Lube Heater/PID

[wtfooptimax200]

I'm convinced that a PID is the way to go with a casting pot but is it overkill on a lube heater? The engineer in me is saying that I can never be too precise with temperature control but i also don't want to spend money that would be better spent on something else.

Also, is there any way to use the PID that I plan to build for the casting pot with the lube heater without it having to relearn the every time that I switch units?

[felix]

Yes, if you write the firmware using hardware that includes non-volatile memory. Look around for such a beast already programmed and sold as a single ROM. If you cannot understand what this all means, then, no, you cannot do what you request. ... felix

[Frozone]

Yes, sorta.

Write down the P, I, and D values from the trained pot. before you move it over.
Then retrain the pot on the new device.

Now when you move it back.
Just reenter the 3 numbers back into the controller. ( don't forget to write down the data for the second device)

There you go a retrained unit and it only took 15 seconds.

[boltons75]

Actually I just switch, the learning process doesn't take long at all. Just enter your target temp and go. Just a simple plug and play.

[Walter Laich]

I use a fish tank heater I got off ebay, might even be a cheap PID. Got the idea from a fellow caster on this site.

Works great--now if there were only a way to keep the lube cavity full all the time....

[LUCKYDAWG13]

57314
we had a few of these cylinder heaters at work that used to heat up side cutters
to cut plastic they can get very hot i used to just un plug but now i have them
plugged into a dimmer switch i made works great the heater is in the middle
of the plate and i drilled a hole in back of the plate and ran the cord under
my bench

[boltons75]

Had a thought last time I got the electric griddle out, why not find one of these,57408 at a goodwill or such, and wire to a cartridge heater. Should work for a lube heater if you don't have a pid controller.

[Frozone]

These (http://toolmonger.com/2007/09/18/grizzlys-router-speed-control/) work Very well for heater control.
This particular one is a little more expensive than some, but less than many.

[Ramslammer]

G'Day
I have a dedicated PID/Heater for my lubesizer. I bought a constant pressure setup from Buffalo Arms http://www.buffaloarms.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=159273&CAT=4467 and drilled the base to take a sensor and 100w pencil heater. Rigged it all up to the PID. I just turn it on 20-30 mins before I'm ready and its all good to go.
Juddy

[blikseme300]

I have a 1" thick 6x10 aluminum bases onto which my Star's are mounted. 2 x 400w pencil heaters are installed into this base and a water tank lower thermostat controls the temperature. Total cost for thermostat and 2 heaters were less than $25. The pics are from Amazon where I purchased the parts.
5752357524

[M Hicks]

I have a 1" thick 6x10 aluminum bases onto which my Star's are mounted. 2 x 400w pencil heaters are installed into this base and a water tank lower thermostat controls the temperature. Total cost for thermostat and 2 heaters were less than $25. The pics are from Amazon where I purchased the parts.
5752357524

This is a great idea. I am going to go out on a limb and say that this runs on 110v? Do you think you could mount the pencil heater to the outside of a lube sizer and still have it work decently?

[blikseme300]

This is a great idea. I am going to go out on a limb and say that this runs on 110v? Do you think you could mount the pencil heater to the outside of a lube sizer and still have it work decently?

Yes,110v.

I would use a small band heater as it would be a better fit however they are not cheap and doing any form of temperature control would be harder.

Total cost, including the aluminum base, is about $50. I have a quick mount system as I run 5 Star sizers. So cost is closer to $10/sizer.

[Rickey]

My Star Luber Sizer is mounted on a 4x10 in piece of 1/4 alum and I use a clothes Iron for my heater

[RoGrrr]

When you can buy a PID and a stat from china (ebay, of course) for about $20, DELIVERED, why not put one each on both lead and lube and not hassle with them ?
Oh, yeah. I forgot the heater. That's another $10, delivered.

[craig61a]

Would be overkill for me, but to each his own. I just use a rheostat and set the dial... and as I had the rheostat already, kinda hard for me to justify the added stuff.

[cheese1566]

576345763557636

Best thing I did with my Star other than the air feed!!!

Turn on and and come back 20 minutes later.

[RoGrrr]

Come back in 20 minutes ?!? You mean you don't spend that time loading ammo ?!?

Oh, that's right. You used up all your boolits last session. You need to pace yourself and plan ahead so you have 20 minutes worth of boolits waiting for next time....

^5 ! and :drinks: for ya, anyway

I do like your slug catcher. I think I'll do that also.

I'm close to having my smelting pot fini so when I do, I'll post pics of it and my lair.





PICS SNIPPED OUT TO SAVE BANDWIDTH

Best thing I did with my Star other than the air feed!!!

Turn on and and come back 20 minutes later.[/COLOR]

[cheese1566]

Come back in 20 minutes ?!? You mean you don't spend that time loading ammo ?!?

Oh, that's right. You used up all your boolits last session. You need to pace yourself and plan ahead so you have 20 minutes worth of boolits waiting for next time....

^5 ! and :drinks: for ya, anyway!

There is more to life than just boolits and shootin'!
During that 20 minutes, I walk to the end of the bench where my homebrew fridge and kegerator project is located!:drinks: