poon's recent activity

  1. Comment on Does anyone here have experience/opinions on induction hotplates? in ~food

    poon
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    I was also going to suggest 2 separate cookers. One could have very fine "temp" / power steps and the other could either be the same or more powerful. I don't know what the user interface would be...

    I was also going to suggest 2 separate cookers.

    One could have very fine "temp" / power steps and the other could either be the same or more powerful. I don't know what the user interface would be on some of these small step cookers but I would find it annoying to press a + or - button dozens of times every time I used it.

    You probably have more models to choose from going single hob vs dual? (Is hob UK English?)

    I'd also consider doing a fine control induction and an old school resistance heating cooker with an 'infinitely variable power knob'. These don't waste/lose very much energy like between a regular stove and the pan/pot. Induction heaters use some energy to drive the coils - there's a reason there's cooling fan. I'm assuming when searing/boiling at higher powers, even more is lost to overhead vs cooking.

    If you're capped at 1800 watts, like 99% of that will be making cooking heat with a resistance heater. I'm going to guess 85-95% with induction? Maybe lower with marginal cookware?

    Ditto with finding out if you have 2 separate outlets. Also, any chance there is an electric dryer outlet? That would be 240 V and higher amps. I saw some 240V induction 2 burner "wire in" units on amazon.

    This is going further afield but I made a special extension cord that was dryer plug at one end and welder plug at the other. (Yeah, I used wire that was more than up to the current requirements.)

    3 votes

  2. Comment on Watching paint dry: The chemical engineering of car paint in ~engineering

    poon
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    What impresses me about auto paint is the UV resistance - both color loss/fade and surface getting chalky. And the UV resistance the plastic bezels - turn / stop / running lights. UV stabilizing...

    Not only are we getting faster at making things, the end products are invariably far better too.

    What impresses me about auto paint is the UV resistance - both color loss/fade and surface getting chalky. And the UV resistance the plastic bezels - turn / stop / running lights. UV stabilizing additives!

    I wonder how much car companies pay for paint - could be $30/gallon minimum? (retail double that?)

    1 vote

  3. Comment on Watching paint dry: The chemical engineering of car paint in ~engineering