Optima1 Woodburners? *LINK*

Re: Optima1 Woodburners? *LINK*

George Balock

>Jennifer,

I just purchased the Burnmaster Hawk from Woodcarver's Supply. The advice I got from one of my fellow turners was to go for at least 100 watts. This keeps the pen tip from cooling down too much. I hope that this helps.


Woodcarver's Supply

Re: Optima1 Woodburners? *LINK*

Jennifer@Indy.USA

>Hi George,

Yes, I've read all sorts of things about the wattage issue. I noticed that the Razor-tip is only rated 40watts....and then I noticed that this Optima is only rated at 40 or 45 watts, both of these units get really great reviews........then I read this http://www.carvertools.com/wattage.htm

and it got me thinking.....Hmmm....

Jennifer


Wattage the Real Deal?

Re: Optima1 Woodburners?

Bud

>Jennifer,

Wattage does mean something and I guess it also depends on the mfg. The Burnmasters are the best bang for the buck, I have the Burnmaster eagle and it�s great (about a 100 bucks with 2 ports!!)!!. I took a workshop from NZ turner Greame Priddle (great guy)who uses woodburners a lot in his work, and he tried the burnmaster and liked it. They also give you adaptors so you can use Different mfg�s handpieces. Although making your own handpieces & tips gives you the most versatility

Good luck & Turn safe

Bud

Re: Optima1 Woodburners?

-e-

>hi jen;

i've been using an optima for years! i am biased and think it is a much better controller than detail master or razortip -- especially for its recovery rate.

call pat (owner/engineer) and talk to him. and if you have any other questions, email me.

Re: Optima1 Woodburners?

Don Evans

>Jen:

I had a 50 watt unit for one night. Took it back the next day and got a 100 watt (Detail Master).

It took too long to heat and when put to wood it lost too much heat. The 100 watt makes it much easier to maintain a consistant line with better heat control.

As far as recovery rate, there isn't any once it has reached the set temp after turning it on and that first turn on takes about 4 seconds to get to the set temp. From that point on, it holds where it's set.

Also note that Optima only sells tips that they can replace and you have to pay $16.00 for every different tip you want. When it burns out, and it will, you have to send it in, do without unless you have a spare and then pay $5.00 to get it fixed.

I use the replaceable tips with the Detail Master handle and they don't give me any trouble because I bent the ends of them just a degree or 2 then press them in, in order to insert them and they work great.

As far as dual verse single controllers, realize that no matter which you get, they will only heat ONE tip (handle) at the time. So I got the Detail Master Sabre which is one port.

The BurnMaster wasn't available when I purchased, but I probably would have gotten it, 130 watts I believe and it's less money I think than the Detail Master.

The other thing is, practice, practice is the secret, not the tool so much. Kate Kenny has some books out and she does amazing work and she uses a regular soldering iron that you can get at Radio shack with different screw in tips.

Don

Re: Optima1 Woodburners?

Don Evans

>Regarding above message:

It took too long to heat and when put to wood it lost too much heat. The 100 watt makes it much easier to maintain a consistant line with better heat control.

The above should have read:

The 50 watt took too long to heat and when put to wood it lost too much heat. etc.

Sorry for the confusion.

Don