Help, woodburning tool too hot to hold

[Ezzylearner]

Hi, guys, I'm not sure whether this wood burning forum is for a woodcarving newbie with zero experience in handling a wood burning tool and wood burning. My daughter who resides in Australia (I'm in Malaysia) sent me a gift of a Taiwan made preset 30 watts wood burning tool (see thumbnail) with maximum heat tip at 950F. The tool is meant for 240 volts which matches the power supply in my country, and I have a power adapter that matches the plug points for Australian appliances. I tried it out for the first time yesterday and after about 10 minutes the tool became too hot to hold. I switched off the power, unplugged it, but now am hesitant to use it. My question: Is it normal for a wood burning tool to become too hot to hold after a period of time in use or is it because of poor manufacturing standard or could it be due to some other cause or causes? Would appreciate very much any help or clarification from you guys.



Lawrence (Call me Ezzy, if you like ..)

[Dileon]

Yes that kind of tool gets to hot to hold, so you spend time cooling it off and on. What does not heat up is a good burner with a temp. control.

[Ezzylearner]

Thank you, DiLeon, for your clarification. I think, if I'm not wrong, the electric tools and appliances in the US market are geared for 110 volts power supply whereas in my country its 240 volts. I must shop around for a gadget to step down the voltage or I won't be able to use the electric tools and appliances available on the US market.

[AlArchie]

If that tool is rated for 110 to 120 volts, it absolutely will get too hot if used with 220V. That style tends to get a bit hot to handle anyway, but 10 minutes should not be enough to cause it to get THAT hot. There shoud be some thype of device over there to step the voltage down.

Here's one source of a high wattage transformer that would handle a 30 watt pen.


http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MXJ54C/...SIN=B000MXJ54C
Al

[chipmunk]

they make a 220 to 110 converter it will step down the power not sure where to get 1 i got mine at a 2 hand store u plug it in to 220 then plug to 110 into that not sure how much power it will handle heard of irons been plugged into then i think there over 30wts. if the tool a/ power supply is right u may wrap leather around the handle to keep it cooler the 1 i have is small it gets warm but not real hot check make sure the tool is to be used 110 or if the tool is 220-240vlts use the right power for the tool u can make a variable temp control use a light dimmer switch in a switch bx a/ cut put a extension cord the switch can be used to control the temp on the iron by turning the knob or slide
just idea may help your problems

[gwc]

Easyleaner
I have seen a temperature controller made for a woodburner like yours but was 110 volts A rotary light switch for controling lights hooked into a box, the burning tool pluged into the controlled outlet Your local electrcian could help with the wiring if your not familiar with wiring.
Gordo.

[STAR]

Not sure I should be answering this due to my inexperience in carving but here goes.
because I am in Australia I think I know where you are coming from. A week ago I purchased a pen type woodburning tool that looks similar to yours.

Mine is by a company called Weller. The company generally has a good name for their products even though this woodburner was made in China I suspect. Mine is a30W tool also. It was not expensive, it is meant as a hobby tool, it cost me around $30 from our big box store. It does get hot and hotter. I think it may be okay to do a small bit of woodburning bu8t because it has no temperature control you are always going to come to grief with heavier usage.

It is what it is and is priced accordingly, my friend has the real woodburning too with the temperature control , but it cost him over $300 with all the tips you would ever want.

The problem is not the voltage in my opinion, it is just that the unit does get hot, and if it gets too hot you may find the copper and brass tip at the end may start to soften. How do I know?

Accept it for what it is and use it within its limits and it may get you by. I did see a photo on here where somebody had some carbon type wrapping around their handle, but that unit also had a temperature control. If you do something similar to be able to hold the unit then its likely the tips will melt before your eyes. The fact that it gets too hot to hold also tells you that it is probably too hot for the tip also. Turn it off and go and have a cup of coffee.

Pete

[STAR]

Originally Posted by chipmunk

if the tool is 220-240vlts use the right power for the tool u can make a variable temp control use a light dimmer switch in a switch bx a/ cut put a extension cord the switch can be used to control the temp on the iron by turning the knob or slide
just idea may help your problems

Chip.

That is an interesting idea. I will check it out with a few experienced electrical guys in our club to see if that is feasible and if their are any side effects.

Thanks for sharing. if it works it may be a simple answer to Esy's problem and mine also.

[Eddy-Smiles]

Just as Dileon said, the pen style woodburning tools do get extremely hotter the longer that they plugged in. What I might suggest is wrapping the handle in a thicker piece of cork or insulating material. Even Colwood sells an extra thick insulator for the pen on it's top end burner.

[teeburn]

You don't have to spend that much to get a very nice variable temp burning system. You can get the burning unit and two fixed tips pens for under two hundred.