Fishing in my water table SUCKS. Thoughts?

[gamble]

My water table is freeeeeeeeeeeezing. Even for grabbing a quick part and when I have to fish for things it sucks.

I tried a el cheapo fish tank heater and what I found is that it may heat one section of the water. With all the metal and sludge that builds up plus the slats each row of water between slats has a different temp, doesn't really flow too well. Today I poured boiling hot water over the area I had to fish and one side was warm and 2 inches next to it freezing cold.

Anyone have any ideas for this? I don't need it hot but just something like 50* or higher would be nice.

I was thinking, has anyone toyed with the idea of putting a heating mat on the bottom side of the table? Wondering what you guys think of this and which ones if any would be a good idea to use. Something that is low current draw and can be left on for awhile and if it gets wet it's not a big deal. My inital thought was a carbon fiber pad they use in heated seats but not sure if it would be hot enough?

[Old Iron]

Might try a waterbed heater.
They're thermostatically controlled.
Put the mat on the bottom side of the table the sensor in the water, turn it on low and leave it.

[WyoGreen]

If I have a part small enough to fall between the slats, I use a magnet to retrieve it. No cold water, no wet hands.

Steve

[little blue choo]

Like Steve, I just use a magnet. Just thought, that want work if you're cutting stainless or Alum.

Rick

[tnbndr]

My LDR table has a tank built in. I just lower the water and retrieve my parts. Fill the water again and continue cutting. Takes less than a minute to drain and same to refill.
There are other systems on this forum.

[gamble]

All my stuff is aluminum or stainless. Wish it was magnetic lol
My table doesn't have an auto fill. I fill it with 5 gallon bucket one at a time or the hose

[chevybythesea]

I too use a magnet, or fish. Haven't found a good economical way to heat my whole water table - I overbuilt, so it is about 12' x 6', with about 10" deep of water.

I'm curious if the waterbed heater works, and if it would work for that large of an area....

[Nacs Fab]

I have heat trace tape on the bottom of my table - I used Aluminum tape to hold it in place, then I bought a thermostatic receptacle to plug it in. It turns it on when ambient reaches 34°F.

I have this in combination of I use expanded metal on my slats so I never retrieve parts.

[whiskeymike]

Waterbed heater is a great idea. If I was going to do that, I'd give that a shot. I just use a magnet as all my stuff is steel.

[OTHill]

Haven't fished for a couple of years. Just use expanded metal. No tip ups either.

[motoguy]

Haven't fished for a couple of years. Just use expanded metal. No tip ups either.

Do you leave the exp metal on all the time? Do you cut thicker stuff, or thin stuff only? I love the exp metal when I'm cutting up to 1/8, but I'm afraid I'll just chop it up when cutting thicker than that. I cut it into 2' wide strips, so I can pull it off the table/replace easily.

[OTHill]

I leave it on all the time.Have cut tons of stuff out of 3/16 at 45 Amps and never cut through it.It eventually plugs up if I cut to much in one spot.I shift my work around some and also swap ends on the exp. metal some before it plugs up solid.I cut some 3/8" at 65 amp the other day and didn't notice any cutting through.Not saying it never would.If I was cutting a lot of heavier parts at 65 amps I would just call it a consumable and throw it in the scrap pile when it got to bad.I don't have a breakaway on my torch and don't even think about it.When I press the run button I turn around and walk away from it.Just my 2 cents worth tho.

[OTHill]

Addition: I see Motoguy that you have an 85 Amp machine .That is a different scenario.Just play around with it I guess.Down time from tip ups and crashes can't be free either.

[sawdust1]

I put stick on oilpan heaters on my vehicles in addition to the block heater. They come in different sizes, shapes and current draw. They stick tight and do not come off. Add a 110 thermostat probe and that might work.
I put on the gauntlets that I use for my acid bath and pick with those.
david

[v8vic]

You might try holding tank heaters. They're pads that stick on the bottom of water tanks on rvs. They're designed to run for extended periods and use little electricity. Probably 12 volt though.