heating pot question

[KP Guard]

Hello all new to this forum, I have been in contact with some of you already and I will be having my first 5 molds and injector shipped to me in the next couple weeks, thanks for the deals and help. I have a question about constant temperature heating pots I noticed on some of the other sites they sell big cook pots with heaters "like an electric skillet plug in" they have the built in stir attachment and pour spout. They are far to expensive for me to start with. I am wondering if any of you guys have tried a pot like this to keep the plastics warm between pours or if anyone has tips or has found a less exspensive way to keep it at pour able temperature thanks

http://www.sunbeam.com/kitchen-appliances/hot-water/BVSBWH1001.html#start=3

[KP Guard]

do you have to maintain the 30 degree temperature or is that just to activate the plastisol?

[ctom]

It won't keep the plastic at a workable temperature. Having been at the starting gate myself, I recommend picking up a 1000 watt microwave that you can dedicate to heating the plastic and start off doing smaller batches until you have some hands-on time under your belt. Its fine to have several molds to work with since each will present you with different injection differences, but just starting out is going to hand you some issues in handling the plastic and learning some basics in plastic handling that will be needed when getting into those "pots". Its better learn on the small scale and have a few mess-ups with small batches. Jumping directly on the large batch boat could prove to be not so fun and quite literally the plastic burns like mad and I'm not talking about the plastic scorching.

[KP Guard]

thanks ctom I am trying to read as many of the threads as possible, thanks for taking time to offer advice to the new guy!

[toadfrogbaits]

I nuke my plastic before ever putting it in a warmer . I also make sure the temperature in a presto pot or what ever your using is maintaining a workable temp . In most plastic setups the fluxuation of temperature is fairley broad . sometimes 30 degrees from pot to pot . A more accurate setup will be considerably more expensive but you don't burn plastic .

[ctom]

I'm big on taking baby steps for safety's sake until this game is figured out. Then broaden the scope of things. There is a very specific learning curve involved in this plastics injection stuff and I feel its always best to slide into the game slowly and carefully. I've got way too many scars because I hurried.

[Denny Welch]

Ditto what Tom says re taking baby steps.  It's far better to make your mistakes (and you will) on a small scale when you are just starting out.