ok, so I haven't actually used it to solder anything yet, but it can hold the temperature within 1 degree of setpoint, all the way from 200-450 °F, so I'm assuming it will work.
pid input comes from a thermistor (that's on the copper mast extending into the chamber,) and the output goes to an SSR.
More information here: Arduino Reflow Toaster « Project Blog
great stuff 
but i dont think the GF will let me near our oven XD
I had the same problem! ("c'mon, you can trust me!")
I wound up getting this one at the thrift store for 6$US. It's probably better that way. After I put solder in there it won't be safe for food anymore anyway. (you can see my regular food toaster behind the one in the picture)
Very nice!. I suppose Arduino reads the temperature and then controls the SSR. Can you show a schematic for the connections?
you're correct about the I/O setup. sorry I didn't put up a schematic. the SSR was connected directly to an output pin and ground, and the thermistor was wired using this method: http://webzone.k3.mah.se/projects/arduino-workshop/projects/arduino_meets_processing/instructions/ntc.html
Are lead vapors a problem using this sort of oven? Are lead vapors a problem, in general, when doing reflow soldering?
Or do you use a lead-free solder?
I don't think you get lead vapors, just flux vapors.
Also the "hot plate" method seems popular, how about using an iron? That's one ready-made hot-plate, no need to buy a heater cartridge and have someone machine and polish a chunk of aluminum.
I think one of the benefits of an oven is that it lets you do double-sided boards. I'm not an expert at all though. as I said, I haven't soldered anything in it yet. this was more of case of having a $6 toaster and an idea to try out.
I'd be curious to see what the temperature range on an iron is. it might fluctuate too much. if it worked it would be a pretty cool find though. EVERYONE could do SMT at that point.
Hi br3ttb, in some other DIY-reflow-oven-tutorial they recommended to either directly wire the temperature sensor to the PCB you want to solder or to wire it to an old piece of PCB, which can be placed next to the "real" PCB. So not the Temperature of the air inside the oven would be measured, but the one on the PCB's surface.
Sounded logically to me, perhaps something to consider...
they recommended to either directly wire the temperature sensor to the PCB you want to solder or to wire it to an old piece of PCB
makes sense to me! I'll have to try it out both ways. I'm also planning on using this rig for non-electronics purposes, so maybe I can make something removable.