I am very new to electrical power math. So please be friendly. :-)

I am getting 28 gauge nichrome wire to make my own heating element. Here are the specs and numbers of what I am attempting to do and what I know. I would appreciate a second pair of eyes confirming my numbers and also help recommending the correct power supply.

A. 10ft of 28 gauge wire, straight = Ohms Resistance 42.52. I plan to coil the wire myself and then loop the coil through ceramic insulators
B. I need to reach temperatures of 450 F (I don't need over, but I def need to consistently hit this temperature.

---

Using the above info, an online calculator has provided me the following:

```
Volts = 55.276

Required Amps.  1.3
Required Watts: 71.85
Resistance per foot: 4.252  
Total Resistance: 42.52.

```

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**Questions:**

1. Is 55.276 volts the amount of volts needed going into my power supply, or the amount of volts coming out of my power supply?
2. I have a spare (universal) HP laptop power supply with the following specs, is this power supply sufficient for my needs? :
 Input: 100-240v, 50-60Hz, 2.0A
 Output: 18.5v --- 6.5A, 120W
3. When I cut the laptop connector off I assume I am going to see at least 2, probably three wires. black, white and green (maybe red). Do I connection both black/white to one end of the nichrome wire or do I connect black to one end and white to the other end?

*A quick diagram:*

```
110      Power Supply (PS)          PS split      Nichrome Wire
     _________________________    
3]---|>>100/240v | 18v/120W>>|____/---black---o---{Wire EndA}--\
     -------------------------    \---white---o---{Wire EndB}--/

```

4. I may have to get 26 or 30 gauge wire...knowing the above, will my power supply still be sufficient with those gauge wires for what I am looking to do?
5. Lastly, what, if anything am I missing or possibly not understanding?

Thank you in advance. This is all to make my own homemade plastic vacuum molding device.