Just picked up my new Big Chief. First things I did was add a thermometer, a daisy wheel vent and a chimney. I live in Mexico where the BC runs too hot. Increased air flow helps to cool it down.
I recognize that unit DaveOmak!...I've bought a couple of those on ebay myself! They're OK but they do tend to be quite "aggressively" spec'ed and need quite a bit of air cooling to reach even a fraction of their rated power. But still much cheaper than a rheostat of the same rating....Use a SCR to control the heat...
That's pretty good. I think they're basically the circuitry of a 600W rotary wall dimmer switch but with better cooling (ie cooling fin and holes in chassis) while being a couple bucks cheaper.... in use for 3-4 years and still working...