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Regarding the marbles on the bottom, I don't have any, but I do have rocks - would they present any problem?

Steve

Regarding the marbles on the bottom, I don't have any, but I do have rocks - would they present any problem?

Steve

I don't think so as it's just used mainly as an insulater from the hot plate . It might make your water a bit hard though.

I just put the cooked glue directly into the hold heet pot. It reheats well and I just clean it out every few days and make a new batch. I am sure there is a more elegant solution, but this works pretty well.

I like the idea of the Hot Pot, I have bought and tried a few, but I struggle to keep the temperature in range.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

I just use a baby bottle warmer. Works fine, big enough, will stay in range all day once set. I use the small plastic bottles, with stainless steel nuts, but you can get a brush in some of those, without a problem. The 4 oz size will accommodate a decent brush. If you could find some of the small straight side bottles with the larger top, they would work even better.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Where would one find one 4oz. ball jar? The smallest one I saw was an 8 oz. and you had to buy a case.

Well here's mine. I put marbles in the bottom .
Do you guys have your dial set this low? If I turn it just a little bit lower it will go below 140.

OK, thanks.

I got the hold-heet a couple of years ago and never regretted it. It holds 140 degrees all day long and you never have to worry about it. if you are in this for the long haul it's worth considering.

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

Terrence, what size pot did you buy? The Best Things sell a 1-pint sized Hold-heet pot that some folks over on MaestroNet seem to prefer over the more common 1-quart sized one that Stewmac sells. I'm thinking 1-pint should be plenty big enough for our use, or...?

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

http://www.cooking.com/products/shprodde.asp?SKU=220401

I've been using this "Little Dipper" crock pot from Rival for years now. $10 if you buy them new, has no 'thermostat' to wear out or burn up(the Rival hot pots don't last...) and holds 145°F all day, every day, seemingly forever. And unlike the Hot Pot, it doesn't cycle its heat; it is regulated simply by its low wattage, just like the HoldHeet. Also like the HoldHeet, you can use the glue directly in it, but I think we have better ways today, with either little jars or bottles in the water bath. I find these at Value Village(second hand stores) type places for $2 or less all the time, and now have a lifetime's supply, and still don't have $20 invested, and that first one shows no signs of dying. The snazzy stainless steel shell jazzes up any workbench, too.

Only "issue" is that, like the HoldHeet, it takes a good 30-45 minutes to come up to temp, but if I'm in a hurry, I add some boiling water to the Little Dipper; about one cup boiling will take it to 140 or so instantly.

I couldn't let y'all keep playing with the Hot Pots; use 'em if you have 'em already, but once they burn out, and they will, get yee the Wee Dipper. Thank me later....

Now there you go! Thanks for the link Mario.

I've got the 1 quart model Arnt. Just like Mario I usually heat some water in the microwave to around 200, pour it in the cold pot and plug it in. Toss the cool glue bottle in the water and it's usually at 140 within 30 minutes. Sounds like the "Little Dipper" works just as well but i love the Hold Heet.

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

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Hi Tony, I'll keep that in mind if I get the large Hold heet. I've looked at the Herdim glue pots, and I'm sure they are nice, but talk about sticker shock . OTOH, I can't imagine there is a nicer pot available anywhere, so for such an important piece of equipment that will be used constantly in the shop, and you can afford it, why not?

Hey, I've been meaning to get back to you about the glue brushes, I really owe you! They are very nice, I like the fact that they can hold spread a lot of glue quickly. Also, beeing all natural there is no corrosion or anything like that to mess up the composition of the glue. I make sure I clean them thoughougly and let them dry beween use, and they are holding up fine.

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin