Melting stick

Completed Melting stick. Source K.H

This is a useful, easily made item used to melt solid oil, palm oil, Glycerine and whites.

Overview

The melting stick is constructed using a 220-240 volt cartridge heater. These are readily available from on-line auction sites and other outlets. The heaters are available in 110v and 230v versions and are offered in a range of Wattages from 150W to 600W.

The unit described here is based on a 300W unit, a size which has proved satisfactory for melting volumes of 20 litres and greater. The design of the "tosser tube" is sufficiently compact to fit through screw top lids of plastic cubies and 20 litre tins.

Components

Components used. Source K.H

1. ... 1 off ... cartridge heater 15mm outside diamater, 300W (available in various wattages)
2. ... 1 off ... short length of 15mm copper pipe
3. ... 2ft ... 15mm plastic pipe
4. ... 2 off ... 15mm - 15mm straight compression fitting
5. ... 1 off ... plastic pipe insert
6. ... 1 off ... Stand-off (piece of metal slightly longer than the heater with the end bent over)
7. ... 1 off ... cable and plug
8. ... 1 off ... in line power switch
9. ... 2 off ... insulated crimp connectors
10. ... 2 off ... shrink sleeving
11. ... 1 off ... Gp7 brass cable gland

Assembly

Solder the stand-off to a compression nut. This is to keep the heater away from the container walls and the curl at the end prevents contact with the container bottom. Tighten the heater into a straight 15 mm compression fitting using the nut with the stand off attached, then attach the copper 15 mm copper pipe to the other end of the fitting. The pipe needs to be short enough so that the heater wires protrude. Attach the second 15 mm compression fitting to the other end of the copper pipe. Put an insert into one end of the 15 mm plastic pipe and a cable gland in the other then feed the cable down inside the pipe,connect and insulate the heater to the cable by either soldering and insulating with heatshrink or use insulated connectors then join the plastic pipe to the compression fitting and tighten the cable gland An inline switch on the cable makes it easier to use

Although known by some low lifes as a tosser tube it is really a modern red hot poker and can be demonstrated on said low life!

the finished article

The cartridge heater

Stick in action

Melting its way into a tub

See also

Use if there are similar pages in the wiki, if not delete.

• Link within this wiki here
• Link within this wiki here
• Link within this wiki here

~~KH~~

... delete this "nowiki" tag once you have set your categories (it's just there to stop this section getting indexed on the main page!) For Biodiesel ... [[Category:Biodiesel]] [[Category:Ingredients and preparation]] [[Category:vegetable oil]] [[Category:Filtration & drying equipment]] Please Note: To get your page indexed on the main page it is necessary, to got to the main page, click the edit tab and then click save. ... delete this "/nowiki" tag once you have set your categories (it's just there to stop this section getting indexed on the main page!)