Pen Disassembly Heater, Digital

THIS UNIT WILL FACILITATE THE TEAR-DOWN OF NEW AND VINTAGE PENS BY SOFTENING UP ADHESIVES, GUNKED-UP THREADS, PARKER JEWELS & SCREWED IN BUSHINGS, AND JUST PLAIN STUCK TOGETHER BRITTLE ITEMS WHILE GREATLY DIMINISHING THE CHANCES OF BREAKAGE TO YOUR FRAGILE ANTIQUE PENS. DON’T USE A HEAT GUN, WHATEVER YOU DO; THE TEMPERATURES PRODUCED BY HEAT GUNS CAN VERY QUICKLY INITIATE A STRONG FLAMABLE REACTION IN CELLULOSE NITRATE, OF WHICH MANY VINTAGE PENS ARE COMPOSED. HEAT GUNS CAN ALSO FLAT-OUT MELT OTHER PLASTICS. THIS UNIT USUALLY WILL LOOSEN UP FROZEN THREADS. DON’T SMACK YOUR THREADED SECTIONS SHARPLY ON THE EDGE OF A COUNTER TO LOOSEN THEM UP LIKE THE OLD PEN REPAIR MANUALS TELL YOU TO. NOTHING WILL DESTROY A PEN’S VALUE FASTER THAN THAT. THIS IS ABOUT 90 YEARS AFTER THOSE INSTRUCTIONS WERE WRITTEN. To turn it on, you must actuate the Power switch and the HEAT switch on the front of the unit. The knob setpoint shown in the 4th photo will give you approximately150°F. If you go beyond that, the output will increase in temperature to about 230°F max. I recommend you get a pocket infrared thermometer and use it to monitor the temp of the work piece closely. Don’t leave it running by itself or for more than a few minutes at a time. The working temperature for most pen repair operations is around 150°F (65°C). You can set the temp above that point if you move the work piece farther away from the stream. Always keep the work piece moving in the air stream.  Wave it around and keep it rotating. Don’t ever put the work piece in the heat without your hand on it to keep it moving and don’t ever walk away when the work piece is in the air stream.  AFTER 15 YEARS OF USING, DEMONSTRATING AND SELLING THESE UNITS, I FIND THE BEST WAY TO CONTROL THE TEMPERATURE OF THE PIECE YOU ARE WORKING ON IS TO TURN THE WARMER ON AND VARY THE DISTANCE FROM THE HEAT PORT AND THE TIME THE PEN IS IN THE WARM AIR STEAM PRODUCED BY THIS UNIT WHILE KEEPING THE PIECE ROTATING. USE AN INFRARED THERMOMETER TO MONITOR THE TEMPERATURE OF THE WORK PIECE. ALWAYS KEEP THE PIECE MOVING AND KEEP IT IN YOUR HAND. DON'T WALK AWAY WHILE A PEN IS IN THE WARMER. ALMOST EVERYONE I’VE SOLD ONE OF THESE TO HAS COME BACK AND TOLD ME HOW MUCH THEY LOVE IT AND HOW MUCH IT HELPS. THE GUY RUNNING THE CHICAGO PEN SHOW CAME BACK TO MY TABLE A YEAR AFTER BUYING HIS FIRST ONE AND BOUGHT A SECOND UNIT FOR A FRIEND. EVERY BUYER AGREES THIS UNIT IMPROVED THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE. THIS RUNS ON 120 VOLTS, 60 CYCLES AC AND USES A STANDARD USA TYPE THREE PRONG GROUNDED PLUG. RECOMMEND USING A TEMPERATURE MONITORING PROBE WITH THIS HEATER - ALSO SOLD HERE - BELOW. Comes with USA 3-prong plug.