How long does the heat last? 
The heat will last between 20 to 90 minutes depending
on the size and insulation - the lower body and shoulder pack last
for about 60 minutes. They all reach the same temperature but the
larger they are the longer the heat lasts.
What is the stuff inside?
It is just salt water and vinegar (Sodium Acetate) and completely safe. Sodium is salt and acetate
is vinegar. In fact, it is a food additive. The salt and vinegar
taste in the "Salt & Vinegar Chips" is flavoured by this solution.
What is the activator (disc)? How does it activate the pack?
It is just a circular tin disc. No moving parts,
no battery, no chemicals being released. That is why it activates
for an infinite number of times. When you bend or flex the activator it creates friction. The friction
is all it needs to start the exothermic process.
The pack won't activate!
Generally this means that the activator is not generating enough
friction at the time. Also, the number of activating motion varies
with each use - anywhere between 1 to 10 bends / flexes. So if the
pack does not activate immediately or on the first go, it is not
faulty, just continue the activating motion until the pack activates.
Should the activator work on say the 10th flex, don’t be to
concerned as the next time it will activate on perhaps the 1st,
then 4th, then 2nd, 7th and so on.
TIP: It is much more effective for the activating
motions to be slow deep bends / flexes rather then short rapid ones. The
short rapid motion may not generate enough friction irrespective of how
many times it is done.
The pack won't reset!
The crystallisation process utilised by the packs once activated
cannot be stopped. How this is relevant is that if for any reason
a single crystal has been left in the pack when it was taken out
of the boiling water, it will self activate. It will appear clear
when taken out and will appear to be liquefied for about 10 to 15 minutes.
However, as soon as the temperature of the pack drops
below 54°C, the crystals will reform on their own.
If such is the case, the pack is not faulty. The pack simply needs
to be completely liquefied.
This is be done by leaving the pack in the boiling water for a period
longer than the previous attempt. The recommended time of 10 to 15 minutes
vary depending on whether or not you are using electricity
or gas, the type and size of pot used and its heat conductivity etc.
TIP: The best way to avoid this is by doing
the following. When you take the pack out of the boiling water (please
take care as it will be very hot), lay it on a flat surface and
alternately push on the ends of the pack in a seesaw action. This
has the effect of “flushing” the liquid around the pack
and thereby melting any rogue crystals that may still be present
in the pack.
Do I have to boil it each time?
Yes. As the heat is caused by the change from a liquid to a solid,
so you must bring it back to a liquid before you can use it again
and you do this by boiling.
As for the inconvenience, with all heating products some work needs
to be done to the product to generate the heat. Unlike other heat
products, with our heat packs the work is done after the pack has
been used not before. This unique feature brings about 3 core benefits:
1) allows the packs to be portable and have heat on demand;
2) allows for the controlling of the temperature to a safe and reliable;
3) it increases the length of the heat as the energy is produced by the pack not injected into it;
making it far more therapeutic.
Thus with one perceived inconvenience, you gain 3 major benefits.
TIP: To reduce the sense of inconvenience,
after use, place the packs aside until the next time you are preparing
a meal. The stove generally has 4 elements, thus place the packs
in a pot and put it aside on one of the back elements. By the time
the meal is prepared, the packs should be reset. By doing it as
part of being in the kitchen, the sense of inconvenience, if any,
will diminish.
How many times can I activate?
The exothermic reaction and the activator have infinite uses. The
plastic shell of the packs, however, will deteriorate over time.
Generally, the packs should last between 5 - 10 years. Once the
plastic seal has broken, the pack will cease to work.
Can I use it as a cold pack?
Yes. To use as a cold pack, place the packs into either the fridge for 1 hour or the freezer for 20 minutes (Do NOT Freeze).
Is there a guarantee with this product?
Yes, a 12-month product replacement warranty.
Will the boiling damage the packs?
No. Otherwise, we would not suggest it.
TIP: Don't forget to wrap the pack in a tea towel before placing it into a pot to boil. The pack must NOT come in contact with the side of the pot, it could melt and damage the pack. Some users only place a saucer in the pot and place the pack on top, Sketches+ believes this is NOT sufficient.
Can I use a microwave oven to reset the reusable instant heat pack?
No!, Do NOT put the heat pack in a microwave oven, it will melt the pack.
How much weight can it tolerate?
The packs can tolerate some steady pressure and are very
difficult to break during proper use. Whilst it is always possible the
pack may split during use, generally such damaged probably was caused
sometime prior.
What happens if it breaks while I am using it?
In the event this occurs whilst it is hot, it will feel somewhat
akin to candle wax. Wash off the sodium acetate with warm water.
Do NOT sit or lay on the pack.
If you are using the Lower Body Pack (Large) for your back, you should use our large ceramic stone belt with a velcro strap to keep the heat pack in place.
The heat pack does not fit in my pot, can I fold a solid pack?
No!, Do NOT fold or bend a cold solid pack, you will break it. Ideally you should get a large enough pot. |
