-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 GvuRxqZs+RETv5x2dyGhkjKdbcOffx3jG73SKpUaJyB4Z8XTAd70N1VOAdlzVacl
 Fsin8fUwdajyz3id0oMMIQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000828119-05-000017.txt : 20051215
<SEC-HEADER>0000828119-05-000017.hdr.sgml : 20051215
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20051215190656
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000828119-05-000017
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20051209
FILED AS OF DATE:		20051215
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20051215

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			THERMA WAVE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000828119
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	INDUSTRIAL INSTRUMENTS FOR MEASUREMENT, DISPLAY, AND CONTROL [3823]
		IRS NUMBER:				943000561
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1250 RELIANCE WAY
		CITY:			FREMONT
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94539
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5104903663

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1250 RELIANCE WAY
		CITY:			FREMONT
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94539

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GRAVES GREGORY B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001208109

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26911
		FILM NUMBER:		051267939

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3500 LYMAN BLVD
		CITY:			CHASKA
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55318
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9525564580

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3500 LYMNA BLVD
		CITY:			CHASKA
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55318
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-12-09</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000828119</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>THERMA WAVE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TWAV</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001208109</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GRAVES GREGORY B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1250 RELIANCE WAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FREMONT</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94539</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.76</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-12-09</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">4 years vesting schedule with 25% of the shares vested and exercisable on the first year anniversary of the grant date and the remaining shares become vested and exercisable each monthly thereafter.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Joseph Passarello, attorney-in-fact  For: Greg Graves</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-12-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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