As a profession, I make and restore antique toys and metal mechanical models and opted NOT to purchase an industrial pickle pot. I simply could not justify the cost for what little they do for $200 to $300. This 1.5 quart crock pot from Amazon will do the job just the same for much less money. To help others with the same intentions, I am providing the temperatures for each setting. To do these tests, I simply filled to about 80% with water, covered with the lid, and checked with a quality cooking thermometer 30 minutes after switching the various settings on. Starting at room temperature for each setting (with lid on), after 30 minutes the temperatures were the following: Low setting - 102° Fahrenheit (38.8° Celsius) High setting - 130° Fahrenheit (54.4° Celsius) Keep warm setting - 82° Fahrenheit (27.7° Celsius) Maximum temperatures were attained after 1.5 hours (with lid off) Low setting - 130° Fahrenheit (about 54.4° Celsius) High setting - 130° Fahrenheit (about 54.4° Celsius) Keep warm setting - 101° Fahrenheit (38.3° Celsius) Maximum temperatures were attained after 1.5 hours (with lid on) Low setting - 160° Fahrenheit (71.1° Celsius) High setting - 200° Fahrenheit (93.3° Celsius) Keep warm setting - 125° Fahrenheit (51.6° Celsius) So basically if you want to get your pickling solution to a working temperature of around 130° Fahrenheit as fast as possible, you would want to fill to about 80% capacity then put the lid on, turn it to the high setting for 15 to 20 minutes, then set it to low and get to work! Should you find that pickling your work in a higher temperature yields better results using a specific pickle compound, you should leave the lid on between dips and you can have anywhere from 150° to 200° Fahrenheit with this pot depending on time and heat setting. Temperatures will drop if lid stays off (as stated above). Remember not to let the pickle solution boil! Boiling is possible if you leave the high setting on for a very long time (probably unattended with the lid on and switched to the high setting for over 2 hours). Something I noticed was that the power cord was not warm to the touch at all after being on for 5 hours (low setting) during some lengthy work, that's good thing. White interior ceramic pot, works just fine with caustic pickling compounds commonly available to jewelers. I chose this version over others that came with a black pot. If you are finding yourself having to change your pickle solution in the middle of work, ALWAYS let the temperature of the pot cool down. You risk cracking or breaking the ceramic insert pot when you pour a much cooler solution into a hot pot, the temperature difference between hot and cold materials can cause cracking of the ceramic. The fastener to the center knob for the lid is actually an aluminum alloy, so I replaced that with a piece made of 316 stainless. The caustic fumes from the pickle compound would corrode that aluminum alloy fastener in quick order. The fastener is M6x1 and length is 18mm (McMaster-Carr part #94500A316). The photo I uploaded to this review is of the original aluminum fastener showing the discoloration to the head and early evidence of oxidation. Down the road, I anticipate the supposedly stainless ring that lines the edge of the lid to corrode. I had originally thought about cutting this ring with a thin cut off abrasive blade, possibly replacing it with a silicone band, but have not gotten around to doing that. The only other modification I would add to this would be a "power on" indicator lamp. One could either modify the housing itself and tap into the wiring for a cleaner look, or simply use a heavy-duty power strip that has its own power indicator lamp. I like it, it's larger than most jeweler-type pickle pots which is a huge advantage for my shop. Yes, it's just a simple kitchen crock pot used in a light industrial setting, and it doesn't look at home among all the other machines and tools, but it WORKS. If one doesn't like the aesthetics, simply take it apart and give the outer housing a coat of engine or stove enamel paint. A previous reviewer has stated that the exterior housing for the 6 quart version is made of plastic. The two 1.5 quart Elite Gourmet slow cookers (model MST-250XW) which I ordered are not made of plastic and have a thin steel sheet metal housing instead. Don't forget to work in a well-ventilated area, wear a proper respirator mask, and always wear your goggles! Hope this helps, Jason Old Foundry Toy Works
