Benno Posted January 21, 2017 Report Share Posted January 21, 2017 I have just purchased an Australian equivalent of your presto pot. (Sunbeam DF4500 deep fryer) It has a 5 quart capacity and it has a stated temperature range of 260 to 410 degrees farenheight. Having never used one previously I would appreciate your advice on how best to heat plastic and to maintain it at a suitable pouring / injecting temperature. Do you just pour in the plastic, set the pot to the desired temperature and wait for it to heat to the correct temperature? Probably stir a few times as well? What temperature will maintain the plastic in an injectable / pouring state and can the plastic be held at that temperature for any particular length of time before it discolours? Thanks in advance. Benno Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basseducer Posted January 21, 2017 Report Share Posted January 21, 2017 Benno, Welcome to the Frey. My pots have a stirring system witch I thing is essential if not mandatory, I pour in raw plastic, start the stirrer and let it get up to temp. Then general consensus is to get it up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit then lower it to around 320 to 330 working temp (this can differ according to your plastic). A good infra red thermometer comes in handy at this point and the stirring system keeps thing moving and allow for more accurate readings. It also works out any bubbles and helps prevent hot spots while maintaining any additives in suspension. My pots also have valves so I can pour directly into a mold or fill the injector from then. I can also stop the stirrer and fill the injector from the pot. Hope this helps and I'm sure you will get a lot of information. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benno Posted January 23, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2017 Thanks Bassducer. I do have an infra red thermometer but unfortunately do not have a stirrer. I will have to make do I guess with stirring by hand at this stage. I have a 3/8" ball valve ready to go but was wondering how I would fix it to the bottom of the pot. I have a 3/8 nipple ( I intended to cut in half ) for which I was to drill a tight fitting hole through the base of the pot and to screw that into the ball valve. My concern is that there may be leakage from the joins particularly at the base of the pot.. How have you done yours? What do you think is a reasonable amount of plastic that can be heated and held at pouring temperature at any one time and an approximate time it woud take to get to pouring temperture. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basseducer Posted January 23, 2017 Report Share Posted January 23, 2017 I drilled a hole close to the outer edge of the bottom of the pot. I then threaded it to accept the nipple. I use a half inch ball valve that I thread onto the nipple. It was all sealed with a generous amount of teflon tape. You can get different size tips for the valve that help regulate the stream. I had ti grind the nipple flush to the inside of the pot so as not to interfere with the stirrer. I run batches of 16 to 32 ounce most of the time. I have done 8 ounce batches, but rarely do them. It takes about 20 minutes to get a 16 ounce batch ready to pour. It will hold the plastic at temp for a long time. In any case you want to use it up as quickly as possible. I have not scorched any plastic since switching the pot and stirring system, I think you can still pick one up at Bear's fairly reasonable. There may be others 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benno Posted January 23, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2017 Thanks again Bassducer. Your assistance is greatly appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlowFISH Posted January 23, 2017 Report Share Posted January 23, 2017 You can get by without a stirring system - but you'll have to keep stirring ALOT, keep your temps a little low, and you'll probably be forced to stick with opaque baits as trying to keep anything translucent or with sensitive flake at temp - and not scorch it - is near impossible without a stirring system (I speak from experience!!!). At first I used my Presto just for black and Green Pumpkin baits without a stirring system - it worked fine - I stirred alot and found I was just constantly "moving" between demolding, stirring, shooting, stirring...etc, etc.... was kind of crazy at times... but then I made a stirring system... makes the process 100x easier. I'd also recommend making/buying a PID controller to manage the heat... the PID and stirring system make the presto pot really easy to use - even way easier than using a microwave. There are a bunch of threads on PID controllers- IIRC I found most of the info I used to wire one up off google... J. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rixon529 Posted January 24, 2017 Report Share Posted January 24, 2017 23 hours ago, Benno said: Thanks Bassducer. I do have an infra red thermometer but unfortunately do not have a stirrer. I will have to make do I guess with stirring by hand at this stage. I have a 3/8" ball valve ready to go but was wondering how I would fix it to the bottom of the pot. I have a 3/8 nipple ( I intended to cut in half ) for which I was to drill a tight fitting hole through the base of the pot and to screw that into the ball valve. My concern is that there may be leakage from the joins particularly at the base of the pot.. How have you done yours? What do you think is a reasonable amount of plastic that can be heated and held at pouring temperature at any one time and an approximate time it woud take to get to pouring temperture. Https://candletech.com/candle-making/tips-and-tricks/do-it-yourself-wax-melter 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rixon529 Posted January 24, 2017 Report Share Posted January 24, 2017 4 minutes ago, rixon529 said: Https://candletech.com/candle-making/tips-and-tricks/do-it-yourself-wax-melter Maybe this link will help. Rick 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benno Posted January 25, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2017 Thanks Rick, very helpful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
