Hot Plates

[Jonmustang]

Like most of you, I tend to pick up tools for unknown, future projects when I'm out and about. Sometimes I'll even pick up tools that I would've liked to have had on past projects, even if I don't need them anymore at the moment. One such tool is a hot plate.

Melting shellac flakes, getting paint off of old hinges (boiling them with baking soda or detergent), hot dip coating tool handles, dying certain materials, etc. A hot plate seems like a decent thing to have around.

Anyway, I have a few to choose from (new and used, old-school or modern induction, etc.) and I'm trying to figure out what I'll need before I need it. If you use a hot plate or stove for projects, what are those projects? Is precise temp control really important or is low-medium-high good enough? Durability? Platter size? Any insights are appreciated!

 

[RedRabbit]

I use a hot plate to heat up hookah coals. I could give you a link to it, it's a single coil and is powerful. I usually just use a torch for heat applications.

 

[Thumper68]

I have both a hot plate, single coil and a old crock pot in the shop both have come in handy from time to time, I do use the hot plate as a heat source for my steamer for steaming wood for bending, I have used the same set up to create steam to thaw a frozen drain as well.

 

[wildstyle]

Have used em to heat bearings to make press fit installations easier.

 

[91bronc300]

I've got a Barnstead 5 position stir plate / hot plate with an 11" x 11" surface and I love it. I just used it a couple of days ago to make some more Japan Black varnish. It's got an infinitely variable dial for the heat but it's low tech. The heating coil is either on high or off and it just switches on and off as it needs too to keep the ceramic top at the right temperature. Works perfectly fine.

 

[Tim37]

Depends on what you indend on doing. For doing shellacs and hot dipping handles your gonna want more heat control I have used one for decreasing and such that a cheap fleamaket find is ok.

If I had to choose and money wasn't a issue I would get a induction its safer and they have good temp control so its good all around

 

[gungatim]

I've got a hot plate I use all the time. single coil. $2 NIB at a yard sale (and dated from '70's). if you're not sure which kind you want, hit up some sales or the goodwill, they are plentiful, and cheap, so get one of each kind and go from there.

 

[404]

Old school and not induction. Sometimes want the pot to be the same material as is being cleaned (aluminum pot for carbs) , sometimes want glass to see through.

 

[Jonmustang]

There's some good advice in here; thanks everyone. With all your input in mind, I've sourced a new induction cooktop for where temp control or safety is an issue, and an old-school (used), heavy duty hot plate with only low-med-high for more messy projects or if I'm using non-magnetic pots

 

[Ruger_556]

I could have used a hot plate today for installing some bearings, we have an inductive heater for the 466 dampers so I used that instead but a hot plate would have been slick.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

I didn't know I needed a hot plate in my garage prior to this thread, but now it's on my shopping list.

 

[laser3kw]

I use a griddle with a 200º to 500º dial. Salvation Army purchase $8.00
Came in handy this winter when I was trying to get paint to dry correctly.

 

[Heavymetalmechanic]

I use a beat up Forman grill I picked up at a yard sale, good enough for the few times I use it.

We use an electric wok at the shop for heating bearings, filled with clean engine oil.

 

[bwringer]

A laboratory hot plate with a magnetic stirrer thingy would be doubly useful.