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Out in the garage I've had a waterbed heater just sitting there since my bed experienced a 3AM catastrophic failure about 6 months ago. If you haven't seen one it's similar to a heating blanket but about 12" wide and 24" long.

I've just gotten around to testing it and here are the results;

10 minutes wide open and it reaches a temp of about 185 degrees F. Doesn't seem it will go much further.

It's rated at 325 watts, 120 volts.

Can anyone think of a use for this or is it just trash?

Coates, that thing would warm up a cold seat in a car on a cold winter's day. Grin.

Never Mind, you live in California.

Okay, here is a more reasonable Luthier-oriented suggestion: Put it in the floor of a plywood box to cook off guitar tops. Drop a digital thermometer through the top and you can hold the temp you want for the time you want?

Maybe this would be a great way to control the speed in reaching the optimum temp, nice and easy. ?Dickey38724.9531597222

Ronn, you might be able to use it to keep parts warm. It might buy you a little extra work time with hide glue.

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Don Atwood
Arlington, VA

[QUOTE=Dickey] Coates, that thing would warm up a cold seat in a car on a cold winter's day. Grin.

Never Mind, you live in California.

Okay, here is a more reasonable Luthier-oriented suggestion: Put it in the floor of a plywood box to cook off guitar tops. Drop a digital thermometer through the top and you can hold the temp you want for the time you want?

Maybe this would be a great way to control the speed in reaching the optimum temp, nice and easy. ?[/QUOTE]


Ahh I see. A little "shop oven" to bake my tops in. Hmmm? Ok I'll be selling these ovens on ebay by the end of the week.. Put in your orders early boys.

I've not yet baked a top, but I suppose you could just sandwich the pad between the two halves of the top, stick in a thermometer and let 'er rip. It just dosen't have the power required to heat any air space.

It might have enough power if you insulate the box.?

Think of it as a 325 Watt light bulb. It should put off lots of heat, and very evenly spread over the entire surface, no hot spots.

Come to think of it, that's why NASA developed these blankets to control temps of stuff on spacecraft, evenly and safely.Dickey38725.4134722222