[Shop-talk] Is there an electrical engineer in the house?

[Scott]

I would like to build several warmer 'pots' for SWMBO.

They'll be made from 1/8 inch aluminum sheet, and they'll about 3x6x3 
inches each. They'll have a lid, so they're more like boxes, I suppose.

They'll be used to keep fluid warmed to about 100 degrees.

I'd like to use an electric heating element with a thermostat 
permanently set to that temperature, and it could go on the exterior 
bottom surface of the box.

The only thing I don't know how to do is the wire grid and thermostat, 
switches, etc. What should I use to attach the wire to the box, that 
sort of thing.

EE1101 was a long time ago, so I thought I'd ask you guys. Is this 
something that can be done? I don't mind if it takes a fair amount of 
work, I want these to be nice, and lasting. I just don't know where to 
start looking for the stuff, what to Google, etc.

Thanks.

Scott