Gallery, Projects and General > Neat Stuff
heating a bearing in the microwave
vtsteam:
I don't get the attraction of using a microwave for heating metal objects like bearings (I've even seen some rather sad videos of people trying to melt tiny amounts of metal and cast with them). :bugeye:
What's wrong with a conventional toaster oven for heating bearings? I mean if people insist on using small kitchen appliances for smelly metal? It even has a thermostat, besides a timer.... whadda concept!
Better yet, these seem to get "upgraded" by swmbo every few years, just grab the last one before the recycler for use in the workshop -- some even come with under shelf mounts. They're Ideal for baking sand cores, too.
Manxmodder:
Agree with you VT, I have a microwave combi oven/grill and use the infrared oven to heat bearings and collars.
I also sometimes put shafts in the freezer in a plastic bag to shrink them and increase the size differential effect even further.....OZ.
dawesy:
Toaster, now there's something I hadn't thought of!
I actually want to get an old dishwasher for parts cleaning too.
vtsteam:
Good for tempering, too. Set the thermostat for somewhat less than your tempering temp in case it's not accurate (likely). Check your part for color as you get close, and/or use an infrared thermometer. Adjust thermostat, as required to get what you want, and plunge when there. It's a nce even and slow process -- less danger of overshooting.
Also the glass is usually much clearer on a toaster oven than a microwave, since the latter has a screen in it, so with a toaster you can actually see what you're doing -- important when tempering. Put it up high, at eye level. The under shelf mount models are ideal. I have an old Black and Decker toaster oven with the shelf mount that was judged too small and old fashioned for our kitchen a decade ago. Quite happy with that!
New toaster oven $35.
New microwave about $70
and the toaster oven has half the footprint.
angus:
--- Quote from: dawesy on February 12, 2015, 11:05:14 AM ---Toaster, now there's something I hadn't thought of!
I actually want to get an old dishwasher for parts cleaning too.
--- End quote ---
i got busted this week.... swmbo came home from work early, and caught me with an engine sump in the diswasher :doh:
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