Sciencemadness Discussion Board - Diy heating mantle, aka the coffee can heating mantle.

Diy heating mantle, aka the coffee can heating mantle.

nux vomica - 2-8-2016 at 22:28

Hi everyone i was looking around for a heating mantle online when i saw these mantle liners for $ 14.58 us each. http://www.ebay.com/itm/232006964277
I messaged deschem and he said that they were 180 watt liners so they also have the element built in as well, so i bought a 250ml liner to see if they were any good to make your own heating mantle up.

They definatly have a element built in so i needed a surround to support the liner and hold the wireing and insulation in.

This is where a coffee can comes into it as it holds the liner perfectly.

These are the can Dimensions.

I then cut the can up with a cutoff wheel, large piece is 90 mm high ,bottom 20mm high.

Ithen made a homemade tube shrinking tool out of a electrical crimping tool .

And shrunk the base to fit the can top.

Now i have a mantle body that is the right size .

It still needs a liner retaining ring and the power lead and insulation fitted but i will post that in the next few days .

Cheers nux

[Edited on 3-8-2016 by nux vomica]

j_sum1 - 2-8-2016 at 23:45

Cool find and nice work. What will you use for insulation?

nux vomica - 3-8-2016 at 00:10

Quote: Originally posted by j_sum1

Cool find and nice work. What will you use for insulation?

Thanks j_sum1 i have a heap of offcuts of the white hi temp fiberglass insulation at work luckly i did a huge bread crumb dryer job recently that had a huge amount of lagging in it

I found a tin with the same dimensions on the diameter so i cut the lid part off and slit it verticaly it will make a nice retaining ring if held on with a hose clamp.

[Edited on 3-8-2016 by nux vomica]

CharlieA - 3-8-2016 at 15:56

Nice job!

careysub - 3-8-2016 at 16:22

Quote: Originally posted by j_sum1

Cool find and nice work. What will you use for insulation?

Vermiculite and perlite would be excellent insulation.

nux vomica - 3-8-2016 at 17:14

Quote: Originally posted by CharlieA

Nice job!

Thanks charlieA
I managed to find a hose clamp to fit the retaining ring and i made a side extention for the wireing grommet to go through, out of the bottom of a small spray can, now i can give it a paint then wire it up.

[Edited on 4-8-2016 by nux vomica]

nux vomica - 4-8-2016 at 16:46

It,s finished now i didnt bother to paint it natural finish looks ok.

I used fiberglass heatproof wire to connect between the element and the 240v lead , then i coverd it with fiberglass braid.

Insulation finished.

All done.

I am useing a triac voltage controller to vary the power , its a seperate plug in unit .

Cheers nux.

j_sum1 - 4-8-2016 at 22:12

Wonderful!

I would follow suit but I don't think I have a need for a mantle that size. I have a 500mL and use one of these for anything small.
p.jpg - 5kB

I did not know that these mantle liners were available. I might purchase a 1L liner and make up a heating pad similar to what NileRed uses.

nux vomica - 5-8-2016 at 04:19

Quote: Originally posted by j_sum1

Wonderful!

I would follow suit but I don't think I have a need for a mantle that size. I have a 500mL and use one of these for anything small.

I did not know that these mantle liners were available. I might purchase a 1L liner and make up a heating pad similar to what NileRed uses.

Im the other way around, all small flasks and only one 500ml.

I wouldnt mind one of those heating pads we have welding blankets at work that are extra thick material like the pads seem to be, the fiberglass cloth i have seen seems to be to thin to be of any use.

nux vomica - 7-8-2016 at 03:41

Finally had a chance to use the mantle today fractionating acetaldehyde from ethanol wish i had one a long time ago now i see how much better they heat compared to a hotplate , well worth the time and money i think.

careysub - 25-8-2016 at 08:35

Do you know the operating voltage for these things for their peak power output?

nux vomica - 25-8-2016 at 15:46

Quote: Originally posted by careysub

Do you know the operating voltage for these things for their peak power output?

The seller said they are 240 volt 180 watts output for the 250 ml mantel liners im sure if you ask they would be able to supply 110 volt units.

arkoma - 26-8-2016 at 06:39

Wow, this was really good work Nux.

nux vomica - 29-8-2016 at 00:53

Quote: Originally posted by arkoma

Wow, this was really good work Nux.

Thanks arkoma a 500ml one is going to be in my shopping list soon i think.

careysub - 29-8-2016 at 10:52

This stimulates an idea for combining magnetic stirring with heating mantles.

Build a "stir table" using powerful rare earth magnets, and then have a range of heating mantles in different sizes built so that there is no magnetic shielding, and a minimal insulation thickness on the bottom.

Ordinary type N neodymium magnets have a maximum operating temperature of 140 C if they are as thick as they are wide (thick magnets are the strongest magnets anyway), even though have a normal max operating temp of only 80 C. If higher temperature tolerance is needed (and I am thinking not) then SH types, still reasonably priced, have a normal max operating temp of 150 C, and probably much higher in thick magnets.

But with suitable design of mantles and table the magnets should not get very hot I think. It seems unusual for flask temperatures to exceed 250 C (and usually much lower with most solvents), but the temperature to which the magnets would be heated would be far lower.

The magnets would be spinning in free air, with a cooling fan supplying cool air. Above the magnets (but very close) would be a white or reflective surface to suppress thermal emission, which would be white or reflective on the topside also to suppress absorption. The mantle itself would have a thin insulator on the bottom, a sheet of ceramic paper perhaps, or if you can limit the temperature to 200 C, then 1/4" of polyisocyanurate which is an excellent insulator. Having a narrow air gap underneath the mantle system would prevent direct conduction and allow cooling air to be blown under if needed (holes in the spin table). In such a design I doubt the magnets would actually get very hot.

aga - 29-8-2016 at 12:28

Beautiful creation nux vomica !

Ebay here i come ...

HeYBrO - 29-8-2016 at 14:05

@ j_sum, what it that little thing that you use?it looks like a micro oil bath

j_sum1 - 29-8-2016 at 14:49

Quote: Originally posted by HeYBrO

@ j_sum, what it that little thing that you use?it looks like a micro oil bath

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/AU-Plug-Lead-Free-Soldering-Solde...
Except mine is 80mm.