[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’t been able to prove it (yet), but I am almost positive that pouring plastics is basically listed as a “black art” somewhere. I just can’t picture guys from across the country mixing their secret concoctions just 4 ounces at a time; rather I have a vision of a Merlin type figure, with a pointed hat, robes, and a wand, standing in front of a huge smoking black cauldron, chanting quietly in order to get the perfect color, texture, and scent to their creations.

OR maybe its just my failing eye sight (or something ) and you guys are just standing around a black colored microwave and everything is pouring as "normal". Good luck and be safe.

[152nd Street Baits]

Top: Black/silver flake/black lumina
Bottom: methiolate

[nova]

Originally Posted by 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

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]

Originally Posted by Spike-A-Pike

HJS,

I haven’t been able to prove it (yet), but I am almost positive that pouring plastics is basically listed as a “black art” somewhere.

I've been thinking the same thing. If the cops ever busted in on me during a heavy period of "cooking", that I'd be hauled off in cuff with the cops thinking I'm running a meth lab.
======================================
All seriousness aside, I don't know what the difference is between my technique or maybe with my microwave or because I'm use recycle plastics. But if I started with a 2 minute burst of full power using chunk plastics I'd have a toasted mess on my hands... and on everything else too. I'm guessing its the fact that I start with an 8oz cup of chunks of old plastic... which melts down to about 4oz. Starting with chunks must be different from starting with new plastics thats already fluid. So those starting with recycled chunk plastics may want to shorten their initial heating times. I start out with 20 second bursts and shorten my times as things melt.

[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