[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" 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