Lube-Sizer heater...How many watts?

[GLL]

How many watts are most lube-sizer heaters such as the LYMAN ?

Jerry

[Beagle333]

From the instruction booklet:
The Lyman #4500 Lubricator/Sizer utilizes an 110V or 220V 20 watt heating element to
allow easy use of “hard” lubes such as Lyman’s Orange Magic. The element is inserted in

the bottom, rear portion of the #4500.

But I think the aluminum plate ones are 15W.

[GLL]

Thank you !

Jerry

[Beagle333]

I put a 100W cartridge in the one I built... but I use it to keep my coffee mug hot too. :coffeecom

[lxk308]

I used a 40W cartridge in the one I built with a dimmer switch.

[6bg6ga]

I use a 300 watt one simply because it heats up very quick and I do my sizing mostly in the winter and my room is chilly. In 5-7 minutes I'm ready to go.

[94Doug]

That's good to know. I was looking at some of the threaded rod types that could be screwed into an Aluminum plate used as a base for my sizer. Does it really matter if you are using a router speed control anyway? Would the larger wattage still heat up faster?

Doug

[Guesser]

I have an early Midway adjustable heater, good unit, I like the adjustable and it has been in use for more than 15 years. I recently got a new Lyman heater to put under an RCBS unit that runs hard loob exclusively, the new Lyman heater runs a little too warm. When it is running I have to move smartly or the loob gets too soft. Haven't looked into reducing it somehow, but I will.

[6bg6ga]

That's good to know. I was looking at some of the threaded rod types that could be screwed into an Aluminum plate used as a base for my sizer. Does it really matter if you are using a router speed control anyway? Would the larger wattage still heat up faster?

Doug

Yes a larger wattage heater will heat up an aluminum plate faster than a small wattage heater. The router control should work and some are using dimmer controls and having good luck with them. The ultimate would of course be a PID controlled heater. These can and are being made everyday by the average Joe without any major problems. You can use a more expensive PID like an Auber or go cheap with a Mypin unit. Since I have made both I favor the Auber unit because of its ease of programing. Like I said you can use a dimmer control and after a bunch of fooling around arrive at the proper just right temperature but also consider that as the ambient temp raises your dimmer control setting will change. You don't have this problem with a PID because your simply setting a temp for the heater to condition the lube and if you set it at say 90degrees it just means that if the ambient temp is 80 degrees the heater will run a quicker cycle than it will if the ambient is 50 degrees.

[Beagle333]

The ultimate would of course be a PID controlled heater. These can and are being made everyday by the average Joe without any major problems.
That would be me!! [smilie=s:
I built my first one for about 90 bucks (Auber), but now that I know more what I'm looking for and what to buy, my current build cost is $49.85, and that was with me getting all of the components from Amazon.com
With some patient bidding and if you don't mind waiting for shipping from China, you could easily get all the parts from Ebay for about 35 bucks. :coffeecom

[blikseme300]

There are many ways to get the desired results depending on your budget and what you can fabricate. My first heater used a 100W cartridge heater and a light dimmer which worked OK once I had figured out the setting. It was too slow in heating up and I built the unit I now use.

My current heater setup uses a 6"x10"x1" aluminum plate into which I drilled 2 pockets for the elements. The elements are 12x100mm rated at 400W and cost $6.77 each. Temperature control is done using a Lower Electric Thermostat and cost $9.87. Both items were bought from Amazon. Element is "AC 110V 400W 12mm x 100mm Stainless Steel Cartridige Heater" and thermostat is "Reliance 9000507-045 Lower Electric Thermostat". This unit heats up fast and the thermostat control repeatable and cheaper than using a PID. I reserve PID's for controlling my casting pots.

[Fishman]

What about some of the ones on ebay that are designed to stick to whatever you are trying to heat up? My dad has a Lyman 450 and it seems like one of these might work ok. Has anyone tried something like that?

[6bg6ga]

There are many ways to get the desired results depending on your budget and what you can fabricate. My first heater used a 100W cartridge heater and a light dimmer which worked OK once I had figured out the setting. It was too slow in heating up and I built the unit I now use.

My current heater setup uses a 6"x10"x1" aluminum plate into which I drilled 2 pockets for the elements. The elements are 12x100mm rated at 400W and cost $6.77 each. Temperature control is done using a Lower Electric Thermostat and cost $9.87. Both items were bought from Amazon. Element is "AC 110V 400W 12mm x 100mm Stainless Steel Cartridige Heater" and thermostat is "Reliance 9000507-045 Lower Electric Thermostat". This unit heats up fast and the thermostat control repeatable and cheaper than using a PID. I reserve PID's for controlling my casting pots.

I tried to find the 120 volt 400 watt 12mm x 100mm element and only came up with 220 volt elements.

[6bg6ga]

What about some of the ones on ebay that are designed to stick to whatever you are trying to heat up? My dad has a Lyman 450 and it seems like one of these might work ok. Has anyone tried something like that?


Years ago I used a heat lamp to warm up my sizer lube. Stick on heaters will work but an element stuck inside the aluminum plate works far better.

[blikseme300]

I tried to find the 120 volt 400 watt 12mm x 100mm element and only came up with 220 volt elements.

Try this link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007HKK33A/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[williamwaco]

Mine is the 15 Watt version.
If anything it is too hot.
I have to unplug it after about 20 minutes.

[6bg6ga]

Mine is the 15 Watt version.
If anything it is too hot.
I have to unplug it after about 20 minutes.

It all depends on the plate thickness. Aluminum transfers heat really well.

[gray wolf]

OK now, ---- picture me saying this in a loud voice while scratching my head.
What the heck is wrong with a small 5 dollar travel Iron bought at a Junk store ??

Heats up fast, it's small, infinitely controlable, works with all lubes, does your shirts and pants,
and if you turn it upside-down and clamp the handle in a small vise it works as a small vaporizer if it has the
( optional steam function ) Did I say it's cheeeep ?
It's just lube, right ? but hey, I understand the multifunctional qualities of the high tech.
Then again I only have one screw driver, I just keep re-shaping it.
:bigsmyl2:

[tward]

I have used a shop light hung off the sizer with a wrap of aluminum foil. Heats up in about 20 minutes depending on light bulb wattage. Tim