? using hot wire to uncap

[malabarchillin]

Hello,
I just ordered an extractor, but not a uncapping knife.
In the past I built a 'hot wire' foam cutter (looks like a scroll saw).
I used single strand stainless fishing leader and a variable battery charger and it worked really well.
I am thinking of making a wand with the hot wire, but assume that the melted wax will resolidify on the other side of the wire. I am trying to think of a non-stick material to put right behind the wire to give the wax time to cool as I cut. Has anyone here tried this method ? I am sure that the hot wire will easily and cleanly go through the wax.
Regards
Mike

[Michael Bush]

My guess is the wax behind the wire will be so thin the extractor will blow through it easily.

[alfred]

I would love to see your device once you have made it. I was thinking of the same type of thing. Some kind of hot wire. Seems like it would cut right through cleanly. Not sure how to do it.
Variable battery charger? Could you post pictures?, and or plans?
Thanks, Alfred

[malabarchillin]

Thanks for the reply Mike,
You are probably correct, there is not much wax there.

Alfred:
I have a old 12 volt battery charger that allows me to vary the amount of charging current.
I just adjust the current for the amount of heat I want in the wire.
In Walmart fishing dept they sell single strand stainless leader material cheap.
I was looking on the net for a photo for you. Here is a link to give you a idea.
I have no affiliation with this business (just looked for a pic).

http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/woo/woost1435.htm
http://www.mossfoam.com/images/SixGun.jpg
They appear to use a walwort for a power supply. People often use ni-chrome wire, but
leader material is cheap and easily obtainable.
Mike

[alfred]

Thanks for the info.
Alfred

[Paul Andersen]

I have thought about this also.

I also thought that if you used fine piano wire if you might be able to do it cold.

And if that worked you could set up jig that had 2 parallel wires and you could just push the frame thru and do both sides at once. Someone else must have thought about this and tried it.

Has anyone heard of something like this?

[rdy-b]

   

Thanks for the reply Mike,
You are probably correct, there is not much wax there.

Alfred:
I have a old 12 volt battery charger that allows me to vary the amount of charging current.
I just adjust the current for the amount of heat I want in the wire.
In Walmart fishing dept they sell single strand stainless leader material cheap.
I was looking on the net for a photo for you. Here is a link to give you a idea.
I have no affiliation with this business (just looked for a pic).

http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/woo/woost1435.htm
http://www.mossfoam.com/images/SixGun.jpg
They appear to use a walwort for a power supply. People often use ni-chrome wire, but
leader material is cheap and easily obtainable.
Mike                                     

http://www.blossomland.com/hw005.html

[Michael Bush]

With all the mass of an uncapping knife the temperature is hard to control.  It occurs to me that the wire may be even harder.

[TwT]

I dont think it would make the comb blow out, looks like it will do the same to a frame as a uncapping knife, I would like to hear how it works, its nice to see someone come up with a good idea of their own!!!!

[Finsky]

I think that self made "electrict knives" are not safe.  You are saving in wrong place. Think about your soul, in what condition it is now and after electrict shock. If you say bad words before your  brain cortex damages. :-P

[malabarchillin]

Your point is well taken, However I am a electronics professional :)
It is transformer coupled and only DC.
Mike

Disclaimer : Kids don't try this at home  :evil:

[Finsky]

However I am a electronics professional :)

So ... ,let it burn....... :-D 

Knife has a mass, which keeps the heat. If you heat wire online, it burns wax and honey an it gives extra odour into honey.
I hope that you solve this issue.

[aiannar974]

I know this is a real old thread but wondering if you ever tried it?

[Acebird]

With all the mass of an uncapping knife the temperature is hard to control.  It occurs to me that the wire may be even harder.

The mass is what makes it perform.
The instant the wire meets the comb it will cool down but what isn't in the comb will be very hot or even red hot.  If the wire turns red then it becomes very weak and most likely will break.  I predict a hot wire is not a good fit for uncapping.  The only way I could see it working is if the wire was endless and moving like a band saw.  The electrodes would have to be placed close to the frame width.  Even this might be a mess and costly to make.