Re: Variable low Temp disposable Cautery

From: ray_harlan <rbharlan_at_comcast.net>
Date: Thu, 31 May 2012 13:04:31 -0000

I use standard alkaline cells, not rechargeable. Try it and see if the tip is hot enough. It should not glow.

I use cauteries just for field repairs. At home, I use a very old Ungar wood-burning tool I got a a kid. It has a long conical tip that comes to nearly a point. I don't know the wattage (labels weren't required in those days). But any 25 to 40 watt soldering iron that can take a long, thin tip should do well. You could file down a copper tip in a drill press to get a suitable film cutter.

The tip needs cleaning after cutting the film sround a wing. I use some coarse sandpaper strip that comes in a roll.

Ray

--- In Indoor_Construction_at_yahoogroups.com, Tapio Linkosalo <tapio.linkosalo@...> wrote:
>
> On 30.5.2012 17:01, ray_harlan wrote:
> > I have used a number of different makes of cauteries and have always
> > found that reducing the number of batteries from two to one makes a good
> > film cutter. Shortening and rebending the flat brass strip found inside
> > to connect one cell is easy. Leave the other cell in place to take up space.
>
> I measured the tip I have, and it had about 1 ohm resistance (maybe 0.9,
> but my multimeter is not that accurate...). With one cell battery _at_ 1.5
> volts that would mean 1.5 amps current, and about 2 watts of power.
>
> But, I think you cannot get 1.5 amps short circuit current from a
> drycell, a it has too high internal resistance. So, are you supposed to
> use drycells with the cautery, and with a battery (NiCad or NiMh) you
> would get too much power and too hot a tip? Or is 2W rather the proper
> power, and with drycells the cautery does not warm enough?
>
>
>
> -Tapio-
>
Received on Thu May 31 2012 - 06:04:32 CEST