Modyfing glue gun for wax

Jewelry Discussion
1

I recently price a wax gun, in th $1xx dollar neighborhood… So, I
said to myself,… "Self, you should be able to use a ‘Glue Gun’ to do
the same thing… Glue Guns cost $2.00 to $10.00… Put 'Red’
casting wax in the gun, like a glue stick… too hot… too
liquid… too runny to do anything with…

Tried to get into the gun to reduce the winding… thought maybe if I
did that I could reduce the heat, etc, etc…

Now… How about a rehostate across the 120 line… to adjust the
current thereby reducing the heat???.. You thought and ideas
please.

Jim

2

I think it will work, but it is a cheap test to try!!!

John Dach

3

From the Orchid archives:

You might try one of the popular dimmer switches that are used to
make it romantic when you’ve got other ideas.

I’ve combined a duplex recepticle & dimmer in a double outlet box.
Now I can plug anything into the outlet & dim it (lower the voltage).
You can plug a small soldering iron, aprox 25-35 watts in & use it
for working on waxes. You have to make your own tips, they can clip
on the soldering tip.

With this device you’ve got a variable voltage AC power supply
capable of handling any load up to the the rating of the dimmer
(usually 600 watts). It’d handle a glue gun.

Good luck
Dave

Construction info. (US & Canada)

These materials are stocked by most hardware stores, Sears &
Montgomery Wards. The total cost is about $20.00.

Materials required:

– 2 gang, metal, electrical outlet box (handy box).
– 1/2 or 3/4 inch Romex connector.
– metal duplex outlet cover (to accomodate the duplex outlet & your
type of dimmer switch).
– duplex outlet (get the grounded type).
– dimmer switch (get one that will rated at 600 watts minimum).
– 6 to 8 foot heavy duty extension cord (get one with a ground
wire).
– supply of 14 ga insulated wire (about 2 feet, white, black &
green), to connect the outlet to the dimmer (as required).
– supply of solderless connectors (wire nuts, as required).
– electrical tape (as required).

Installation:

Be very careful doing electrical work. Insure all screws are
tightened, no wires are left exposed (ground wire possible exception)
and all dimmer wiring instructions are followed. Check your work
TWICE before connecting the finished device to an outlet. A wiring
error could result in destruction of the dimmer.

  1. Remove a 1/2 or 3/4 inch ‘knockout’ from one side of the outlet
    box.

  2. Remove the lock nut from the romex connector, save for reuse.

  3. Insert the threaded portion of the romex connector through the
    hole created in step 1.

  4. Attach the lock nut removed in step 2 to the romex connector. Do
    not tighten now.

  5. Position the romex connector so the screw slots are up. (Up open
    side of outlet box.)

  6. Maintain position of romex connector & tighten lock nut securely.
    The lock nut can be tightened by placing a screwdriver against its
    edge & striking downward on the screwdriver handle.

  7. Loosen the screws in the romex connector, do not remove them.

  8. Cut the cube (female portion) of the extension cord off & discard
    it.

  9. Seperate the wires in the extension cord so there is aprox. 10
    inches of each wire available. Insure that none of the conductors is
    exposed. Depending on the type of cord obtained, the ground wire may
    be exposed.

  10. Insert the seperated ends of the cord through the romex connector
    from the outside.

  11. Refer to the instructions that came with the dimmer switch.
    Connect it to the duplex outlet and the seperated ends of the cord as
    directed.

  12. Install the duplex outlet & dimmer switch in the oulet box.

  13. Install the outlet box cover and dimmer switch nob as required.

  14. Tighten the screws in the romex connector.

Testing

  1. Ensure the dimmer switch is set to the OFF position.

  2. Connect the device to an outlet.

  3. Set the dimmer switch to the ON position.

  4. Vary the dimmer control through its full range, full off to full
    on and back.

  5. Set the dimmer switch to OFF.

  6. Connect a lamp containing an incandescent bulb to the device.
    Verify the bulb is good and the lamp is turned on before connecting
    it.

  7. Set the dimmer switch ON.

  8. Vary the dimmer control through its full range, full off to full
    on to full off while observing the lamp. The lamp should go from dim
    or off to full brilliance to dim or full off.

  9. If the lamp functions as expected, set the dimmer switch OFF,
    disconnect the lamp and return it to its proper location. Your
    voltage control works.

  10. If the lamp doesn’t function as expected correct the problem.

4

This is a resistive load that can be regulated with a standard light
dimmer. Just find some sort of electrical box in which to mount the
dimmer control. Be sure that the glue gun is less than 600 watts
which I believe is the maximum for light dimmers. Otherwise you will
need more expensive dimmers that you wont find in Lowes or Home
Depot. Then you find the right temperature by trial and error.

Hope this helps.
Fred

5

Masters, Pros, Amateurs, and Hobbies, your attention please!! If you
are looking for a wax gun may I take this opportunity to suggest the
this homemade wax gun! Allow me to expound it’s features and advise
as to its options to include a little of the research that surrounds
the superb tool…

Homemade wax gun with a little ‘sweat equity’:Total cost: $16.97

Prior to providing parts, cost, wiring consider the
following features available which are not currently available with
other guns.

ON/OFF Switch

The currently model (below) is equipped with the 'click on/off’
switch. Rotation of this switch allows more heat to be the gun. An
optional switch, the ‘Push on/off’ switch can be provided with an
additional feature of a signal light when the gun is on. This
feature will cost an additional $2.00 depending on location.

Gun size and features

Several guns are available; Large gun with interchangeable nozzles.
Priced at about $12.00. low Heat gun. price/size the same as the gun
suggested… not recommended (… regulating the heat anyway).

For the bench jeweler who insist that his/her bench tools, equipment
maintain that certain DECORATOR, or who has everything, SDJ offers
the following models;

Sport Model.The sports model comes with a Cobalt Blue base, White top
and switch, Gray electorial cord with white gun… Model is
generality available in most hardware stores.

Decorator Model. The Decorator model comes with black base, top,
White switch, and black electorial cord with HOT Pink gun … most
stores.

Macho Model. The Macho Model comes with black base, Wood Grain top,
Cream switch, with Black electorial cord with black gun.

Part Cost

  • A two-gang, electrical outlet box. Metal/Plastic. $ 1.74

  • A Plastic/metal duplex outlet cover (to cover the two-gang outlet
    box WHICH CONTAINS the dimmer switch, and duplex outlet). $0.42

  • A duplex outlet (get the grounded type). $0.81

  • A dimmer switch (Rated at 600 watts minimum). $ 3.54

  • A heavy duty extension cord (get one with a ground wire)… The
    length should respect the location where the gun will sit relative
    to the distance to the electrical outlet. $ 2.00

  • A solderless electrical wire connector(screw on). (got 15 in a box)
    $ 1.99

  • Electrical tape (as required). $ 2.00

  • Wax Gun $ 3.97

Installation:

Be very careful doing electrical work. Insure all screws are
tightened, no wires are left exposed (ground wire possible exception)
and all dimmer wiring instructions are followed. Check your work
TWICE before connecting the finished device to an outlet. A wiring
error could result in destruction of the dimmer.

  1. PLASTIC.Cut out CENTER, ‘Knockout’ at the bottom of the box. OR If
    a plug, cut the plug loose at the bottom, bend up,DO NOT REMOVE OR
    CUT LOOSE COMPLETELY if plug is to be used to hold the line wire in
    place Some boxes are design to use the plug to hold the line in
    place.

  2. Insert the LINE CORD (larger than extension cord (about 14 gauge)
    through the hole created in step 1. Press the plastic, tab cut loose
    in step 1, back against the line cord (If your box had a tab)

  3. Separate the wires in the line cord so there is aprox. 3 inches of
    each wire, in its own latex sheath, available. Insure that none of
    the conductors are exposed. The ground wire (green) may be exposed.

  4. Strip each wire a little less than 1/2 inch until the bare wire is
    exposed TWIST THE STRANDED WIRES OF EACH INDIVIDUAL WIRE TOGETHER.

  5. Attach 1 DIMMER SWITCH wire to one of the LINE CORD wires(not the
    small ground,usually green, wire) using the solderless wire
    connector (screw on).

  6. Attach the 2nd DIMMER SWITCH wire to the side screw, by the top
    outlet with the short and narrow plug slot.

  7. Attach the 2nd LINE CORD wire to the side screw by the bottom
    outlet with the short or narrow plug slot(NOT THE GREEN COLORED
    SCREW).

  8. Attach the SMALL Ground, USUALLY GREEN, wire to the GREEN SCREW by
    the SCREW SUGGESTED IN STEP 7 ABOVE.

  9. Place both dimmer and outlet in the box and screw in place … DO
    NOT TIGHTEN AT THIS TIME!!!.. JUST ‘SNUG’ THE SCREWS IN PLACE.

  10. Place the Outlet Top on the outlet box and review for screw hole
    alignment.

  11. Adjust dimmer and outlet on outlet box until the outlet top and
    dimmer AND outlet holes match THOSE OF the outlet box holes…
    tighten dimmer and outlet screws.

  12. Install outlet box top.

  13. Install dimmer switch nob as required.

Testing

  1. Ensure the dimmer switch is set to the OFF position.(PUSH ON/OFF
    CAN BE TRICKY HERE). WARE YOUR SAFETY GLASSES!!! I know you have
    them!!

  2. Connect the device to an ELECTRICAL outlet.

  3. Set the dimmer switch to the ON position.

  4. Vary the dimmer control through its full range, full off to full
    on and back.

  5. Set the dimmer switch to OFF.

  6. Connect a lamp containing an incandescent bulb to the device.
    Verify the bulb is good and the lamp is turned on before connecting
    it.

  7. Set the dimmer switch ON.

  8. Vary the dimmer control through its full range, full off to full
    on to full off while observing the lamp. The lamp should go from dim
    or off to full brilliance to dim or full off.

  9. If the lamp functions as expected, set the dimmer switch OFF,
    disconnect the lamp and return it to its proper location. Your
    voltage control works.

  10. If the lamp doesn’t function as expected correct the problem.