SEAL 210M Dry Mount Press Thermostat Adjustment/ SEAL Contact

[Fragomeni]

Hi all. I have a SEAL Commercial 210M dry mount press. It has been in storage for some time and it looks as though the thermostat needs adjusting. I found a PDF copy of the manual online but it says to recalibrate the thermostat contact Bienfang Technical Services. I underastand SEAL and Bienfang have gone through numerous ownership changes and I have been unable to find the current contact information.

Can anyone explain to me how to properly verify the temperture being produced by the press and how to adjust the thermostat? OR can someoen provide the current contact information for Bienfang/SEAL? Thank you!!

[PViapiano]

I used a long steel probe thermometer set in between mat board (with the dial sticking out, of course!) to measure the temperature when I first acquired my press.

I don't know how to calibrate the t-stat.

[Leigh]

For dry-mounting photos, the thermostat is only an indicator to get you in the ballpark. As such, precise adjustment is not required. Other applications may require more precision.

When mounting photos, final temperature setting must be done with a mount stack matching your work, with meltable wax test strips below the print, where the dry mount tissue is.

You leave the stack in the press for the nominal mount time, then remove it and evaluate the melt gauges. Adjust the thermostat as needed so you get the correct temperature at the tissue.

- Leigh

[Nathan Potter]

The best way to check the platen temperature is with a digital thermometer and a long lead thermocouple. Something like a Fluke digital meter with accuracy of +/- 0.5 degrees would be excellent. Put the TC on the platen, then close the lid and wait a few minutes for temperature stabilization before reading.

An analogue hotplate thermometer (less expensive) will work also, such as made by the Pacific Transducer Corp. However that should be calibrated using a known standard.

Can't tell you how to adjust the thermostat - I just arrive at the desired temperature by checking the thermocouple and placing a mark on the dial.

Nate Potter, Austin TX.

[Brian K]

Hi all. I have a SEAL Commercial 210M dry mount press. It has been in storage for some time and it looks as though the thermostat needs adjusting. I found a PDF copy of the manual online but it says to recalibrate the thermostat contact Bienfang Technical Services. I underastand SEAL and Bienfang have gone through numerous ownership changes and I have been unable to find the current contact information.

Can anyone explain to me how to properly verify the temperture being produced by the press and how to adjust the thermostat? OR can someoen provide the current contact information for Bienfang/SEAL? Thank you!!

Believe it or not but Elmer's glue now owns Seal. 888-240-6021, parts 866-667-4836

[Leigh]

Believe it or not but Elmer's glue now owns Seal.
Hey... Sticky is sticky! :p

- Leigh

[Fragomeni]

Thanks everyone for the help! You're all great! I'm using the press to mount prints so I just need a standard ballpark reading. I'll need to get a hot plate thermometer to see what the actual temp is. When I set it to 300F the meter reads 250F so I'm assuming the meter is reading 50 degrees off but I'll only be able to verify that with a thermometer.

I'll also try giving Elmers a call to see if they might be able to give me instruction son adjusting the thermometer.

[Donald Miller]

Typically the adjustment of thermostats involve adjusting the small screw in the center of the shaft to which the knob is affixed.

The way to do this is first remove the knob. Next with a small screw driver adjust the small screw in the center of the knob shaft. Turn the small screw counter clockwise to increase the temp setting and counter clockwise to decrease the temp setting. Small increments can make quite a difference in temperature...try 1/8 turn to start and then after the temp stabilizes see whether the set temperature agrees with the indicated temperature.

[Greg Blank]

Elmers no longer handles Seal, the new owners of Bienfang and Seal distribute via Omega Brandess. Contact them at 800-777-6634

[Fragomeni]

The way to do this is first remove the knob. Next with a small screw driver adjust the small screw in the center of the knob shaft. Turn the small screw counter clockwise to increase the temp setting and counter clockwise to decrease the temp setting. Small increments can make quite a difference in temperature...try 1/8 turn to start and then after the temp stabilizes see whether the set temperature agrees with the indicated temperature.
Thanks Donald. You wrote "counter clockwise" twice. Can you clarify which direction is which please?


Elmers no longer handles Seal, the new owners of Bienfang and Seal distribute via Omega Brandess. Contact them at 800-777-6634

I spoke with Elmers parts department a little while ago and they said to call Sherry at the 888-240-6021 number. I called this and it threw me off becuase it seemed to lead to a framing shop or something . I'll give them a call tomorow when they're open. I also try giving Omega Brandess a call. Thank you!

[Donald Miller]

Thanks Donald. You wrote "counter clockwise" twice. Can you clarify which direction is which please?


I spoke with Elmers parts department a little while ago and they said to call Sherry at the 888-240-6021 number. I called this and it threw me off becuase it seemed to lead to a framing shop or something . I'll give them a call tomorow when they're open. I also try giving Omega Brandess a call. Thank you!

Sorry about that...counter clockwise to increase and clockwise to decrease.

[Fragomeni]

Thanks!!

[Fragomeni]

I contacted Sherri at the number mentioned above. Very nice lady. She should be sending me the calibration instructions any minute now. Once I have them I'll put both the manual and the calibrations on my website so that people will be able to find it in the future without the run around.

Quick question, can anyone recommend a store where I can find a hot plate thermometer (either digital or dial) that will allow me to check the temp of the press? I'm hoping for something local so perhaps some type of general store with national locations (I'm in Phoenix) but if I have to order it thats ok too. Thanks!

[Fragomeni]

Ok, I got the calibration instructions and they seem pretty straight forward. Unfortunately none of my screw drivers were long enough to reach down into the shaft to adjust the thermostat screw. I was using the small jewlers screw driver sets but I guess I need something with a longer reach. Screw driver shopping tonight.

[Nathan Potter]

Buy PTC surface thermometers (hotplate thermometers) on line directly from Pacific Transducer Corp. Not cheap (30 to 40 dollar range) and you can get them calibrated for much more. There are some less expensive sources on line.

These are probably not available in your local area at the usual Asian junk suppliers.

Scientific supply houses usually sell them - Fisher Scientific and Cole Palmer are good bets.

Nate Potter, Austin TX.

[ac12]

Couple options
#1 A meat thermometer. Stick it in the sandwich under the platten and read off the temp. The gal at the new owners of SEAL thought that was a good method.
#2 Call Bainbridge at 1-800-9ARTCARE and ask for the "Guide to Successful Dry Mounting." Its free. The package comes with a liquid crystal thermometer (like used in fish tanks) that has the correct dry mount temp range.

[Fragomeni]

I went and got the proper long screwdriver on my lunch break yesterday. The press is currently at the camera store I work at. Got back and started working on calibrating it. Well on my first attempt I got a little overzealous and turned the setting screw a bit too much and before I knew it to sky rocketed to what must have been 400-425 degrees. I almost burned the store down haha! Anyway, I turned the screw way back down and got it turned off and cooled down before any damage could occur. I let it settle and then gave it a second go and it worked perfectly. As long as the thermostat is reading the proper temperature the press should now be calibrated. I'll be bringing a thermometer up there today to double check the temp. Thanks to everyone for the help with this!

[Fragomeni]

Ok, the thermostat is reading the proper temperture. Checked with a probe thermometer that I know is reading properly. However despite my efforts, the thermostat is still not sinked up with the temperture selection gauge. Its much closer then it was before but still about 25 degrees off. I'm nervous about trying to adjust it more because the calibration instructions say to set the temp selection knob to 350 and then use the long thin screwdriver to turn the setting screw in the shaft (after removign the knob) so that the thermostat matches 350. I did this yesterday and it seemed to match perfectly. Doing this again concerns me because when the press gets up to that high of a temp it starts cooling the felt pad inside and stats smoking and smelling bad. I really dont want to set anything on fire or ruin the press. As far as I'm concerned I can stick a thermometer in there to sink it to the proper temperture for any given dry mount tissue.

[Jon Shiu]

Do the instructions mention whether to calibrate with the press in the open position, or closed?

Jon

[ac12]

Francesco
The instructions that I have say to set the temp dial to 200F and adjust the screw to get that temp.

The thing that is important is that the temp that YOU will use to dry mount (ie 200F) matches up on the temp dial and your probe thermometer. All the other temp settings do NOT matter, as you will not be using them.

My recommendation is to set the temp dial to 200F (if that is the temp for your standard dry mount tissue), then adjust the screw so the temp on your temp probe is 200F.

The thermometer on the press measures the heat at the platten, not the work surface which is probably under kraft paper and mat boards. So there will probably be a difference between the thermometer on the press and your probe thermometer. And for all you know the thermometer on the press could be out of calibration. Note the difference and then use the thermometer on the press to tell you that the press has reached operating temperature.


Jon
My instructions state "This should be done with the press top resting on the sponge pad."
To me, the phrase "resting on the sponge pad" indicates closed but not locked.

But that does not make sense. I would think you would calibrate the temp with the press closed and locked, as you would be when pressing a print. And you would do it with the sandwich (kraft paper, mat boards, etc) that you normally press with, as that sandwich could affect the temp at the print/tissue/mat board.

[Fragomeni]

Yes, I instructions also say, "This should be done with the press top resting on the sponge pad." I assumed this meant closed but not locked as well.

My instructions say to turn the temp dial all the way up to 350 and adjust the screw to match at temp. It makes more sense to do it your way. I wont set it to 350 again either way out of fear of setting the thing on fire.

[ac12]

I guess that is a high end calibration method.
But if you use the LOW end of the scale, it could be WAY off.

[Alan Butcher]

Directions are available in the FAQ section at:

http://www.forframersonly.com/

This is the website for D&k Group, Inc., current owners of the business.

[Alan Butcher]

Directions are available in the FAQ section at:

http://www.forframersonly.com/

This is the website for D&k Group, Inc., current owners of the business.

Directions are in the Tech Help section, not the FAQ section.

[cyrus]

Is there a reason why a normal candy thermometer cannot be used?

[ac12]

Cyrus
As long as you can close the press w/o breaking the thermometer it should be OK.
I picked up a meat thermometer at the grocery store for $7. This will let me close in on the temp easier before using the temp strips. I can read the temp w/o opening the press.

[Fragomeni]

I think ac12 was right on. Because I used a high end calibration the low end (where it would actually be used) was way off. I re calibrated it on the low end and it is spot on. I just calibrated to the temperature that I'll use it at and any variance in either direction within the range of temperatures that I'll use it should be negligible.