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Hi! I have a simple electrical question, and was hoping some of you electrical geniuses might be able to provide some insight. I have a 230V~/50 Hz/300 Watt wax melting pot...this is a German-made appliance with a UK plug. To use it in the USA, I had to purchase a "step-up transformer". The transformer just stopped working, so now is as good a time as any to ask...
Is there any way to convert the inner workings of this pot so that it runs on 110V? Do you think it's feasible to convert or remove the heating element and replace it with one for US current? Essentially, it's an expensive appliance made to melt wax at precisely (thermostatically) controlled temperatures...a glorified crock pot. And, YES, I have tried using crock pots but they just don't maintain the wax temperature precisely enough. I know this may be a bit esoteric for this tribe, but thought it worth a try...thanks!
Is there any way to convert the inner workings of this pot so that it runs on 110V? Do you think it's feasible to convert or remove the heating element and replace it with one for US current? Essentially, it's an expensive appliance made to melt wax at precisely (thermostatically) controlled temperatures...a glorified crock pot. And, YES, I have tried using crock pots but they just don't maintain the wax temperature precisely enough. I know this may be a bit esoteric for this tribe, but thought it worth a try...thanks!
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Tucson
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Re: Appliance conversion question...help!
Tue, February 14, 2006 - 7:31 AMI'd just go to Radio Shack or Grainger and get another transformer.
I am certain it's not like a re-wireable electric motor that can run on either 110 or 220.
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Re: Appliance conversion question...help!
Tue, February 14, 2006 - 9:25 AMWell, I opened up my transformer and tightened everything, and now it works again. But it'd still be so much better to use it without one. I travel a lot and it weighs a ton. Alas, thanks anyway. -
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Re: Appliance conversion question...help!
Tue, February 14, 2006 - 10:45 AMMy diagnosis: you had a loose wire. Where do I send the bill?
Some appliances come with a switch that you flip for 110 or 220. Don't they sell wax melters that have such a switch? -
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Re: Appliance conversion question...help!
Tue, February 14, 2006 - 3:44 PM;) Hmmm...not sure you can bill me for a post-cure diagnosis, but I'll think about it.
No switch on this one, I'm afraid. And as for wax melters, they might do so for the kind used to make candles (big vats o' wax), but this is an itsy bitsy thing for batik craft (don't worry, I don't expect anyone to know what that is!) and I've thoroughly researched 'em. Perhaps I should get into the business of making 'em...I can't be the only one out there with this problem! :) As it is I'm designing a dye vat for a vat dyeing method I invented, should have the prototype finished in a couple weeks...ya know anything about the plastics industry? ;)
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Re: Appliance conversion question...help!
Thu, February 23, 2006 - 2:11 PMTraveling with a wax melting pot?
ok. -
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Re: Appliance conversion question...help!
Thu, February 23, 2006 - 4:48 PMOkay, smartass...I spend summers with the folks and like to do more than polish floors while I'm there. Or I guess I could work for the man and travel with a briefcase instead of a paintbrush and a wax pot. Uhhh...nope.
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Re: Appliance conversion question...help!
Mon, February 20, 2006 - 8:09 PMI assume your melting parrafin wax or some other wax that requires relatively high temps with a fair amount of control?
I doubt you'll be able to engineer an eqivalent heating element that will run on 110V that has the level of pecise heating control that you are used to.
However I can recommend that you look at 'Solder Pots' or 'Pot Crucible'. Depending on your budget depends on how much it will cost you. The pots are accurate and come in a variety of volume sizes.
If they dont have enough capacity. I reccomend you lookup "Labratory Hotplate", they come in a variety of sizes and can typically go north of 600°F, shoiuld you ever need to get that ridiculously hot. Lab hotplates are precision devices and depending on your budget can have temperature variances within 1/4°, some lab hotplates are also equipped with magnetic stirring rods... I dont know if you'll need something like that or not. You''ll have to supply your own vessel with a hotplate, but you can get as large as you need. Borosilicate glass, oven rated ceramic or a nice thick stainless steel vessel are reccomended. -
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Re: Appliance conversion question...help!
Tue, February 21, 2006 - 7:11 AMYes, a paraffin/beeswax combination at 220°F to 240°F, but keeping it within a degree or two makes the rate of wax flow much more predictable, thus the artwork much more professional. Thank you for the heating element advice, now I can stop thinking about it and just get down to business!
As for solder pots, I can get one reasonably on eBay...the main reason I haven't is I fear that the knob could get accidentally bumped and the wax will reach its flash point while I'm not paying attention. But I could put a stop on the knob I suppose. And the lab hotplate is an idea I hadn't considered. I will investigate both a little further, thank you so much for taking the time to advise me! :) BTW, what is a magnetic stirring rod? -
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Re: Appliance conversion question...help!
Tue, February 21, 2006 - 2:19 PMSometimes you need the heat distributed evenly throughout whatever it is you are heating. In order to achieve even heating you have to stir. Well there are only two ways to stir, from above and from below. From above is usually in the way, so below is a good way to go.
Most blenders have a hole in the bottom that mixing blades are inserted through. That compromises the vessel. So someone came up with the idea that if you put a magnetized bar in the bottom of a glass or ceramic container and you sit the container over top of a spinning magnetic (that may or may not be heated) that you would be able to achieve even heating and thus raise the level of precise heat control throughout the material.
Certainly not all materials need to be stirred, and thats probably something that is not done in candlemaking. But I thought I would mention it anyways, because that is one of the several varieties of lab hotplates available. -
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Re: Appliance conversion question...help!
Tue, February 21, 2006 - 2:43 PMWow, that's very interesting. We humans are damn clever. Yeah, probably overkill for batik, but hey, I learned something new. Thanks.
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