Keeping that "dipping plastic" from burning...

[captsully18]

TJ, thanks, I only used about 1/4 inch and had hot plate as high as it would go, shakers were still not hot to the touch but pan sure was. No, shakers do not have raised bottoms ( flat ). Camp stove sounds like it would provide the heat, but I would be real leary of the open flame. After fighting fires for 30 years, I just don't want to fight one in my own house,LOL. Still gonna try sand without layer on bottom. I do think that sand will help hold heat in. Just gotta get heat first.

David

[Vodkaman]

It may be an idea to pre-heat the sand in a suitably hot oven first. The sand is the insulator, the mechanical properties that we intend to use. But this makes it more difficult to heat up in the first place.

Two batches of sand could be utilised, one insulating, the other in the oven, heating up for the next batch.

My problem, (experimenting with some gelflex) is heating the rubber in a cheap pan on a gas flame. The stuff burns too quick at the edges. I am going to try a pan in a pan with a sprinkle of sand to separate the two. It could work.

This sand idea is amongst some of the best ideas to arise here, we just have to fine tune it to get the application to work.

Another idea is to cast the external surface of your dipping pot with a couple of inches of plaster. A good insulator, very cheap and easy to handle. Other materials could also be considered like concrete or mortar. Again, one in use, another prepping in the oven.