After much research and planning, swim has decided to go to sleep and have his first dream.
He used a 1L RBF, Allihn condenser with condom on top and placed this in a sand bath in a saucepan on an electric hotplate.
He used the ratio 1:1.2:0.75:0.8 E:I:RP:H20. He first mixed the RP with the H20 then added the I and waited 20 min for the HI to be generated before adding 28g of E. The RP is MB and the E is from pills, the I is LG. The condensor was put on and heat applied. The first thing swim noticed was upon adding the E it all dried out considerably, to the point that mixing was not possible. So when it reached 90c and nothing happened swim added 3ml of H20 with a syringe, this did the trick! It all started to liquify as described then bubble gently.
So all is going seemingly well so far? with white fog appearing now and then and the condom inflating and deflating occasionally.
Finally to my question!:
The only problem swim seems to have is controlling the heat source, it has 4 preset levels. Swim uses the lowest setting which still heats the sand slowly above 120c, so swim has to turn the power off when the thermometer in the sand reaches 100c because it still heats up to 120c before it starts to cool down and likewise he must turn the power on before it drops below 97c to stop it dropping below 90c.
The problem is with the slow heat reaction of the sand and trying to anticipate the fluctuations and even them out.
So swim is wondering if this would have any negative effects on the reaction? it does reach 120c occasionally but only for a few minutes before cooling down. He's more concerned with the temp swings and will this hurt it at all, not fully reduce?
Now swim knows 90-100c is preferred but sees no activity at this temp, not until 110-115c does he see any bubbling and condom inflating. Is 90-100c still OK even with no signs of activity or would 110-115c be better??
Swim thinks maybe he needs one of these to solve his problems, its basically a big light dimmer.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3803000540&category=42881
Swim is at the 36 hr mark with 12 more to go, any advice would be appreciated.