Re: ATM tested today at lunch!

[Woodchuck <djv@bedford.net>]

On Mon, 19 Jan 2004, c f wrote:

> I will continue tonight with the 9 micron, and then make a second hydorstone
> tool and melt the lap.  A question on melting the lap though,  can I melt
> this in a clean tin can sitting inside of hot water on my stove for a few
> hours?  kind of like a double boiler for making fudge candy.  has anyone
> tried this?  honestly,  my wife would see me to my grave if I used her crock
> pot to melt this stuff lol lol

Probably not hot enough.  You want it freely flowing, else it will
puddle and lump up on the tool substrate, will be too thick in the
center, may not adhere well...

A cheap single-burner electric hotplate from WallyWorld or (better)
a yard/flea/auction sale is what you want, in my opinion.  If you
find yourself addicted to melting and pouring pitch, or like to buy
expensive stuff first, keep an eye skinned on eBay and snipe a
laboratory-type hotplate.  Some brands of hotplate are actually
safe!  Ceramic top lab ones are best, worst are those with exposed
coiled heating elements, if such can still be found in Nannyland.
Ones that look like a single element from an old electric stove
[home-making possibilities here, note, visit the junkyard where old
stoves go to die in your locale -- get element, dial, resistors,
heat-proof wire] are intermediate; they can still cause a fire if
some pitch spills on them and they are set at a high temperature.
Run a ground wire, obviously.

Puting some asbestos board [whatever they sell in its stead] twixt
hotplate and saucepan is a nice trick.

Real men use a blowtorch.  Hint: your fire insurance company does
not insure Real Men.  Another hint: heating things in tin cans leads
to burnt fingers.  Get a small stainless steel sauce pan from Goodwill.
Pitch burns hurt bad, and you can't wipe the stuff off.  (Immerse burned
body part in ice water on the spot!)

Dave