Melting stick

The business end

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,click to enlarge

• 1 off ... cartridge heater 15mm outside diamater, 300W (available in various wattages)

• 2 off ... 15mm - 15mm straight compression fittings

• 1 off ... short length of 15mm copper pipe

• 2ft ... 15mm plastic pipe

• 1 off ... plastic pipe insert

• 1 off ... cable and plug

• 2 off ... insulated crimp connectors /soldering iron and shrink sleeve

• 1 off ... cable gland

• 1 off ... piece of metal slightly longer than the heater with the end bent over

the finished article

The cartridge heater

Stick in action

How to assemble

Firstly solder the piece of steel to one of the flat surfaces of a compression nut,this is a stand off to keep the heater away from the container walls and the curl at the end keeps it off the container bottom,tighten the heater into a straight 15 mm compression fitting using the nut with the stand off, then attach the copper 15 mm copper pipe to the other end of the fitting,this needs to be short enough that the heater wires protrude. Attach the other straight 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 feed the cable down inside the pipe,connect and insulate the heater to the cable then join the plastic pipe to the compression fitting. 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!

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~~

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