The Affinity Stone Heating Unit

I don't have one of those, but I do use a rectangular Sunnex electric chafer. This looks like a Sunnex electric round chafer (search on for 83 SERIES STAINLESS STEEL ELECTRIC CHAFER round ) I'd go as far as to say it IS a Sunnex electric round chafer. Check the price at a commercial kitchen outlet, it's probably cheaper. I've been very happy with my Sunnex retangular electric chafer.

My only concern would be you want it for mobile. I saw a review of the Affinity heater by John-Paul Anderson, it said it required 4pts of water under the bowl and at lease another 4 pints above, so you really need 8 pints of hot water very quickly to be able to use it for mobile treatments. Depending on the temp of the water out of the heater, it might take a little longer than you hope to heat up the stones. The one I use is bigger, takes more water, and I find it takes about 30min to get to a stable temp of water and stones, even starting with hot water (though not that hot, my water heater only goes up to 50degC)

Thanks Cola, I'll look up that one as well.

Cheers

x

Stone heater why it was selected

Hi

I shall declare my interest, I was involved with the selection of this equipment for Therapy Essentials!

The other correspondent was probably right that it is not suitable for mobile treatments, it would seem to me to be quite a difficult treatment to do on the road anyway!

The product works like a "bain marie" it was done to try and keep a consistent temperature on the stones. The heater heats the water that heats a basin that subsequently heats the stones. This is opposed to a heater heating water that heats the stones. When we were researching with tutors and experts this was one of the main problems as the temperature altered significantly which had a massive impact on treatment quality.

The other two main gripes is that firstly in a darkened room it was hard to pick out the right stone as the black basin of most heaters with black stones and required a lot of fumbling! The noise is deadened somewhat with the bain marie - I can't claim that we knew what we were addressing this when we designed it, but was a happy side benefit.

That being said the Affinity Stone Heater is more expensive that other items on the market, so it is "horses for courses" and obviously is dependant on your budget and how much you would value the points above.

I hope this helps.

Stone Heater

The only heaters I would ever recommend are the Cona heaters which are digitally controlled. This way you can do a prescriptive treatment on clients who cannot, through health reason have the stones too hot and be assured they are the right temperature. Theses heaters regulate the water temperature to within 2 degrees of the heat setting. The stones also sit in the water on a shelve so they will only ever be as hot as the water they are imerged in. This is a very important Health and Saftey aspect of Stone Therapy. No good heater will ever be easy to use mobile so you really have to think what your client will benifit form using a heater that may be deleivering the stones to their body at an inappropriate temperature.

yes, its a chafing dish

I don't have one of those, but I do use a rectangular Sunnex electric chafer. This looks like a Sunnex electric round chafer (search on for 83 SERIES STAINLESS STEEL ELECTRIC CHAFER round ) I'd go as far as to say it IS a Sunnex electric round chafer.

You're absolutely right. It's difficult to imagine a more blatant bit of profiteering. I've frequently seen them for sale in Germany for less than 80 euros (£66). Here they're selling at £118-135. That's a profit of £52-69 over and above the regular retail price!!! (which probably already yields a 40-50% profit if not more). Staggering that any company with a reputation would risk it with such a blatant ripoff.

I purchased the affinity heater which came in a box branded sunned chafer and included instructions for how to operate a chafer. A premium price payable for this item. However the retailer posts on this website therefore may wish to offer an explanation.
In use I would say I find it very easy to regulate, and it's a tad prettier than other heaters. Comes at a cost though.
Jtp

how disingenuous can you get

Hi

I was involved with the selection of this equipment for Therapy Essentials!

... I can't claim that we knew what we were addressing this when we designed it, but was a happy side benefit.

I hope this helps.

I don't see how this is likely to help your business, claiming that you designed it as a hot stone heater, when its a chafing dish.