Re: Anybody out there using....

From: Max <flyezb_at_yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:42:33 -0000

After years of using the MAXWAX Cautery from Tim, I got fed up with it burning thru my batteries; it's the single AA powered one. It was great when the battery was fresh but then it liked to snag things especially things like huge hls wings or .020' x .019" spar ezb stabs.. I took one of the Cautery tips and attached it to an AC adapter ( some solder and heatshrink), I found out it wasn't volts to look for but milliamperes of output.. anyways this setup does run hot and it doesn't like to sit there while plugged in; I have to work fast with it, but it's consistent and you get a feel of the distance from the spar you want to keep the tip (1/8" - 1/4"). Now I've done super thin EZB outlines and monster HLS wings using this method. I must say steady hands do help.. There's probably pictures which include this thing somewhere on my webshots, does anyone look at those things anymore btw?

MaxWax!
--- In Indoor_Construction_at_yahoogroups.com, "john_kagan" <john_kagan@...> wrote:
>
> Some cautery tools are *WAY* too hot for cutting film. As Bill mentioned, a 15 watt iron is about right. There are also cautery tools with adjustable temperatures (via a dial on the top).
>
> Worst case, blip the cautery on and then let it cool down a bit. Not easy to get right, but it works in a pinch.
>
> If it is glowing bright red, don't even bother trying to use it.
>
> BTW - at least you didn't try that on old-school microfilm. Then you would have had a nice big flash to go along with the traveling balsa embers :)
>
Received on Thu Jan 28 2010 - 09:48:18 CET