Microwave Operation???

[HJS]

OK guys, I'm bringing this up to help the newbies that are getting into pouring their own. Am I correct in my microwave thinking??? or am I way off. I heat my plastic in a relatively good, digital microwave thats about 5 years old. I can select time and I can select power levels ranging from 1 to 10. Its my assumption that most if not all microwaves operate at only one level of power... either its on at full power or totally off. Microwaves achieve their various levels of power by cycling full power on & off in appropriate ratios. So, if a power level of 50% is selected, the microwave does NOT power down to a steady 50% output. It achieves 50% power by cycling 50% on at full power and 50% off at no power. So I'm thinking that selecting different power levels is NOT the way to go when trying to control the rate of melting plastics. Therefore, that leaves timing as the only effective way to control the rate of heating plastic. If I'm wrong, help me out here.

When I'm melting plastic I use only full power. I adjust rate of melting by adjusting time only, generally from 20 seconds to start, dropping down gradually to 5 seconds as the plastic nears pouring temps. I stir briefly after each burst of power.

It be really kewl if microwaves actually powered down to a steady output when lower settings were selected... but thats just not the way they work... I think.

[Vodkaman]

Absolutely correct. You can hear the power switching in and out.

[captsully18]

First, let me say that I am far from being an expert. That said, I believe you are right about power. It would be nice if the power worked the way you would like it to. There would be less burned plastic. For 4 ounces of plastic I start with 2 min. and adjust down from there as plastic melts. Makes melting time seem quicker. Perhaps some of the real experts at this will chime in and answer all the questions.

David

[Vodkaman]

It is still necessary to break up the heating times. Microwave heating is not constant, but has hot spots, also the microwaves cannot penetrate very deep. This is why all microwaves have a rotating platter and the packet always says "leave to stand for one minute". This is to allow the heat to spread throughout the food.

If you blasted the plastic for too long, you could burn part of the plastic, while other areas are not there yet. Most members have written, heat for two minutes, stir, then 30 secs and stir, until the correct temperature is reached.

Each microwave heats at different rates, so it is best to do some tests, to find out the best times for your equipment. Obviously, the amount of plastic that you are heating affects the timing, so it is best to be consistant with the amount you heat each time. Very soon you develope a 'feel' for the timing.

[Spike-A-Pike]

HJS,

I haven

[Richard Prager]

Top: Black/silver flake/black lumina

Bottom: methiolate

[nova]

First, let me say that I am far from being an expert. That said, I believe you are right about power. It would be nice if the power worked the way you would like it to. There would be less burned plastic. For 4 ounces of plastic I start with 2 min. and adjust down from there as plastic melts. Makes melting time seem quicker. Perhaps some of the real experts at this will chime in and answer all the questions.

David

I do exactly the same thing.

The way I see it is that it doesn't matter what kind of micro you use(cheap or exspensive) as long as it has a turntable. The main thing is that you have to learn the limits of the micro that you are using. Once you have that down you can turn out consisitant product.

You can also learn to use the micro in other ways. I like to use the #90 black glitter and increase the heat level just a little to curl the glitter over. This does two things; it leeches out some of the black color and leaves a kind of black/silver rod instead of the flat glitter. Personally I like the effect for the top color of a two or three color bait.

www.novalures.com

[HJS]

HJS,

I haven

[captsully18]

HJS, sorry, I didn't realize that you were remelting old plastic. Yep, 2 min would indeed be too long. Your method probably works better than any other in that case. Sorry for any confusion.

David

[nova]

There is a differance between heating liquid and heating solids in a micro. With a solid the heat tends to concentrate in one area and spread out from there causing overheating in those sections. By adding a little fluid plastic to the mix before heating this allows the heat to spread out beyond the confined area of the solid baits and reduce burning.

www.novalures.com

[JSC]

Just a note ... Re melting old stuff has some problems and is more noticeable in the Micro .. Generaly cut into small pcs put only a few in at time , Heat, Stir, Heat, Stir Add some More -Stir, Heat and etc till you get what you want to work with .. and before pouring, if you need to add color, do so then and stir some more.. You can get some weird stuff using "Dead Worms" as we call them.

JSC

[King Bait Co.]

Does the watts and if it spins play a role? Mine is 1250w and spins. It takes two minunets and fifteen seconds to heat up eight ounces of plastic.

[RipLip]

I'm glad this was brought up. I run my microwave at 80% and I have noticed the same cutting out thing while its cooking. I was wondering about that and I will run full power now and lose a step. King my personal opinion on the watts thing is no it doesn't matter. No matter how big or small the microwave is it will still melt just fine. They say "size doesn't matter":D Of course everyone is different. I have a tiny micro. from a old jobsite and a dinosaur that looks like it will cook a turkey and both work fine. I believe that having the rotary tray in the center is the best part of them. I haven't tried melting in a micro without the spinner but maybe it works fine too. I'm sure someone will answer that quickly.

[Vodkaman]

Riplip. I would definately stick with th rotating table. The microwaves bounce around and tend to focus at certain positions, causing hot spots. Rotating helps reduce the problem to a hot hoop!

King. 1250 is BIG, but it will come down to you testing for the right times. Even two micro's the same will have different times. It is the same problem with the pots, that have been discussed many times. The problem I think is the crappy thermostats they use and the 'stat is not in the middle of the plastic, where you want it.

I used to make brewing vats for mashing beer. I could control the temp at 150f and hold it to 1/2 a degree for four hours, using electronics with a couple of thermistors. The technology is there and not expensive, but these companies choose not to spoil you.

[RipLip]

Vodka, I'm not going to get a different microwave both of mine spin. I thought that was part of Kings question and I figured someone here has probably used a non spinning type and could help him out.

[HJS]

As I've stated earlier, I've never used new (fluid) plastics... only old recycled plastics I cut into chunks.

QUESTION: When you guys say you place an 8oz container of fluid plastics in a microwave and heat at full power for ~2 minutes... do you still stop the process periodically to stir the mix???... or just let it go untouched until the ~2 minutes are up???

[RipLip]

When I heat up my plastic I stir every 30 seconds on the first pours and reheat at 15 sec intervals if it starts to thicken. If I don't have enough molds on one particular bait and I have to wait for them to cool to pull them out I reheat starting with 1 min and stirring every 20 seconds.

[nova]

It's a straight 2 minutes. Then out and stir. Back in (for me) heat for 30 sec.; out and stir; then repeat until done.

I never try to get the whole thing done at once. If you do that you are asking for trouble.

www.novalures.com

[MDC]

My nuker came from a second hand store and was had for $6. Some of the buttons don't work but I can get close enough. 90 seconds is now 88 seconds, 1 minute is 2 minutes turned off half way. This thing is so old it does't have the auto built in rotary plate. Luckily it came with one of the old 'Micro-Go-Round's that you have to wind up.

I have had problems with my plastic if it stops or I forget to wind it.

[captsully18]

I second Nova's post. Start at 2 min, stir, 25 - 30 sec longer, etc. That's for 8 oz.

David

[outdooradvantage]

I dont know if this will help anyone, but I usually start my microwave on high for the initial heat of 2 min. which actually takes 1 min 40 sec. and then go to med. in short burst of 20 sec. or so. I know all microvaves are diffent but this might get some of you close. Always remember to stir every time you open the door. It works for me and hopefully you will have the same result's. JEFF................

[gcl58]

i will put old plasstic in a blender with new plastic and blend untill it is like oatmeal. to heat the old/new plastic i start out mediumn range and stir as required. new plastic is heated at max temp of microwave

[Richard Prager]

i will put old plasstic in a blender with new plastic and blend untill it is like oatmeal. to heat the old/new plastic i start out mediumn range and stir as required. new plastic is heated at max temp of microwave

That's interesting. Do you get many bubbles that way and what is the ratio old/new do you use. I keep tossing my scraps in a box. When the box fills, I put another in it's place. I have at least 100 lbs sitting here.