about the ignition temperatures of
> wood. Mistakely I assumed that the higher temperatures produced by the
> heating element would cause the wood to catch fire. This information has
> now solved this issue since I can easily make something out of some strips
> of hardwood. Thanks.

Just a note of (possibly excessive) caution here. Back in the 1970's energy
crisis, a lot of people tried home heating with wood burning stoves. At the
time, I read that the ignition temperature of wood can be drastically
lowered by long-term exposure to elevated temperatures - in extreme cases,
ignition temperature can be lower than the boiling point of water.

The article was in connection with placing a wood-burner an adequate
distance from walls and furniture for safety. I don't know how accurate
that information is, but if your wood rack will be exposed to elevated oven
temperatures over a period of years, this may apply to you as well.