Cartridge Heater Wattage

[David2011]

I'm thinking about going to a PID control for my Star sizer. I'm currently using an aluminum plate and household iron but want something that involves less guesswork. I don't want to spend the price for a commercial heater and still have to add a PID. I have thick aluminum on hand and a milling machine to shape it.

My question is, what wattage cartridge heater have others used to heat lubrisizers? I know a PID will let an oversized heater do the job but I would expect better results with one that doesn't cycle too quickly. My reloading room is heavily insulated so even with the heat off it seldom gets colder than the upper 40s and even that is rare. Point being, I'm not having to bring it up from sub-freezing temperatures.

My my furnace is a Pro Melt so I haven't felt the need for a PID in it. This will be my first PID application and I'll probably use one of the self contained 10 amp fleabay units.

[fred2892]

The standard Lyman heater is 50 watt and takes almost 20 minutes to get carnuba red up to temperature. I built a 12 mm thick heater plate for my LAM and used a 150 watt 8mm (5/16") cartridge heater with a voltage controller. Same lube takes only 5 minutes to get up to temperature.

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[David2011]

Thanks for the info, Fred!

David

[jsizemore]

I use Carnuba Red too. My aluminum plate is 5"x6"x1". I'm using a 30 watt cartridge heater that's .375"x 1.5". Thermocouple is located on the opposite side of the lubesizer. When the temp hits 2degC shy of set temp I use a hair dryer on the lubesizer till the temp hits 2degC above set temp. My space is air conditioned so the lube heater keeps pace to lube 500 boolits in 35-40 minutes. My set temp is 34degC. I wouldn't hesitate to use one 30-100 watts.

I've got another PID that's shared by all my lead pots. It makes the Pro-melts better. You can feel how consistent the boolits are when your sizing them.

[km101]

My home-built heaters are 4" x 5" x .750 aluminum plate. I used a 100 watt 8 mm cartridge heater and a 50C button thermostat. This setup will bring my Lyman 450 up to 110 degrees in about 8-10 minutes. It will maintain 115-118 max temperature indefinitely. This setup works great with Carnauba Red and LS Commercial 160.

be sure to use plenty of heat transfer paste between the lubesizer and the heater plate and between the thermocouple and the plate. Helps to maintain accurate readings and decrease heat-up time. Also, most of the lubesizer bases are NOT flat. It may need a little mill or file work so that it makes good contact with the plate.

Hope this helps.

[darrondb]

I too used a 100W heater. Here is a write up for my build including links to the components.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...zer-base-plate

D

[David2011]

This is all very helpful, gentlemen. Km101, I'll make sure there is good contact between the base and lubrisizer. Darron, your build and parts list will be utilized.

Thanks to all contributors.

David