I have a slug 33, but I don't use it much, I can't seem to be able to get the temp right, how do you know when to stop heating it? Also it blows out the bottom as I'm finishing, got any advice?
I just started a sub reddit, /r/slug33 there's nothing there yet as I was just waiting for my testing plant to be ready which it now is.
and I'll soon be doing a lot of controlled testing.
I discovered that the blowout thing is a problem where the slug pops up, because it releases the pressure and it also allow some weed to creep under the edge which further reduces the pressure. I addressed this problem with a bent piece of metal to hold it down. I went through various permutations. Originally instead of having a hole in the centre it was a single strip that just went on one side. See it working in this clip...
Don't focus so much on times that other people use. It is important to know that it's almost impossible to overheat the slug. I've tried to purposely ruin the rosin to see where the limit was and I didn't find one.
It's important to use a seal in the plunger for the Fat Mac, and it would be a good idea for the smaller ones too. I found some silicone O rings on eBay and also some little metal disks 15mm in diameter, I sandwich the o ring between two of them. In fact I use 3 on the end that hits the puck.
Without a pressure wing I think the best way is while heating it, only turn the vice as you feel it loosen up, when you have about a centimetre to go before the slug has popped up, just keep heating, do not worry about over heating it won't happen. Keep heating till you see a bit of rosin, then keep turning as slowly as you like.
Once you put an o ring and some metal disks in, it's much easier.
