A magnet embedded in the heating surface works with a magnetic stirring bar to stir liquids automatically. These hot plates have a hot surface warning light to protect against accidental burns. They are ceramic or ceramic coated, so they clean easily and resist acids and alkalies.

Set one or more bearings flat on the plate. This heater has a thermostat that adjusts from 120° to 390° F and lights that indicate when the plate has reached the desired temperature. It’s housed in a metal case that minimizes heat loss and keeps dirt out of your bearings. In case of overheating, the heater will shut off.

Place your drum right on top of these heaters to start heating. Unlike wraparound heaters, you won't have to fuss with strapping and unstrapping them from a drum, so they're great for quick changeovers once the drum is empty. Because they heat from the bottom, they’re often used to slowly and evenly melt materials such as soaps, fats, and waxes. They're also used to thin out varnishes and oils. Ensure the drum is properly ventilated before applying heat.

Set the temperature using the dial. These heaters have an adjustable thermostat that measures the drum's surface temperature and automatically adjusts to keep the drum at the set temperature. Because the thermostat measures the surface of the drum, the contents may be cooler. We recommend the first time you use these heaters that you monitor the content's temperature with a thermometer (not included) and record the thermostat setting for that temperature for future calibration. If ambient temperature changes significantly, a new thermostat setting will likely need to be found.

These heaters have an armored power cable that resists wear and tear.

Keep drum contents warm and ready to roll. These dollies are often used for noncontact heating of thick, nonflammable, and nonhazardous materials such as wax. All have a time-cycle controller that constantly cycles on and off to keep your material warm. Turn the dial to adjust the ratio of on to off time. Since the controller has no built-in temperature sensor, it requires a thermometer (sold separately) to measure the temperature of the drum's contents to determine your desired heat setting.