[TheForge] Smelting metal in your microwave oven

[Bob]

     I have seen melting done in a microwave several times - by 
engineers. Someone has developed a crucible that absorbs microwave 
energy. The oven they were using had been modified for water cooling of 
the magnetron to improve the duty cycle. It was part of the program at 
Materials Camp for high school students from around the world which is 
sponsored by ASM International.      www.asminternational.org    The 
last day of the week long camp they invite us blacksmiths to demonstrate 
to the students and give them a chance to hammer some iron. These are 
the young folks you do not see on the 6:00 news. It really renews your 
confidence in some of the next generation. They also make almost instant 
ice cream using liquid nitrogen.

     If you get a chance to visit Materials Park in Cleveland please do 
so. The aluminum geodesic dome is 274 feet in diameter and 103 feet high 
with a garden under it. Inside the building there are several polished 
aluminum sheets that have been brushed with steel wool to create 
artworks that you have to see to really appreciate. The stairs are 
stainless steel treads suspended by bronze rods.

Bob Willman
The Eagle's Anvil
Bowling Green, Ohio
WB8NQW

The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground.

Thomas Jefferson
in a letter to E. Carrington,
May 27,1788


On 12/30/2011 12:14 PM, Ben Barrett wrote:
> Well said, Bruce.  I was thinking that, well, many places will not allow
> combustion devices that would allow microwaves, but this looks like a
> horrible process that you would not want to do inside anyway!
> All the same, I like that it defies the usual teaching of never ever
> putting metal in the microwave.
>
> Somewhat related, there exist "microwave glass kilns" which can be used for
> fusing/slumping/etc, that is similarly neato, in regard to being an
> alternate method.  Sorry to be getting off-topic, but I love the curiosity
> and critical thinking of this group!
>
> Also, old microwaves can often be had for cheap or free, and in some places
> kilowatts are pretty cheap and regionally produced :)
>
> cheerio,
>
> Ben
>
>
>
> On Fri, Dec 30, 2011 at 5:47 AM, Bruce Freeman<freemab222 at gmail.com>  wrote:
>
>> Gaaaa!!!
>>
>> Why can't people get the difference between "melting" (what he did)
>> and "smelting" (reducing metal from its ore)?!  Pardon me for being
>> annoyed at this, but there's so much of the ignorant stuff "going
>> around" these days...
>>
>> Not to mention he got about 3 fluid oz. of molten tin out of the thing
>> -- before it caught fire.  He could have done that as quick with a
>> propane torch!  But I guess he doesn't consider that techy enough.
>>
>> On Thu, Dec 29, 2011 at 10:49 PM, Rob Fertner<rfertner at cox.net>  wrote:
>>> I hope everyone's Christmas was good. Here's something metal related:
>>> http://hackaday.com/2011/12/19/smelting-metal-in-your-microwave-oven/
>>>
>>> Rob
>>>
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>>
>> --
>> Bruce
>> NJ
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