Chris Throws Pots Posted October 3, 2018 Report Share Posted October 3, 2018 Does anyone use an aquarium heater in their throwing water to keep it warm? I am considering trying one but am curious if anyone has experience with them, specifically if they are effective once clay gets in the bucket and if the constant cycle of getting grit and muck on them poses any risk of damage/shock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liambesaw Posted October 3, 2018 Report Share Posted October 3, 2018 I did, until I forgot to turn it off one night. Turns out the damn things explode when there's no water left to heat haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Throws Pots Posted October 3, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2018 @liambesaw Yikes! But aside from the explosion, no issues? That feels like a weird thing to write. How hot did it get under the water? If you touched the heater with your hand would it burn you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liambesaw Posted October 3, 2018 Report Share Posted October 3, 2018 Burn? No, I had a 50 watt heater in a gallon bowl, the thermostat only went up to 98 degrees which isn't very hot. I bring a thermos with boiling water in it when I head out to the shed now. And no, no casualties other than a horrendous black sheen on everything in the bowl. Must have arced or something once it broke, I wasn't at home at the time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liambesaw Posted October 3, 2018 Report Share Posted October 3, 2018 I should also mention that Ive been meaning to get one again because even topping off my bowl with boiling water it gets cold really fast in my unheated shed. For my next one I'm gonna spend a little more money on something with a plastic shield and some kind of overheat protection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawnhar Posted October 3, 2018 Report Share Posted October 3, 2018 I saw a woman on utube that uses one in her throwing water. I wondered if you couldn't just keep a coffee pot full of water and keep putting some in, it appears Liambesaw has tried topping off with boiling water and it still gets cold fast though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liambesaw Posted October 3, 2018 Report Share Posted October 3, 2018 10 minutes ago, shawnhar said: I saw a woman on utube that uses one in her throwing water. I wondered if you couldn't just keep a coffee pot full of water and keep putting some in, it appears Liambesaw has tried topping off with boiling water and it still gets cold fast though. Would probably be fine if you are indoors, my shed is unheated so it gets cold very quick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GEP Posted October 3, 2018 Report Share Posted October 3, 2018 I use an inexpensive immersion heater, the kind that is meant to heat up one cup of water for coffee or tea. In winter months my throwing water will be ice cold in the morning, The water will be nice and hot in about 15 minutes. The water will reach room temperature again by the time I finish throwing, but at least it won’t be ice cold. No danger of leaving it plugged in. Mine is developing some crud but it still works. https://www.amazon.com/Norpro-Instant-Electric-Immersion-Heater/dp/B01M0Q84BR/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Min Posted October 3, 2018 Report Share Posted October 3, 2018 An old crockpot works too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Fireborn Posted October 3, 2018 Report Share Posted October 3, 2018 Is this safe to use with your hands in the water? I feel like it might be a danger? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liambesaw Posted October 4, 2018 Report Share Posted October 4, 2018 Dangit now I need to go find my crockpot because thats a darn good idea. Don't tell the wife, she doesn't use it anyway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabby Posted October 4, 2018 Report Share Posted October 4, 2018 This all has potential for an exposition in comics form, like The Far Side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Fireborn Posted October 4, 2018 Report Share Posted October 4, 2018 I just do this. Go to sink in house. Get piping hot water. Fill up bucket. Throw pots. When bucket of water gets cold. I toss it outside. Go to get piping hot bucket of hot water in the kitchen. Usually a few hours of warm water. I feel that getting up and tossing it outside and walking around is good for my back anyway. I don't think I would ever use a thing with my hands in it. Sure warm up the water then take it out, but leaving it in there with your hands. No thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liambesaw Posted October 4, 2018 Report Share Posted October 4, 2018 Ok guys and gals, while we are at it... Any ideas to keep clay warm? I tried keeping a few boxes in the house but i swear as soon as I bring it outside it turns hard and cold. Feels like it takes an extra 30 minutes to wedge up a 25lb bag. I have a propane heater in the shed but haven't found a safe way to point it at the clay without drying it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Throws Pots Posted October 4, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2018 Wedge while the clay is room temp and store the prepped balls in an insulated cooler? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liambesaw Posted October 4, 2018 Report Share Posted October 4, 2018 That's a thought, I have some big ole iron hand warmers originally for shipping fish I might be able to toss in the bottom of it too. Hmmmmmm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Throws Pots Posted October 4, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2018 Or a pizza stone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeU Posted October 4, 2018 Report Share Posted October 4, 2018 3 hours ago, liambesaw said: For my next one I'm gonna spend a little more money on something with a plastic shield and some kind of overheat protection. I just installed one I'm happy with (did my homework) in my 10 gal tank-under $25-good plastic shield, controlled range, digital temp display, about 5" by 3" maybe, auto protect from overheat, 100w --called an H7 by Aqueon-they have other wattages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted October 4, 2018 Report Share Posted October 4, 2018 How about heating the studio???just a thought?Nothing worse than a cold work space unless its no work place. I keep about 1,000 in studio at any given time so its stays that warmer temp. I also live in a milder climate and the clay outside will not freeze in 3 walled wood sided with canvas front shed. Rarely freezes here anyway.Now rain well we get some about 35-60 inches per winter. I put a pan on gas heater of water in cold days to have some warmer throwing water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabby Posted October 4, 2018 Report Share Posted October 4, 2018 1 hour ago, Joseph Fireborn said: I just do this. Go to sink in house. Get piping hot water. Fill up bucket. Throw pots. When bucket of water gets cold. I toss it outside. Go to get piping hot bucket of hot water in the kitchen. Usually a few hours of warm water. I feel that getting up and tossing it outside and walking around is good for my back anyway. I don't think I would ever use a thing with my hands in it. Sure warm up the water then take it out, but leaving it in there with your hands. No thanks. This is my style as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liambesaw Posted October 4, 2018 Report Share Posted October 4, 2018 20 minutes ago, Mark C. said: How about heating the studio???just a thought?Nothing worse than a cold work space unless its no work place. I keep about 1,000 in studio at any given time so its stays that warmer temp. I also live in a milder climate and the clay outside will not freeze in 3 walled wood sided with canvas front shed. Rarely freezes here anyway.Now rain well we get some about 35-60 inches per winter. I put a pan on gas heater of water in cold days to have some warmer throwing water. I have a propane heater, but I only use it when I'm out there, which is usually between 9pm and 2am, I keep 250ish pounds of clay out there, I thought about using a heating blanket to wrap them in and putting it on a timer to come on a few hours before I get home from work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted October 4, 2018 Report Share Posted October 4, 2018 A heated blanket under a moving insulated blanket will keep the mass warm for a very long time-just put the heating blanket on a timer.The outer blanket keeps it warm when the heater blanket is off the mass (at least 500#s) will stay warm. My professional potter friend in NM covers his 10 tons with blankets in a open covered space to keep the clay from freezing .the clay is on wood pallets under metal roof on a concrete slab in on open porch facing south-all clay is covered with moving blankets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yappystudent Posted October 4, 2018 Report Share Posted October 4, 2018 At the mart with walls I bought a little flat plastic aquarium heater made to bury under the gravel of betta tanks. I use it to heat a 5 gal aquarium divided into two halves. It barely puts out enough heat to keep both sides around 75 f, you couldn't possibly burn yourself on it but I suppose you could light up like a Christmas tree.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benzine Posted October 4, 2018 Report Share Posted October 4, 2018 13 hours ago, liambesaw said: Dangit now I need to go find my crockpot because thats a darn good idea. Don't tell the wife, she doesn't use it anyway Whoa, whoa , whoa. As much as I support the Arts, and the repurposing of materials/ tools, I can't abide by neglecting a perfectly good crock pot! It's getting to feel like Fall around here, and you need that for your warm and hearty soups, stews and roasts! 12 hours ago, liambesaw said: Ok guys and gals, while we are at it... Any ideas to keep clay warm? I tried keeping a few boxes in the house but i swear as soon as I bring it outside it turns hard and cold. Feels like it takes an extra 30 minutes to wedge up a 25lb bag. I have a propane heater in the shed but haven't found a safe way to point it at the clay without drying it out. I was going to say the same thing Mark C. did. An electric blanket, would be a great solution. Set the clay on a pallet/ piece of wood to insulate it from the ground, and throw an electric blanket over top. You could also have one underneath, on top of the wood, but that's probably not necessary. I would use caution though. Every year, I seem to hear stories about electric blankets, being the cause for a lot of fires, during the Winter months. It's those, and space heaters... And the people, who try to thaw their pipers with a torch... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Johnson Posted October 4, 2018 Report Share Posted October 4, 2018 Only thing that heats my studio is that big kiln thing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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