I'm undertaking a DIY rope cutter project to avoid paying for the ~$150 store bought ones.
Many resources online told me to use a light dimmer + transformer configuration and I had planned to go a step further and build the dimmer too, using the circuit from this site: (replacing the light with a transformer)
http://www.electronicecircuits.com/electronic-circuits/filament-light-dimmer-circuit
However, upon reading a few posts here it has been suggested that dimmer circuits don't mix well with inductive loads such as transformers so I'm looking for alternatives.
I played around with a current division circuit using parallel resistors and a variable resistor however the high power would fry the resistors by a long shot.
Unfortunately this is where my education draws a blank and I open it up to any suggestions from those more educated than myself.
On a final note, please don't suggest using a bench power supply as this is not financially viable at this point in time, also needs to run off 240VAC (Australia.)
======================================================== EDIT
Blade arrived in the post today, it is advertised as a 60W but I would like to test it.
I also bit the bullet and grabbed a benchtop power supply, 0-30V 0-20A.
I thought I could find the current-voltage combination by connecting the blade across the supplies terminals however when I do so the voltage refuses to climb above 0.6V (pushing current up to 20A)
Using P=VI this means I can't get the power above 12W, much lower than the ~60W needed to heat the blade.
I'm inexperienced with benchtop supplies, is this normal? Are there any workarounds?