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Silicone Blankets
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Author:  Sylvan [ Mon Jan 17, 2005 7:13 am ]
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I tried to order a silicon blanket for my bender from Minco as per somebody's advice at the forum. Unfortunately, I got asked the following:
Sylvan, in order to place the order you need to know what resistance and what backing you will need on the heater. Model number HR6686 is available in 438W/32.9 resistance and 875W/16.5 resistance.
A is no backing, B is with #12 PSA backing. We will need to know all this information before we can enter the order.
Can somebody help me with these decisions so I can place the order. What is it, exactly that I need for my Fox bender? Thanks.
Author:  Dickey [ Mon Jan 17, 2005 7:21 am ]
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Yeah, they got all technical on you, but don't worry, I got the numbers and I'll get them for ya.
Author:  John How [ Mon Jan 17, 2005 7:21 am ]
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Sylvan, I think it's the 875 Watt blanket but That is only my guess. If you'd like I'll measure the resistance of mine tonight.John How38369.6404050926
Author:  Dickey [ Mon Jan 17, 2005 7:34 am ]
Post subject: 
Minco

HR6686 R 16.5

L12A 0218

120 Volts    875 Watts

That's it. This is a five by thirty-five.
LMI's benchmark is a 6 by thirty-six.
The price difference is about 40 -50 bucks last time I checked. If you wanted your slats to be equal to your blanket, would be cause to order LMI's. I have both, they both do the job, without fail.
Author:  Brock Poling [ Mon Jan 17, 2005 1:03 pm ]
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Omega carries 6" wide blankets in 36" lengths.

They have both 2.5W versions and 5w versions. Get the 5 watt ones.

They take a little time to get, but they are a decent price and work great.
Author:  Tim McKnight [ Mon Jan 17, 2005 1:48 pm ]
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I have had my Minco blankets (5" x 35" x 5 watts / sq. inch) for about a month now and I am very happy with them. They are super thin and heat up very quickly and evenly.

The way they calculate the wattage is:
5" x 35" = 175 x 5 watts / sq inch = 875 watts total.
They also offer fast deleivery. I think I orderd mine on a Monday and had them Wednesday!

Oh, yes, they will also ask what length leads you need. Standard length is 12" and it's easy to add a pigtail to them if you need a longer length. Don't order any backing on the blanket either.

Hope this helps.
Author:  Tom D [ Mon Jan 17, 2005 1:49 pm ]
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Sylvan,
I have these hooked up to a 1000 watt dimmer and they work great. Bruce hooked me up with these last year and was well worth the money, half the price of LMI's.
Author:  john hall [ Mon Jan 17, 2005 4:12 pm ]
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   I stock heating blankets. I carry 5 and 6 inch widths with lengths from 30 to 36. The prices range from $115 to $135
Controllers are included.
Blues Creek Guitars.
The units are 4 watts per inch and will run off 120 V ac
    Thanks
John Hall
Author:  Don Williams [ Mon Jan 17, 2005 11:19 pm ]
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What kind of controller? I've seen one unit (Watco) where you hook on a sensor, and it brings the heat up to bending temperature while you bend, and then holds it for an additional amount of time at a lower temp. It was programable. Is this what you're including John, or is it just a dimmer unit/timer?Don W38370.3064351852
Author:  john hall [ Tue Jan 18, 2005 1:38 am ]
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Hi
To be honest I use a route speed controller. The variable resistor has a higher wattage rating than a ligh dimmer switch.
This with a cheap cooking thermomter you can buy at walmart for under $10 will let you dial in a temp will very accurate control. It takes me about 4-6 minutes to bend a side.
   Once I have the wood on the pattern I hold theheat at 250-275 for 3 minutes and let cool.
   The controller is included in the price of the blanket
John Hall
570-682-8046
Author:  Ray L [ Wed Jan 19, 2005 12:50 pm ]
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Guys, I have read that blankets work better than light bulbs, especially in cutaways. How does one use the blankets? Do you use one on the top and bottom of the "sandwich" (spring steel - wood - spring steel)? It seems like some of you use a 5" wide blanket and some use a 6" to match the bender width. Does this really matter? What is the web address of Minco? Can I just use the router speed contoller that I have instead of dedicating one to the heating blanket(s)? Sylvan, have you figured out what to order?

Thanks for any help,

Ray
Author:  npalen [ Wed Jan 19, 2005 4:13 pm ]
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Ray--I have better luck with two blankets.
Nelson
Author:  Dickey [ Thu Jan 20, 2005 12:40 am ]
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Bending with two does make sense. Did it solve the cracked side issue? For me, I use one on top of the wood, but my forms are also heated using two 200 watt bulbs internally. I control the blanket with a commercial 1000 watt dimmer available at electric supply houses for about twenty bucks.

I wire that on a block of wood with a dual receptacle into which I plug the heat blanket. Everything is full on until I need to reduce the temp. By marking a spot on the dimmer cover plate I can put it where it should be fairly quickly.

Share some details of your methods Nelson, I'd like to hear it.
Author:  Mattia Valente [ Thu Jan 20, 2005 10:21 am ]
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See, this is where I get depressed again.

I've called various electricians/electrical supply places around here, and the best deal on a 1000 watt dimmer I've been able to find has been about 3-4 times the price of a heating blanket. And none of the US controllers work at 220/240V, so I'm stuck there. A voltage converter that can handel one (let alone two) blankets at full wattage and current also doesn't come cheap, so...anyone in non-110V land got any tips? And electrical supply house you know of 'do' 220/240 V dimmers in 1000W capacities? 'cause for now, I'm sticking to the slightly flaky on/off method by choice only.
Author:  Jeff Doty [ Thu Jan 20, 2005 10:40 am ]
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Hey Everyone,

I just wanted to say I use a blanket and timer/controller setup from John Hall. It works great! I have the digital thermometer to dial in the temp, but the controller switch has settings on it, so that once I realized where a certain temp was, I can use very easily.

I needed something easy to use and understand and that is what John sent me. Sure made life easy, and I highly recommend his products!

For those of us who are "sharp as a marble" when it comes to electrical wiring, etc., it sometimes pays to buy the ready to run setup.   


Jeff
Author:  John How [ Thu Jan 20, 2005 10:52 am ]
Post subject: 
Mattia, can you find a router speed controller that will work with your power system. Just make sure it can handle the power you will be running thru it, which could be as much as 800-900 watts.
Author:  Brock Poling [ Thu Jan 20, 2005 12:52 pm ]
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And if not, I know that a lot of people just control the temp by plugging the blanket in then unplugging it. If you use a thermometer, and a light switch that might do the trick for you and save you the headache of hunting a 220/240 V controller.
Author:  John How [ Thu Jan 20, 2005 1:09 pm ]
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If you control it with a switch, don't go off and do something else. I have done that and for just a few minutes. I came back and the side sandwich was about 475?. Fortunately nothing caught fire. They heat up real fast with uncontrolled current.
Author:  Dickey [ Thu Jan 20, 2005 3:47 pm ]
Post subject: 
For a quick on off switch, think multi-strip, similar to a surge protector for a computer. YOU know the type, a three foot cord, with a bank of receptacles five or six, and the little rocker switch with the glowing red light? That kind. IT would function well, and beats plugging in and out. You ain't gonna leave any wood on to cook, really. As fast as wood is bent, and as expensive as it is, it demands our attention.

I heard Jim Olson bends sides thirty sets at a time, one at a time, amazing, what a days work.
Author:  Dickey [ Thu Jan 20, 2005 3:55 pm ]
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For you Minco users, you have to provide your own cord. Just about any old lamp, computer, radio, typewriter, alarm clock, tv, toaster.... just about any electrical device will have a cord on it. Take your dikes and cut it off full length with just the cord and plug. Toss the object and now you have a freebie cord. Or, if you are desperate, go buy a six foot extension cord for 99 cents. While you are there get four small wire nuts, yellow or blue, just make sure they have metal tapered steel spring inside. Wire it up and you are ready to go. Add a multi-strip for $3.99 and you have a switched controller with a reset breaker too on the end. And for you hard core folks grab a 1000 watt dimmer and wire up a receptacle to it, two handi-boxes (metal) with handi-covers, one switch, one receptacle, and a couple romex connectors for half inch knockouts. You will have a cool controller. The router speed controller might be the ticket but I don't have a clue about them, anyone have a picture of one?
Author:  Jason [ Thu Jan 20, 2005 6:36 pm ]
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How much do these dimmers actually cost?? I won't have any problems wiring one of these I just have to go out and buy the dimmer..
Author:  Mattia Valente [ Thu Jan 20, 2005 6:52 pm ]
Post subject: 
I've asked several big tool suppliers about 'router speed controllers', and all of them give me really blank stares, and ask me what the heck I'm talking about. So that's not an option. I'll just have to stick to the on/off method, I guess, and I never, ever leave the blanket unattended while it's plugged in. Ever.
Author:  Colin S [ Thu Jan 20, 2005 9:00 pm ]
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Mattia

Yeah I'm from 220/240 land as well, I do use a dimmer switch for my blanket. You have to get one designed for commercial applications, those sold for domestic use are not tough enough for the job. I'm afraid mine wasn't cheap when I bought it about 25 years ago (for our rock band lighting) but it is a once in a lifetime investment. Used together with a digital thermometer and a note book to record bending temperatures for different woods it will save its cost in ruined sides in no time.

Colin
Author:  Dickey [ Fri Jan 21, 2005 1:18 am ]
Post subject: 
Grizzly Has ONE, router speed control 20 amps.

This looks good, amperage is heavy enough. Anyone use these on their blanket? That's over 2,000 Watts and could control two Minco 5 by 35's at once. hmmmmm.
Author:  Don A [ Fri Jan 21, 2005 1:34 am ]
Post subject: 
[QUOTE=Dickey] Grizzly Has ONE, router speed control 20 amps.

This looks good, amperage is heavy enough. Anyone use these on their blanket? That's over 2,000 Watts and could control two Minco 5 by 35's at once. hmmmmm.[/QUOTE]

Bruce, you can pick up a 15 amp controller from Harbor Freight. They are on sale for $12.49.

Variable speed controller
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