firedownunder
New Member
I preheat with VF in pouch for 30 minutes. Leave in pouch during cool down; if I'm around I'll open the pouch but leave record in VF until cool to the touch, otherwise I just let it be.
Gotta warp, these members can help. [Vinyl Flat]
- Thread starter AnthonyI
- Start date
MattHasIdeas
Member
Following as I just starting using the VF as well. Yesterday, I kept it in the pouch during cool-down.
kvetcha
Well-Known Member
I let it cool in the pouch.
folsom_lives
Well-Known Member
Thanks. I'm rereading a lot of this thread and finding a lot of hidden nuggets of information not included in the VF manual. Feeling more confident but still a little nervous.
The preheating of the VF seems like a consensus as well.
I'm also team "cool in pouch". One thing I want to note that I learned is anything clear or opaque heats quicker. So be mindful and lop off some time. Ive ruined a few. I have a cheat sheet somewhere but I think everyone's heater works differently depending on what pouch they gave you and your environment. Test on some beaters first.
folsom_lives
Well-Known Member
kvetcha
Well-Known Member
anything clear/translucent I tend to do for a shorter initial cook.
Sorry I meant clear or even like slightly cloudy. Anything but solids.
folsom_lives
Well-Known Member
That's what I suspected. I was rereading all the prior posts and that seemed to be the consensus. If I ever ran into those cases I was going to start super low temps for 30 minutes and probably just leave the thing to cool for a month. LOL.
folsom_lives
Well-Known Member
Ok. First go at flattening was somewhat successful but I noticed a few things.
The temperature with the VF in the pouch was anywhere from 8 to 15 degrees cooler than when it was just the pouch during the "calibration" test. On low the pouch alone settled out at a nice 130-132 degrees. With the VF it had a hard time cracking 120 even after a 30 minute preheat on high and all the way through a 75 minute cook on low. Some of the edges away from the fold were even cooler. I did a rotation of the VF about halfway through to correct this and even things out.
The disc I was trying to flatten had a decent little bend warp, not really a complete dish, but half the disc had a rise and fall of about 3/8-inch.
The 75 minutes cut that in half, but still didn't go all the way. So the question is do I keep the process as is (i.e. on low with the preheat) but increase the time another 15 minutes. Or do I bump it up to medium where it will hopefully get to 130 degrees and keep it at a 75 minute cook?
I think I already know the answer, but I am really just more curious about the temperature discrepancy.
The temperature with the VF in the pouch was anywhere from 8 to 15 degrees cooler than when it was just the pouch during the "calibration" test. On low the pouch alone settled out at a nice 130-132 degrees. With the VF it had a hard time cracking 120 even after a 30 minute preheat on high and all the way through a 75 minute cook on low. Some of the edges away from the fold were even cooler. I did a rotation of the VF about halfway through to correct this and even things out.
The disc I was trying to flatten had a decent little bend warp, not really a complete dish, but half the disc had a rise and fall of about 3/8-inch.
The 75 minutes cut that in half, but still didn't go all the way. So the question is do I keep the process as is (i.e. on low with the preheat) but increase the time another 15 minutes. Or do I bump it up to medium where it will hopefully get to 130 degrees and keep it at a 75 minute cook?
I think I already know the answer, but I am really just more curious about the temperature discrepancy.
kvetcha
Well-Known Member
120 will still do the job, it'll just take a bit longer. By comparison, my RecordPi's default temperature is about 126 degrees, give or take.
folsom_lives
Well-Known Member
That's why I'm thinking I like the low and slow method. Less risky and it seemed to do quite a bit even at 75 minutes. The outlet timer/shutoff that someone suggested earlier was also really handy.
AnthonyI
Well-Known Member
Low and slow is always the best route. After I don't know how many albums I've flattened at this point, a standard weight album is averaging, and my current go to, 90 minutes at the medium temp setting. The most important part of the process being cool down, leave the album in the VF until the plates are back to room temp.
Something else to keep in mind when you're checking temps is that the metal plates are going to absorb a lot of heat, as they should, so that's why your temp may read a little different. Again, medium has worked best for me across the board, adjusting times for album weight/thickness and using the VF seam as the hottest spot of the pouch for edge warps.
folsom_lives
Well-Known Member
So the "calibration temp" and "actual cooking with the VF in the pouch temp" is where I'm confused. Low for me gave me about 130 with an empty pouch and medium was well into the 140s. So should I be cooking with the assumed empty pouch temp or the temp I'm getting with the VF in there too?
AnthonyI
Well-Known Member
I based my testing on the temp with the pouch empty, at medium I get temps from 135-150 (the seam getting a bit hotter). I'm sure each pouch is going to be a little different, but I'd say as long as you're not hitting temps well into the 150's, you should be ok. Again, the plates will absorb some heat, even the felt is going to pull some heat from the album surface, so it's going to average out in the end.
All this is based on my testing and experience, if you're not comfy with what you're doing, break out a few $1 bin records and do some testing
kvetcha
Well-Known Member
I cooked mine at medium, but I don't know that I measured the VF temp vs the pouch temp. I think I just measured the pouch at the fold.
One thing I love about the RecordPi is that it uses a suction cup to attach a heat sensor to the center of the bottom plate, so you're getting a temperature read on the flattener itself.
folsom_lives
Well-Known Member
Finally a success. Had to fine tune the process to get it here but here’s what I did.
Preheat on high for a good 15 minutes with the VF in the pouch. Turning a few times to get all sides and edges warm to touch. Put it back together with the warped vinyl and switch it back to low. Had to cook for 1:45 and let cool overnight but here are the results.
Preheat on high for a good 15 minutes with the VF in the pouch. Turning a few times to get all sides and edges warm to touch. Put it back together with the warped vinyl and switch it back to low. Had to cook for 1:45 and let cool overnight but here are the results.
AnthonyI
Well-Known Member
Nice! I'd up your pre-heat time, the plates are only going to get so hot based on what you have the heat set on. I pre-heat for 45 minutes, probably a little overkill, but maybe go 30 minutes and I wouldn't worry about having to turn it to even out the heat.
That said, whatever works for you isn't wrong
folsom_lives
Well-Known Member
It probably is closer to 30 minute preheat but my pouch gets CRAZY hot on high. Like even with the plates in it was over 165. I didn’t want to risk it so I just get them all warm to the touch. On medium when the pouch is empty it tops out at 151 in the center. I must have a really good heating element or something.Nice! I'd up your pre-heat time, the plates are only going to get so hot based on what you have the heat set on. I pre-heat for 45 minutes, probably a little overkill, but maybe go 30 minutes and I wouldn't worry about having to turn it to even out the heat.
That said, whatever works for you isn't wrong
AnthonyI
Well-Known Member
Ah, ya, I only run it at the medium setting.