2nd Heat Source

[t-billy]

 The non stick presto works great for larger batches. I use it anytime I'm cooking more than 3 cups. It's worth every extra penny it costs over the cheaper thinner pots. For smaller batches I use Lodge Logic cast iron pouring pots on 1100 watt hot plates. The pots cost me $18 each if I remember right. They hold about 1 cup. The hot plates cost around $20 each as well.  The cast pots heat evenly and hold heat well. I can hold my plastic at the desired temp as long as I need to without scorching. I have never scorched plastic in these pots. Not once. I turned Andrew on to the Lodge cast pots last spring. Ask him for his opinion on them. Personally,I think you guys that are microwaving are making things much harder than they need to be. The Presto pots and the cast pouring pots give you much better control over temperature and heating rate. Dont skimp on your equipment. Thicker heavier pots that heat evenly yield MUCH better results than cheaper thinner pots.

[BareKnuckleJigs]

Roger on'nat, TBilly, thank You Sir.  Cooking in an actual pot has crossed my mind a time or 2.  Reading Your post here, that's my next move.

In much thinking, and wanting to try something before opening the little Presto, I planned to "set" the Pyrex into the top of the Presto, then came the Kamikaze part that I'm trying to avoid posting.  Once I made my decision that this would add too much negative possibility, I decided on what seems to be a more finely-adjustable Electric Single Burner and a 1 quart thick pot, $45 total, and I'll try to return the Presto unopened.

If this works right at all, I'll salvage what I can from the 2 microwaves and bring the rest to the scrap area of the dump...which will open up my workbench quite a bit...and that's never a bad thing.

Thank You, Jason and Family, for Your awesome Company, Products and Service.  I'll always favor CCM, hands down...no matter what anyone says...yep, I'm biased.

[t-billy]

 Your most welcome. I got my hot plates at Wally World. They're GE and they have a solid steel surface instead of the coil style heating elements. I don't know if that makes a difference but, I think they might heat more evenly than the coil style. I don't know if that's true or not. I do know they work well. As I said in my first post they're 1100 watt. I wouldn't buy one with lower wattage. I have to run mine at about 75% power to maintain around 350. An IR thermometer is a valuable tool as well. If you don't have one I'd reccommend getting one. I love my little cast iron pots. They're worth every penny. That said, the heavier cast aluminum pots should work well too. That's what my presto is made of. Good luck. I hope you find a setup that works well for you.

[BareKnuckleJigs]

I was hoping to find a burner with a solid top but most of those I looked at had "low, medium, high" settings which made me feel like it had 3 pre-set temps so I avoided them, and avoided the coil-types with that same specified feature.

The unit that's coming is only 1,000 watt, I think it'll work.  It's adjustment seems more finely-adjustable than the 3-step adjustment.  It's a Better Chef IM-301SB.  The pot is a stainless one with a thick bottom, so there will likely be a learning curve, and I hope the bottom of the sides don't burn plastic...it's a Cuisinart Contour 419-14.  If I need to go to a cast iron pot to get a good result, I can do that.

[t-billy]

 Sounds like the burner you ordered should work fine. You definitely don't want one with only 3 settings. There'll be a little learning curve but you'll figure it out in a few sessions. With the setup I have I simply crank the burner to high until my plastic gets up to temp. Then back it off to the sweetspot that'll hold it at around 340-350. Atmospheric conditions make a difference. I have to run my heatsource a little hotter when it's warm and humid than I do when it's cold and dry. I'd definitely recommend bringing your plastic up to temp slowly at first. Set your burner in the medium high range. Say 2/3-3/4 power and go from there. You'll be able to heat it faster once you get your settings figured out.
 With its thick bottom and thinner sides the pot you ordered sounds similar to the Presto pot. I tried the cheap, thin little pouring pots the first time around. I don't know how you could cook plastic in those and NOT scorch it. I immediately went clear to the other end of the spectrum with the cast iron. I have no experience with anything in between other than my cast aluminum Presto pot. The presto works well so I would assume similar pots would too. Keep us posted.
                                                                                         Good luck and God bless, Tim.

[andrewlamberson]

I followed Tim's advice on the Cast Iron pots (see link below) and it works great! A+ idea.

I bought a two burner stove at WalMart and I preheat the pots. I nuke 8oz of plastic in the microwave (to start) and fill up the pots and work out of the pots. As I use up plastic...I nuke more at 4 oz per nuke...and add it to the pots. Once the cast iron heats up you can hold plastic for a surprisingly long time! I bought a two burner stove so I can use my twin injector.

The pot that Tim recommended was the Lodge Logic Pre-Seasoned Cast-Iron 14-Ounce Melting Pot and at $13.24 you can't beat the price! Since they are already "pre-seasoned"...it's really easy to scrap cooled plastic out of them (use a plastic scraper designed for Cast Iron pots so you don't scratch them). Lodge pots are a LOT thicker than cheap pots (like at WalMart) and once they are "up to temp" they can really hold in the heat.

It was cold with rain and snow showers here all day on Sunday..so I made baits all day long. I was using just one pot on the burner...and heated my plastic up in 4oz batches and I had a non stop process going for over 4 hrs. Nuke for 2 1/4 minutes...while injecting out of the pot. Replace plastic...repeat..repeat ... I like 4oz because it seems to be the most consistent in time and temp. for my microwave. I burn 2oz...and it takes too long for 8 oz with inconsistent temps.

I made up some "lids" from a piece of scrap aluminum...and that really helps keep the heat in if you have a delay.

http://www.amazon.com/Lodge-Pre-Seasoned-Cast-Iron-14-Ounce-Melting/dp/B0002CX9FE/ref=sr_1_24?ie=UTF8&qid=1352738558&sr=8-24&keywords=Lodge+Logic

Scraper: http://www.amazon.com/Lodge-Durable-Polycarbonate-Scrapers-Black/dp/B0039UU9UO/ref=pd_bxgy_k_img_z

[t-billy]

 Hey Andy. Glad to see you weigh in on this one. Goes to show there's more than one way to skin a cat. This thread has me motivated. I picked up a rusty 2qt cast iron pot with a cast lid and nice wooden handle for $3 at a yard sale a while back. I'm gonna go wire wheel it and season it in the oven. It might become my primary pot for injection runs. I'll try it out later this week. I just bought a 7" carrot mold fom Jason. That and the skinny carrot mold you swapped me should keep me busy for a little while. Though I probably won't be getting too creative with them. This past year I've kinda fallen into the Forest Wood train of thought when it comes to worm colors. I can catch fish on any color worm. Just as long as it's black. 

[BareKnuckleJigs]

Thank Yawl, Andy and T-Billy!  I have my burner, just waiting on the pot...hopefully it comes in today.  I got the Plastisol ITCH!!!