bear21211 Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 For those of you just starting and getting those tiny bubbles in your plastic if you are using a microwave do your self a favor..........melt your self 2 oz. with nothing in it and watch your plastic. I kept getting that unclear plastic and went to reading here and all I could figure out was it needed to cook longer. It took 7 minutes in my cheapo microwave to get it to clear up. I then added my color salt and glitter and perfecto clear as a bell. Now I feel like I am learning for a change Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pastorshane Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 Wow! 7 minutes is a long time! I always add my salt before heating, and the bubbles are very minimal and after stirring there gone. Thats about twice as long as I shoot my plastic, but if it works go for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bear21211 Posted August 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 pastor I think I bought a piece of junk microwave from wally world 38.99 and it has a rotary dial on it probably only 250 watts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pastorshane Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 I understand. I only use yard sale micros. You can call me Shane. I'm glad to see your getting the hang of it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Brabant Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 Try Craig's list. Got mine for zippo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rxfish Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 I use a 800 watt microwave I bought for $100.00 and also got a warranty so if it takes a dump in the first year I get another one. I only add non-bleed and florescent colors prior to cooking. Everything else gets added afterwards. 8 ounces cooks in 2 minutes 30 seconds with anything under a cup cooking in a minute 30. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunnie3035 Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 I use the same cheap Wally World micro. I just prefer a rotary dial rather than a digital pad, but 7 minutes seems like a long time for 2oz plastic. I set the heat on med-high rather than high, I feel you get a more even melt on this setting. A real easy way to get rid of bubbles is to set the cup on a hot-plate [griddle] while you prepare the molds. The bubbles will rise and collect on the sides of the cup. Simply nuke it for another few seconds and your ready to pour bubble free plastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nova Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 (edited) Let the bubbles float to the surface and use a micro torch to get rid of them. Just make sure you do it with a quick pass because if you have glitter in the plastic and hold the flame in one spot the glitter will burn. This works really quickly; couple of seconds and it's done. You can also get rid of bubbles caused by over stirring like this as well. www.novalures.com Edited August 13, 2008 by nova Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tylerd1994 Posted September 16, 2008 Report Share Posted September 16, 2008 I bought a micro for 5 bucks and it has the turn dial but it is perfect cause it has the warm setting on a dial. I can melt down plastic at a little bit past warm in about 3 minutes without worrying about burning my plastic. I love the warm setting cause i can stick the plastic back into the microvave and it puts it at the perfect pouring state. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass-Boys Posted September 17, 2008 Report Share Posted September 17, 2008 Great Thread guys !!!! awsome tips on bubbles.. Shane, how are ya man. ? Gunnie, maybe you have done what I have done ??!!!!!!!! with a digital timer you can punch 1 more number than needed:eek: like,, intead of 45 seconds you can hit. 455 seconds then go to open a mold and wonder wow. the dinger should have went off by now !!! Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pastorshane Posted September 17, 2008 Report Share Posted September 17, 2008 Jeff, I'm doing well. How about yourself? Yea my first micro had a broke digital read out and I've toasted my own share of plastic! Man that stinks in more than one way! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish_rman2000 Posted September 18, 2008 Report Share Posted September 18, 2008 Hi all, Gunnie be carefull setting a pyrex cup on a hotplate read on other threads that the pyrex could explode after heating on a hotplate. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One Sock Posted September 27, 2008 Report Share Posted September 27, 2008 man I have done that so many times, go to reheat for 55seconds and then about 4 minutes later realize those last two stickbaits you needed are not gonna happen, think it was at the point where I couldn't see no more where I said uh oh, might want to open the garage door...along with what's that burning smell? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
