Lyman heater

[Ausglock]

G'day All.
I have ordered a Lyman heater for my 450. I want to try some jakes hard lube.
Can anyone tell me what temperature the heater gets to?
Do you leave it powered on all the time or do you switch it off and on as the lube handle gets hard to turn?

The 450 and the LAM II are bolted to a steel topped bench. Will i need to insulate the heater from the steel benchtop?

Thanks.

[mooman76]

I turn mine off and on as needed. It takes awhile to heat up depending on the current temp. After it gets hot the lube will flow a little too freely so I unplug it until the lube starts to get too stiff again. I will stay hot for a long time. Shouldn't need to insulate it in fact I would think it would help hold the temp longer but might take a little longer to heat up.

[Frozone]

.....
The 450 and the LAM II are bolted to a steel topped bench. Will i need to insulate the heater from the steel benchtop?

I would.
A piece of 1/4" plywood between it and the bench should do nicely.

[hornady]

My bench is wood so I never thought about insulating it, could not hurt, with the metal bench.
I installed a light dimmer to a receptacle I use only for the lube heater; once the lube starts flowing I turn the rheostat back about half way. And it needs no more attention.
If you go this rout, make sure you don’t plug your scale into a reduced current receptacle

[mold maker]

My lubsizer is mounted to a move-able piece of plywood, that gets clamped to the bench. The light dimmer and receptacle, are mounted just behind the sizer. The whole unit clamps to the joist over head leaving extra space on the bench when not in use.

[Ausglock]

Thanks for the replies.
I'll go get a dimmer and see how that goes.
I am thinking of getting one of those white plastic kitchen chopping boards and sandwiching it between the bench and the heater/lubesizer combo.

[casterofboolits]

Go with wood, not plastic.

[smoked turkey]

The dimmer is a great idea, I have planned that for a long time but havin't done it yet. What I do is plug it in for about 15-20 minutes until the unit is warm. I unplug the warmer and continue to size/lube boolits usually until finished. I find that the initial warming is usually enought for a long time. Leaving the heater on too long once resulted in a royal mess with lube coming out of the sizer from the bottom where it bolts to the heater and also from the sizer cavities. It will only happen to you once if you are like me and tend to learn from your mistakes.

[alfloyd]

"Will i need to insulate the heater from the steel benchtop?"

My Lyman heater came with an insulating layer on the bottom of the heater.
No need to add anything before mounting to loading bench ( plastic laminate top).

Lafaun

[Ausglock]

"Will i need to insulate the heater from the steel benchtop?"

My Lyman heater came with an insulating layer on the bottom of the heater.
No need to add anything before mounting to loading bench ( plastic laminate top).

Lafaun

Yep. Mine arrived from the US today, and your are correct, sir. It does have a cork like layer on the bottom for insulation.

Going to mount it up and give it a try tomorrow...

[Irascible]

Are you guys talking about two different Lyman heaters? There is one that is a plate under the sizer and another which inserts into the sizer.
I use a C-H heater plate which bolts under the sizer and which comes with a temp control knob.
What type light dimmer are you using? Electronic or reostate type?

[Hardcast416taylor]

I agree with hornady about the dimmer control. I have been using that approach with my homemade warmers for about 20 yrs. I also agree with insulating the warmer from the surface it is mounted on, I used 3/8" plywood. I warm up the lube till it is useable then dial back the dimmer switch, I have found the "sweet spot" on the dimmer that keeps the hard lube at the right working temp. and leave it there on my marking spot.Robert

[snuffy]

Here's my dimmer control for the Lyman heater. It has a push on/off feature to the knob that allows it to be turned on and off without losing your setting.







I may mount the dimmer assy. behind the sizer someday. I find about 50% is just right for carnuba red lube. It takes about 30 minutes to warm up at 50%, so I just go back, turn it on before breakfast, then after the coffee is finished, I'm ready to lube.

[Ausglock]

Are you guys talking about two different Lyman heaters? There is one that is a plate under the sizer and another which inserts into the sizer.
I use a C-H heater plate which bolts under the sizer and which comes with a temp control knob.
What type light dimmer are you using? Electronic or reostate type?

This is the plate type heater that mounts under the Lube-sizer.

[milprileb]

Is this CH heater with controls for temperature still made ?

[casterofboolits]

Is this CH heater with controls for temperature still made ?

I think the CH heater plates are no longer in production. Too bad as they are good heater plates. I have two of them for my Star Lubesizors. Still had to put a dimmer switch on them.

[dannyd]

a router speed control from Harbor Freight for 20.00. Works great and is easy to install. Use it on two RCBS Lam II

[milprileb]

dannyd,

I don't see a plug receptacle for that speed control, how did you plug the heater power cord to this speed control .

Thanks, Skip

[dannyd]

the plug is on the bottom next to the power cord.

[milprileb]

Off to buy one !