Wattage for Lube/Sizer Heater??

[Petrol & Powder]

I have used a travel iron a steel plate for many years. I set it on high to get everything up to temp, then bring it down to keep it warm. The steel plate was free and the iron a couple of bucks at the second hand store. My PID was the iron temp setting.

/\ and that "Human interface PID" works amazingly well !

[6bg6ga]

In my experience, the key is patience. Huh? If a high wattage element is employed, albeit the lube melts quickly, there too often is a mess. On the obverse, low wattage element takes "forever" -- but NO mess! I have mine plugged into a Variac, and even in my cold basement, 20 watts is more than adequate at 100% initially, but gets turned down to about 20 to 25% after a bit. Good luck. geo

You couldn't be more wrong when it comes to the large wattage element. There is absolute control thru the usage of the PID control. There is in my case a 3/4" thick aluminum plate 12"x 12". Again, there is no mess. The aluminum absorbs the heat evenly and the whole plate is a constant temperature. There is no hot spots at all and no mess. I run 100 degrees on most harder lubes less on softer lubes and more on real hard lubes. Sir, please comment on something you have actual experience on instead of your theory of what you invision that might happen with very poor or no control.