Mini Minc smokes, literally
 

And yes, I am using "literally" correctly. It did not smoke figuratively, there was visible white smoke rising up out of my brand new mini minc last night when I plugged it in for the first time. At first it just smelled like warm electrical equipment, and then it started to smoke. I quickly turned it off and unplugged it. When I called customer service today they told me that happens. :shock: That it can smoke "a little" the first time while it burns off the stuff on the rollers from manufacturing.

Am I crazy to be concerned that it is going to catch on fire if I try it again? How in world do you know what "a little" smoke is and where to draw the line?

I can just image how it might end up: "Why yes Mr. Fireman, it was smoking before, but they said it would be okay if I tried it again."

Maybe I am just too paranoid about fire. Has anyone else had this happen with their minc?

I don't have any experience with the Minc machines, but I'd feel the same way you do. The smoke would worry me.

And I'd also be having the same conversation with the imaginary fireman. (To be honest, it wouldn't be my first conversation with an imaginary fireman. ;) )

Kerry, my mini Minc did this too! I got the Anna Griffin gold minc a few months ago. It smoked & smelled when I first used it as well and freaked me out. I asked about it here: http:////www.splitcoaststampers.com/...c-t599796.html

I missed that info in the instructions when I skimmed through it the first time. I've used it many times since and I don't notice the smoke anymore.

My laminator smoked the first time I used it. Shoot - my heater smokes the first time we turn it on - well, let's face it - the one day a year we turn it on - when it's burning all the dust off the coils.

Anything that heats up will outgas some coatings the first time you use it, I think.

It it had just smelled I would not have been nearly so alarmed. It was the smoke that pushed me over the edge. I'm not a manufacturing expert, but I would have expected that part of their QA testing is to turn each unit on to make sure it works before they ship it, which I would think would give it a chance to burn off any leftover material/lubrication. And wouldn't you know, the news did a big story on the new hover boards catching fire/exploding last night. I did NOT need to hear/see after my experience with the minc. I probably should have a fire extinguisher in my crafting area anyway, but if I'm going to give the minc another chance, I'm definitely going to make sure I have one on hand and ready to use before I plug that baby in again.

Yikes!!!

I'm accustomed to machines that heat up giving off a smell. That wouldn't worry me. A machine that gave off smoke would definitely worry me, though.

There have been a couple of laminators and things with heat rollers that I have seen smoke a little when I first used them too. After it burned off any coating it had on it, they never smoked again. I do recall, seeing the laminator smoke freaked me out a bit, but after the first use it never did it again.