Darryl Keil Last Activity 2024-10-10 3:42 PM
9 replies, 3235 viewings
 
back
Navigate threads:
< Previous Thread :: Next Thread >
 
^ Top
Roger Holmes

Posts: 5

Joined: 2008-06-13
Location: Lincoln NE

User Profile 
Subject : Heating plattens
Posted : 2008-11-18 9:33 PM
Post #35068
I can't reliably keep my shop at 68 degrees or higher and have had a nasty experience with Unibond failure due to low temperature during cure. I have managed more or less by throwing an electric blanket over the press but would like to be able to apply heat beneath the platen (3/4 in particle board) as well as on top and to be able to set and maintain a constant temperature on both surfaces. Ideas? I imagine there are heat "blankets" for this sort of thing, but not sure and don't know where to find them.
Thanks
Roger


 
^ Top
Darryl Keil

Posts: 1453

Joined: 2003-05-22
Location: Maine

User Profile 
Subject : RE: Heating plattens
Posted : 2008-11-19 1:14 PM
Post #35069 - In reply to #35068
Roger,

You may want to consider electric radiant floor heating and mount it underneath your bag. There are a number of manufacturers but here's one I saw in a magazine www.warmlyyours.com

Darryl


 
^ Top
Gary H Phillips

Posts: 46

Joined: 2007-05-06
Location: Seekonk, MA

User Profile 
Subject : RE: Heating plattens
Posted : 2009-01-11 9:08 AM
Post #35190 - In reply to #35069
Darryl,

That looks like a wonderful way to handle the problem of even heating. I will probably purchase two of these for under my table. Even heat is very important. The company that did and still does certain types of laminating for us had a phase they went through were they would continue to pile up sheets in the press after pressing each one. One sheet would be on top of another. So, after a point, only the top sheet would be heated as there wasn't any heat in the bottom sheet. We had trouble with the laminated product warping like crazy; never did in the past though. We told him that when he does stuff for us, unless it's cold glue, you are not to ever have more than one sheet in the press at one time. Never had trouble after that.

Heat is importan and Even heat is even more important.



Cheers

Gary



 
^ Top
emanuel leimanis

Posts: 8

Joined: 2003-07-07
Location: Richmond, B.C., Canada

User Profile 
Subject : RE: Heating plattens
Posted : 2008-11-19 3:31 PM
Post #35070 - In reply to #35068
I have a similar situation of keeping a minimum of 70 degrees and also trying to raise the temperature to shorten the time in the press. I am using "infra red" heat lights. Little control over temperature, but they do raise the temperature and do heat through the platen, substrates and the bottom platen. I have been able to raise the temperature but not shortening the time in the press. I am not able to accurately measure the temperature of the substrate and so I am not able to shorten the time frame, but I do have an increased temperature and so the adhesive is curing well.

I have the light suspended about 50 inches above the press. This allows the heat to warm most of the 4' x 8' press table, but the temperature is not even over the whole table. I am looking at adding more lights and so ensure a better coverage over the whole surface, and more consistent heat over the whole surface.

I was thinking of Daryl's idea also, and this may be better. I thought the ability to control the temperature might be better. I was concerned of how warm could I get the platen? Do the floor heat grids put out a lot of heat or are the just "warm"????


Emanuel


 
^ Top
Darryl Keil

Posts: 1453

Joined: 2003-05-22
Location: Maine

User Profile 
Subject : RE: Heating plattens
Posted : 2008-11-19 4:13 PM
Post #35071 - In reply to #35070
I did some searching on the internet for these floor heating systems and found another one that is all self contained and portable, you just plug it in. I called them and found out it goes to a set temp of about 85 degrees.

Here's the link http://www.speedheat.us/sales/carpetmate/cm470.html

Darryl


 
^ Top
Roger Holmes

Posts: 5

Joined: 2008-06-13
Location: Lincoln NE

User Profile 
Subject : RE: Heating plattens
Posted : 2008-12-08 5:03 PM
Post #35119 - In reply to #35071
Many thanks for suggestions. I'm looking into heating systems as suggested and some others...will post if I find anything promising. Roger


 
^ Top
mike mcnerney

Posts: 87

Joined: 2003-07-17
Location: ottawa ontario

User Profile 
Subject : RE: Heating plattens
Posted : 2008-12-16 4:15 AM
Post #35135 - In reply to #35068
I have my bag in a small 5 x 9 finishing room that is moderately insulated & heated, in my garage (unisulated) In Ottawa. You could build an insulate box underneath your bag & heat the space with light bulbs or a small space heater; you may need a couple of small vent holes; or maybe another electric blanket on a shelf as close to the underside of the main table as possible
For bending guitar sides, they sell a pretty sophisticated heating blanket but it's small 6" x 36" but it's too expensive for this application.
Mike McNerney


 
^ Top
Don Stephan

Posts: 825

Joined: 2003-07-18
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio

User Profile 
Subject : RE: Heating plattens
Posted : 2008-12-20 11:24 AM
Post #35141 - In reply to #35135
Another less complex option might be to lay a sheet of styrofoam under your bag and caul, then use a heating blanket (which you already have?) to pre-heat the caul for a while.

Then the underside of your gluing sandwich would start out warm, and the heating pad would only have to heat the sandwich itself and 1/4" top caul.


 
^ Top
axeman1972

Posts: 2

Joined: 2008-12-24

User Profile 
Subject : RE: Heating plattens
Posted : 2009-01-11 12:36 PM
Post #35192 - In reply to #35141
Having a similar cold basement situation, a trip to walmart for a twin size electric blanket seems to be the answer. Using my Weber wirless thermometer, it doesn't take long to raise the temperature under the blanket to 100 degrees. Again, that doesn't ensure a 100 degree platen, but it should raise it above the unibond minimum. I also use a piece of aluminum-bubble insulation on top of the blanket to further capture the heat. I think a 2 hour preheat should bring the temperatures up. I leave it in the bag for three hours, just in case. Hmmm, I wonder if it would be worth imbedding thermocouples in the platen? The ramblings of a retired engineer!


 
^ Top
Brian Gray

Posts: 339

Joined: 2004-01-21
Location: Sandusky, OH

User Profile 
Subject : RE: Heating plattens
Posted : 2009-01-11 1:46 PM
Post #35193 - In reply to #35192
I have never had issues with electric blankets. I also have never seen the need to heat from the bottom.

However, if you were so inclined, and really wanted to do something like this right, you could certainly engineer a platen that has heated water going through it via hoses.

Here's a tankless water heater for $120.

http://www.globalindustrial.com/gcs/prod/30160190/i/1/productInfo.web?a=30160190&c=B60190

This could certainly be rigged up to do what you want.
back
Navigate threads:
< Previous Thread :: Next Thread >
Legend      Notification  
Administrator
Forum Moderator
Registered User
Unregistered User
 Toggle e-mail notification


Logo by MAZY
Running MegaBBS ASP Forum Software v1.5.14b public beta