-----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,
 PYc8yQ9eCFfwPAjIj8ZeTRzAbsx1GyBroWAttOEA/J4YR9caZmoTjv7LnMB43+ZV
 1Ke0qKnBh9BrNy4csQ2XoA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000828119-06-000019.txt : 20060508
<SEC-HEADER>0000828119-06-000019.hdr.sgml : 20060508
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060508173615
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000828119-06-000019
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060504
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060508
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060508

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:			HANLEY PETER
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001185717

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26911
		FILM NUMBER:		06817938

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NOVELLUS SYSTEMS INC
		STREET 2:		4000 NORTH FIRST ST
		CITY:			SAN JOSE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95134
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4089439700
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-05-04</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001185717</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HANLEY PETER</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>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Board Member</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.62</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-05-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.62</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-05-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, Par Value $.01 per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </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: Noel Simmons, attorney-in-fact  For: Peter R. Hanley</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-05-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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