New heater base, with question...

[Beagle333]

I got this nifty new heater base, made by Sweetpea (saw it on S&S a while back) and he drilled it for my Star and my 5 Lymans and it works for my 3 Ideals as well. :-D
http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/PID/feb21002_zps445d42b3.jpg

And I found this handy heater cartridge on Fleabay (100W) that is same size as hole he put in there.
http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/PID/feb21003_zps61e50127.jpg

And I think it's gonna be just great!
http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/PID/feb21004_zpsf9f2affb.jpg

But I am wondering the best location for my thermocouple. I had thought about putting one on the base near the business end of the sizer, like so, and epoxy it and the K plug in place with a glob of JB-Weld:
http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/PID/feb21005_zps31933e33.jpg

But I'm leaning toward attaching it to the sizer so it will measure the heat of the sizer and not the base, and the K plug would also be epoxied to the sizer (not the base, as might be indicated by the picture), so the wire wouldn't be fatigued over time. I have 3 of the thermocouples, so I could put one on each sizer and they would read direct then.
http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/PID/feb21007_zps44ed9da7.jpg

Do you think it would really matter where I put it, once I learn what indicated temp works best?

[snuffy]

Beagle333, here's how I did my Lyman 450's. For my pid control;

97410

Here's another option, a simple dimmer switch for room lighting wired into the heater circuit. Get the box and plug, dimmer at Lowes, or home depot.

97412

97413

It simply limits current flow into the heater cartridge.

Added, I drilled/tapped ¼X20 thread for the TC. That's what the TC mount has on it.

[Beagle333]

Whaddya know.... the thing works!!! :bigsmyl2:

http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/PID/feb22002_zps2b335fcd.jpg

[btroj]

Dude, that Star is way too clean. Use it already. I'm getting hives from seeing one so clean.

I use a Lyman heater and a dimmer switch. No idea the temp but unless I let it sit for a hour or more the lube never gets too hot. You are basically heating the lube in the base of the sizer so keep the lube flowing and you don't have too much lube heat sitting there for long.

[Beagle333]

Dude, that Star is way too clean. Use it already.

I do :-D ..... and I bought it used too. I guess it's so clean because it's attached with those 3 stainless machine screws and wing nuts. After I'm done sizing, it just takes 3 quick spins of the wingnuts and the thing goes back in the box and doesn't get dusty or dirty from other goings-on around the bench. :wink:

[btroj]

Mine isn't dusty, it just has bits of lube here and there. And here. And there.

[a.squibload]

Heated luber-sizers??? With thermostats?
Wimps!
What's the world comin' to?

OK, I've been thinkin' about heating mine, have an old travel iron
that never sees any use, and the basement is kinda cool.

[Beagle333]

'Next thing you know, I'll prolly be wanting to cast indoors, and sittin' down,... mebbe with one of them fancy lever-operated pots too! I'm gettin' soft! :wink:

http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/cast%20boolits/pid2_zpsc442c862.jpg

[a.squibload]

So did ya ever watch the motorcycle races on TV, before the race starts
they're sittin' on the bikes, got bikini girls holdin' umbrellas over 'em,
what do those poor girls do in the winter when there's no bike races?
Maybe they could hold umbrellas for boolit casters?

Just a thought...

[Spruce]

"Just a thought", somehow I see myself getting burned, if I had bikini girls near by.

[VHoward]

'Next thing you know, I'll prolly be wanting to cast with one of them fancy lever-operated pots too! I'm gettin' soft! :wink:

http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/cast%20boolits/pid2_zpsc442c862.jpg

Were you prophesying? So now you have an RCBS ProMelt and a star, both controlled with a PID for temp.

[1_Ogre]

You guys are a hoot. Bikini's? Been so long since I seen one I only remember the name of em lol
PID's are nice also. I'm tinkin about usin the dimmer switch on my Lyman heater, cheaper than a PID. If I let the Lyman heater sit too long without turnin it off, the lube almost gets liquid, and that ain't good

[VHoward]

The router speed control from harbor freight works well also. http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=router+speed+control Of coarse they were only $10 when I bought one.

[mold maker]

The HF router cont works without any extra wiring. If they had been available 20+ years ago I wouldn't have went to the expense and work with a light dimmer. Since it's worked for over 20 years and I've learned to turn the little knob, I'll use it as is.
At the time 2 SW boxes with covers, cord, recep, and dimmer was well over $10.

[Beagle333]

Were you prophesying? So now you have an RCBS ProMelt and a star, both controlled with a PID for temp.
Very true. My mold oven has a PID as well. :cool:

[kywoodwrkr]

"Just a thought", somehow I see myself getting burned, if I had bikini girls near by.

I can see something getting burned for sure!