Question about rod warmer

Dragonfly Queen · #1 2012-05-01, 5:52pm

Has anybody ever tried using a crockpot with vermiculite as a rod warmer?
What about the top of your kiln?

Eileen · #2 2012-05-01, 6:26pm

I've put them on top of my chili pepper kiln.

artsyuno · #3 2012-05-01, 6:30pm

I'd be worried the glass would get dusty from the vermiculite. Kiln top may work. I don't know if it'd get hot enough. I'd probably stick the end of the rod into the kiln, instead. I use one of those curling iron stove thingies.

Lyssa · #4 2012-05-01, 6:40pm

I've tried, it doesn't get hot enough.

lorisue · #5 2012-05-01, 7:26pm

I have a ceramic table top heater. it's pointed toward my tin plate of glass that I have in line to use.

I may have to change now that it's getting warm out...it just might be too much heat for me as well.

Eileen · #6 2012-05-01, 9:15pm

Even the ones I put on top of the kiln, I still start out at the end of the flame to be "gentle".

flamingobeth · #7 2012-05-01, 9:26pm

I bought the rod warmer from Devardi, which is basically the same thing as a curling iron warmer that you can buy from a beauty supply place. For the money it's a pretty great option. Devardi sells the rod rack for inside and a plate for top and bottom so I can warm my murinni at the same time on top.

RSimmons · #8 2012-05-02, 5:47am

The curlin iron heater works very well for heating both rods and murrini slices. Crock pots only hit around 200 degrees (F), leaving you way short of the temp required to keep a rod from popping.
Robert

Dragonfly Queen · #9 2012-05-02, 7:36am

Thank you all for the great advice. Sounds like either this curling iron thing or the hot plate is the way to go.

5betsy · #10 2012-05-02, 8:30am

Hmm. I put mine on top of my Paragon kiln and it seems to help a lot. I wonder if it's because I'm mostly using 96 coe uroboros glass - very unfussy stuff, it seems.

Dragonfly Queen · #11 2012-05-03, 7:44am

I also use the top of my kiln, Paragon as well and I use COE 104. Seems to help quite a bit.
My only concern was blocking the vents on the top of the kiln. Would this cause an issue. I don't have a lot of rods on there, just 1/2 dozen or so at any given time, but was just curious if anybody else did this as well.

Glad to know I'm not the only one.

Eileen · #12 2012-05-03, 2:03pm

Even though I do try to remember to be cautious even with the ones on top of the kiln, I don't necessarily use the colors I have up there anyway, so I don't know why I even bother to put them up there. Maybe I need to plan ahead? What a concept!

pumba34 · #13 2012-05-03, 5:05pm

Has anyone tried the rod heaters welders use for their welding rods?

Flame Ryder · #14 2012-05-04, 10:51am

I have been using the curling rod warmer for abou a yuear and LOVE IT.

Goes to about 800+ and I have a small plate on top to warm the murini.

Less than 60.00 on AMazon.

Mike...

Jenne · #15 2012-05-04, 12:52pm

I use the devardi rod warm, it's the same EXACT thing as a curling rod warmer. I love it for my shocky handpulled and larger diameter rods. You need to make sure to have either the metal plate or rack that keeps the rods from touching the inside surface, they will stick...and they're a pain to remove.

In theory I could use the top of my kiln, as I've burnt myself on it if I lean on it. It's too far from my torch station for me to do so. If I could reorganize and have it closer, it'd be great.

Heather Behrendt · #16 2012-05-09, 12:59pm

I use the top of my kiln covered in an old fiber blanket. I have a little jen ken firebrick kiln.

It works well, but I can't use it until the kiln has been running for like 2 hours cause it takes a while for the heat to get through the insulating fire brick.

I've been eyeballing one of those rod holders that you can set in the back of your flame. Like I need more tools