Melting Iron in a Microwave! Gym weight to Benchy Boat
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- Опубліковано 17 вер 2024
- In this video, I melted an iron weight plate by using my microwave to make an iron benchy boat.
Then I made a sand island and water from a bottle glass.
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Link to Patreon: / shakethefuture - Наука та технологія
I am totally amazed how much you can do with a microwave and simple equipment on your balcony! I never would’ve imagined. Thank you for your channel.
Thanks! Yes indeed, one microwave can go a long way.
Who needs a shiny boat when you can have a rusty benchy. My microwave has trust issues after this video 😊
@@ShakeTheFuture How many watts is your microwave sir?
@@JJW It's a 900w microwave.
If you're going for that 3kW, you'll have to do something different: 220v/16A wall plugs can't handle that. You'll need a 6mm2 straight cord from the electric panel to your balcony. My kitchen 3.2kW induction table has this separate circuit (although buried in the wall).
@@codures I must say, I hadn't really thought about it. We'll see if I end up getting it. I don't really need it; it's purely for entertainment/educational purposes to see what's possible.
I suppose I would just run it from my kitchen's oven socket with a long extension cable (since it would likely only be for a few videos or projects). I was actually checking the microwave's manual, and now I'm not sure if the output is actually 3000W, as one of the manuals says 2000W. 2000W is still good, but 3000W sounds better. It could be 3000W input, not microwave power. If that's the case, I hate when they do that - advertise it as 3000w microwave, but it's the input power.
Anyway, we'll see if I end up getting it. I'll probably make a UA-cam poll and ask the audience if they would be interested in a video where I try it out and compare it with a household microwave. I am pretty happy using an ordinary microwave.
Cheers!
@@ShakeTheFuture as a rule of thumb : microwave output is slightly above 50% of the input. however, a percentage of the radiated (emitted) power is reflected back to the magnetron, hence the t(h)rust issues when using feromagnetic materials in a feromagnetic cage 😉.
Melting the blue bottle glass as water turned out really cool
Cheers!
Amazing that you found a 13th century cast iron Benchy while diving!
Finding it buried in a field would certainly puzzle a metal detectorist 😊
When I was young, I was a Foundry man, We poured gray and ductile iron. We wore gas welding goggles with the little chain between the eye cups, the Old ones that were two cups, not the plastic goggle type you see people use when grinding. The gas type lens cut the brightness just enough to see when walking around but see details in the molten iron. To vibrate, take a cheap 540 motor and make an off center weight that is fixed to the shaft and tape it to the table. We used a neck type pouring column and risers as the higher the iron is poured in, the better it fills the mold, the fill riser had a right angle bend at the bottom and filled the mold bottom up. We vented tricky parts with little sticks to avoid trapped air. I make a jewelers wax by melting paraffin (bottling type sold at the market) and adding plastic bucket chunks that will melt, 3 parts wax to 1 part bucket by weight. It shrinks a bit on setting up but is easy to carve and burns out well.
You could also buy a rotary sander because it has the off set weight mechanism in a durable design. Not as nice looking but just showing there are many options.
Thank you very much for the tip. I had to look up those gas welding goggles as I didn’t know what they looked like. It made me think that maybe I could just wear a pair of sunglasses under the face shield. Cheers!
@@leonordin3052I actually found a vibrating motor that can be attached to the table and it is affordable. I must say the reciprocating saw worked pretty well, but I suppose it would be smarter to free my hands and not juggle things while doing metal melting 😊
@@ShakeTheFuture like these... Hobart 770096 Welding Oxy-Acetylene Goggle - 50mm Eye Cup
You are a true innovator in this space. Microwave casting is an incredibly inexpensive and clearly viable technology, when the necessary safety precautions are maintained.
You're a hero of mine. 👍🏻
Thanks Conor!
Love the videos you do. I am impressed with the amount you get done in such a small space. I think if you get to much space, it just tends to get cluttered.
Thanks! Yes, I’m forced to get rid of things before getting something new. For example, if I end up getting that industrial microwave and keeping it, one of the other microwaves I have will have to go. I just don’t have the space, so there is less clutter like you said - I don't think my girlfriends thinks so 😊
The musical feature at the end made a great episode even better!
Oh, that's great! I'm glad you made it to the end. That's why I asked at the beginning of the video, "What's your attention span?" Even I’ve noticed that my attention span isn’t as good as it used to be, so I’m trying to improve it by introducing some rules to my viewing habits. For example, if I start watching a video, I have to finish it (unless it becomes clear that it's not for me)
youre truly the goat at this
Thank You very much Kevin!
Thanks for another great video. If you have to smash up stuff with a hammer again, you can put it in a pillow case or put a thin tarp or sheet on top of it before you hit it with the hammer. It is this enough that it should not cushion the hammer much, and when the pieces break they won't go flying.
"I look! I found an old Iphone 16 while I was diving!" 😂😂😂
That's actually a great and obvious tip. I did put the bottle in the bag, I should have done the same with the gym-weigh. Thanks! I'll give it a go.
Loved the little Black & White Brothers "Pump it Up reference!
He, he. It came naturally.
Attention span? For you, Denny, infinity.
Thank You very much for the kind words. It means a lot.
Thanks!
Thank You very much for your support Elizabeth!
Haha! No joke I bought the same vevor cart over a month ago to add another microwave to my setup for sintering (but for the mobility and venting outside). We must be on the same wavelength lol.
I also got a eco flow battery system to make it truly mobile. It's been sitting in my garage waiting for someone to set everything up... maybe I'll have to stop being lazy and do it 😅
Well, I actually had it in my cart for a while too. I’m not trying to promote anything in this comment, even though it might seem that way, but it’s true. I had the table in my cart because I thought it looked like a nice table and was priced very well. Even if it hadn’t been a sponsored table, I would have bought it myself anyway.
Speaking of EcoFlow, I did contact them a few months ago to see if they would be interested in sending one of their products. I was thinking about taking my microwave to the car park to burn out some smelly molds. Since I didn’t get a response, I suppose it’s not happening. But It's still on my video list 😊
@ShakeTheFuture I had my eye on an eco flow for a while too.. then amazon prime day came and couldn't resist a 50% discount. I have ventilation but just being able to wheel the whole setup out front was a pretty nice option. It's also a nice thing to know that if I catch something on fire the risk would be a lot lower.
Fantastic results 😀.thanks for sharing
Thank for watching!
cant believe you got to melt iron in the microwave, sick
Thanks. And it's not even the most powerful microwave - 900w
Your dry humor is gold (:
Cheers!
Constantly pushing boundaries and your microwave!
Yes indeed! One day I might even use it to heat up food 😉
Absolutely insane what you can do
Thanks!
Great video. You can also use CO2 to make water glass set up. You can get CO2 tanks at welding gas suppliers. At least in the US, I am not sure about Germany
Yes, indeed. I used to use CO2. I bought a 5 kg CO2 fire extinguisher and found myself using way too much CO2. Not that I needed a lot, but it was just a human thing (let’s inject a bit more just in case... and more). After refilling the fire extinguisher 3 or 4 times, I realized it was an expense I didn’t need. It’s definitely an option for those who prefer to use CO2. Cheers!
I love your channel, I've been wanting to do exactly what you did in this video lol great minds think alike!
Cheers!
In the dental industry, we used to cast various metals from gold to Co-Cr alloys. In order to make these metals flow we use a centrifuge machine, in other words forcing the metal to flow in cavities. In your setup, you can use an old technique using a potato or moist toilet paper (in a metal cup).
Sprooing is another level of science" where most technicians are struggling, but there a some basic rules that might help.
I don't want my dentist to put me in a centrifuge and force molten metal in my cavities
@@victorro8760 The dental industry is not only a dentist it's a team behind him it is also dental technicians, dental nurses, dental surgeons, etc. When you go into the shop to buy eggs you don't expect to think that shop grows chickens in the back of the shop. Dont't you?
Oh yes, I am aware of centrifugal casting, but I didn’t know about the moist toilet paper or potato technique. I looked it up - Interesting. Thanks!
@@cronossss22 Wait, they actually put patients in centrifuges to pour molten metal into their teeth?
Now I need to try this microwave magic myself and it is all your fault! 😂
Miller brand safety glasses Darkness 5 should help you a lot
Thanks for the tip. They are a bit expensive, especially with shipping to Spain where I live. But I appreciate the suggestion. I’ve started a Google Keep note with all the tips and recommendations people give me, so I can go back and review them. I’ve written it down and might check it out in the future. Cheers
Clutch table upgrade - not sure the old bench would have survived.. sounds like a perfect outtake
Yes, that’s true. The old table was covered with floor tiles. They would have definitely cracked, and small pieces would probably end up flying into the air. I’m not disappointed that I spilled metal onto the table, as that was inevitable. I am a bit disappointed that it happened on the third day. It reminds me of the time I bought a car and scratched it in the first week (it was the only time it ever got scratched).
the iron in weight plates is the best quality- good quality iron should run like water. If you can find them old iron gutters and drain pipes - there cast in 2meter long sections and just 3mm thick ! -failing that car brake drums
Yes, indeed. That’s what I love about it-the price and the way it flows. I have some beautiful casts from resin prints that I’ll share in future videos. They’re probably the best casts I’ve ever done, and they’re cast iron. For me, it’s also important to be able to break them easily, so I don’t have to cut them. It was actually a realization for me when I first started casting iron. I spent way too much time and effort trying to cut it and changing blades... all that was needed was to make a few cuts and break it with a hammer.
Wow I have never seen your method so cool!
Cheers!
wonderfull work! makes me dream of making my own iron/steel tools
Awesome dude! This is a great fusion of technical fabrication and artistic flair.
FYI Sodium silicate can be "cured" or hardened with CO2.
Yes, I have used CO2 in the past. Microwaving the mold works for me, so I don't bother with C02. Cheers!
I also do my stuff on the balcony. Afraid of winter time 😂.
One has to use the space he's got 😊
Your videos give me hope that i can start casting metals in my balcony with the expensive casting setup. Thank you sooooo much.
I'm so glad my videos give you hope! It’s definitely doable, but a bit risky... your spouse/partner might kick you out one day 😉. "Sorry, honey, but could you hang the clothes on the foldable rack today? I need to do some metal melting on the balcony."
Print your molds on plenums. It will save time in noe recasting while you curse at yourself for the time spent filing. Or hack saw and make a base witha basic jig
Not sure what exactly you mean! I had to look up what's a plenum 😊
Good on you for qearing a respirator. That stuff is no joke.
Yes, I am trying to improve my PPE game 👍
"Oh look I found an old iphone 16 while I was diving" lol😆
Run tie wire into the top of the microwave and have a japanese style tip fountain and have an assembly line of molds on a circle
Thanks for the suggestion.
Brilliant episode. I am getting close to making a microwave kiln myself thanks to you!
What’s the largest amount of cast iron you think you could melt?
That's a good question. The largest iron melt I have done was probably around 240g. I believe that with a new, optimized chamber, preheating, and cutting the iron into small pieces, you could melt up to 500g. I’m sure we’ll get there and try it out. Cheers!
I think it would be really cool for your channel for you to explore sintering steel powders into functional parts, like gears/cogs and or other such parts.
I also think so 😊Cheers!
hec yeah thankyou for the awesome video. Love the outro!
Thank You very much!
Just incredible! Keep it up!
Thank You!
You should grind and acid treat that table, as the stainless might rust
Thanks for the tip!
@@ShakeTheFuture no problem :)
I work a lot with stainless, and would hate to see your brand new table rust :)
Great show, especially from 20:47 to 20:57
Thanks!
Your ingenuity and resourcefulness never cease to amaze me. Are the SiC molds porous? Could you still draw air through them and ensure a consistent fill every time?
Thanks! Well, I have pulled a vacuum on SIC molds, but I haven’t come to a conclusion on whether it actually worked. Since I mainly use SIC molds to cast iron and iron flows very well, I’m not sure if the vacuum did anything. More testing is required. Cheers!
Hydrogen peroxide and vinegar make a very fast rusting agent that you can just spray on and wait a bit.
Please design a better pouring container for dumping the wet silicon carbide into the mold instead of spooning it down.
I am impressed by how much you are streamlining your process at each iterations
Would it be possible to increase the cast volume by having two separate microwaves or would a two-shot our fail even if you do them one after the other ?
Thanks! There is definitely room for improvement. I’ve never tried a "two-shot" pour, but I believe it’s possible because the chamber keeps the crucible hot for a while. This would give you time to microwave 2 chambers in 2 microwaves, then take them out, place it on the table, and pour one after another. It might be trickier with iron, but it’s definitely possible. Cheers!
Really enjoying what you're doing here. Can the microwave melt stainless steel?
Thank You! Yes it can in tiny quantities. I'll have a video about it coming soon. Cheers!
My uses would be for melting gold and copper. It's easier than an induction furnace.
SpeedBenchy casting edition :)
For the rusting step, I've had really good luck mixing vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and salt (no measurements, just kind of by feel) - works way better for me than straight salt water.
I tried hydrogen peroxide as well, but on a different cast and it did not work as good. It looked rusty in the water, but when I took it out, the rust just washed away. I must have done it wrong 😊
STF : Shake The Future
STFU: Shake The Future Up
... Not sure which one I love more 😂
mabey you could use electronic welding helmet to easier see vhen pouring metal.
Maybe. I think I might try sunglasses first. Cheers!
@15:00 lol, I totally welded some iron to my stainless steel kitchen sink, it will not come off, but it’s acting now as a sacrificial anode.
That's really cool! Can you try casting silicon metal next?
I doubt I could melt it, but I’m interested in learning more. I’ve added your request to my potential 'to-do list.' I might give it a try. For now, I have a few more videos lined up that need to be finished. Cheers!
@@ShakeTheFuture Looking forward to it, thanks very much for your consideration!
Awesome! Thanks for sharing!!!! Question: can steel be cast, or is the microwave only good up to cast iron? Curious, because steel is a real challenge for gas/oil furnaces.
I’ve melted a few stainless steel nuts (A2-70) as an experiment. In those quantities, it was possible. I ended up casting a ring, but I haven’t even cleaned it because the spruing was incorrect, and I ended up with only half a ring. It’s sitting in front of me as I type, serving as a reminder that I need to make a video about casting stainless steel. Cheers!
@@ShakeTheFuturethank you for taking the time to reply. I'd love to see some stainless casting. I don't think I've seen anyone at UA-cam accomplishing that yet...
❤
I have to wonder if a crucible/mold combined would work. Melt and pour in one go. True, there would be a small sprue between the cavities to be cut and finished off.
It's a question that comes up frequently. I think it could work for some molds and metals, but not in this case. The mold was just way too big. I wouldn’t be able to heat it up in the microwave to the temperatures required to melt iron. The small crucible contains 100g of SIC, while the mold was made using 560g (or something like that... I forgot).
Anyway, since it's something people keep wondering about, I'll try it out and make a video on it. Cheers!
*everything going wrong*
This might look bad, but it is a controlled situation. 😂
Well, if you look at it like that then yes...but it was a controlled situation 😊
@@ShakeTheFuture To be honest, when you said that, I was not looking at the screen, I just started laughing out loud when you said it the second time. 😂😅
Great video.
Thank You very much!
@Shakethefuture I cannot stress enough how your ideas are truly genius, as always thank you for sharing your results, I have watched pretty much all your videos and I have a question with some additional notes that I would greatly appreciate any feedback if possible and maybe we can see if the idea/principle works basee on proven results you have already achieved.
Can this current method work using your print wave metal casting approach which was was applied to a gypsium/plaster mold to avoid any burnout being required, the difference being the materials. So hopefully in theory , using a silicone carbide mold/ (possibly silica sand + sodium silicate) in parallel with print wave approach means no burnout needed to cast iron. I would also like to add that with print wave casting the soft pla pattern can only be used once but if you were to replace with 3d printed TPU, I would like to think that the TPU pattern can be reusable, do you think this is possible?
One last question, when using a wax pattern similar to the hammer handle in a previous video, does the wax completly burnout in the microwave within the silicone carbide mold?
Looking forward to your reply, and any new content, have a great weekend.
Thanks! I’m glad you find value in these videos. I think you could do print-wave-casting with silicon carbide molds, but some changes would be required. For example, you probably would not make the mold directly on top of the printer. Microwaving would need to be done carefully, as silicon carbide is essentially a heating element and tends to heat up unevenly. It’s easy to overheat the mold and melt the plastic, causing it to stick.
I might give it a try. I once tried using TPU, and it did stick to the plaster, though that was a few years ago. I need to try it again.
When burning out a silicon carbide mold with wax, it can be removed or burned just like PLA, but with wax, this process happens much sooner.
Cheers!
Very nice! Can you use regular casting sand with water glass instead of the silicon carbide powder? I wonder if I can make a furnace like yours. I love it. Thanks!
I’ve only done it once, but not with cast iron, so I’m not sure how it would turn out. Sand is definitely a much cheaper or even free option. The benefit of SIC is that it’s easier to burn out. You don’t even need a microwave kiln-it will heat up on its own. For the best results, you’ll need some kind of chamber to trap the heat, like the one I use for melting metal.
What size SiC do you buy and is it economical to buy the larger size and grind it down?
Ofcourse it is economical. Fine sic is very expensive due to being used in lapping. So it has to be very consistent grain size. One kg of finer stuff is like 20 dollars or more, depending on how fine you want it can get quite expensive..
Maybe there are cheap fine sources. I dont know about casting but 800 grit and above looks very fine. Lower would look rough and need more sanding, for good looking surface I would go above 360 grit because I would think there will be a lot of sanding in such grits to get smooth.
The upside to blasting media is that particle size is less important so he can get it cheaply.
That's the one I’ve been buying: '25kg Silicon Carbide SIC FEPA 220 (44 - 75 µm).' I paid 134 euros with shipping. The cereal grinder cost me 40 euros. The blades on the grinder won’t last forever; they will get smaller and smaller until they need to be replaced. The grinder came with two sets of blades, which is good. It’s actually my second grinder, as the first one broke-not because of grinding SIC, but because I was shaking it while grinding. I’m trying to be more careful with this one and not shake it while grinding. I don’t know if the blades can be purchased separately. One thing to keep in mind: don’t use a cheap coffee grinder. I tried that, and it was one of the quickest ways to waste money. The blades disappeared after grinding the first or second batch of silicon carbide-they’re just not thick enough. That said a lot of times I don't grind it at all. Cheers!
So cool ❤
Cheers!
Amazing! Do you think you can melt and cast Stainless Steel with this method?
Yes, but in very small amounts. I'll be casting something in stainless steel soon. Cheers!
Been following your channel for as long as You started doing microwave metal casting.. and I'm really interested on this project!! It looks very promising... I wonder if you could share the link for that 3000 Watts Industrial Microwave?? I would love to find out more about it!!
----I copy-pasted the answer from the other comment, in case you did not notice the answer.------
It's a "Royal Catering RC-MV-06" microwave with a 34L capacity. It's the first one I found that isn't too expensive-though still priced around four times as much as an ordinary microwave (the one I have), it's relatively affordable. However, it turns out it's not a 3000W microwave as I initially thought; it has a 3200W power consumption and a 2100W output. Clearly, I haven't researched it thoroughly. There may be other options available. 34L is a good size. My white microwave is a 28L microwave (sometimes advertised as 30L), so 34L sounds good. Cheers!
You can use CO2 to cures sodium silicate. (Vinegar+baking soda = CO2) ;-)
Sorry, do you mean curing it without having to put it in the oven?
@@ArnulfoCaviedesCardosoNo, you need to preheat it before casting anyway, but you can cure it by blowing CO2 over it to hold its shape and skip the "fridge" part.
I used to do it, but not anymore. It's easier to microwave it for me. Cheers!
Can the microwave melt stainless steel?
Yes it can in small amounts.
Did i miss someting? why cant you refire with the mold to fill the voids? If the mold can hold molten cast iron, it can wtihstand the firing in the microwave right?
There are a few possible reasons why it probably wouldn’t work very well with iron. The main reason, in my case, is that I wouldn’t be able to reheat the mold to the temperatures required to melt iron. It’s a very large mold. For example, the small crucible is made of 100g of SIC, while the mold contains 5 times more SIC. It’s just too big. I wouldn’t be able to heat it up to those temperatures with the current metal-melting chambers I have. Even if I could, I doubt it would produce very good casts. Then again, don’t trust everything I say-I might be wrong 😊
Rat look goes to benchies😂
Aren't you suppose to "cure" sodium silicate with co2???
You can if you want. I don't do it that way....but I used to use CO2 a few years ago.
Just an FYI, and maybe you already know, but properly curing water glass involves exposing it to CO2
Yes, indeed. I used to use CO2, but I find microwaving much easier. Cheers!
@@ShakeTheFuture oh, ok. good to know. have a nice day!
@ShakeTheFuture can the current silicone carbide mold also be prepared using your print wave metal casting technique?
Well, I have not tried it, but with some changed it might work. Since you're not the first one to ask, I might give it a go and make a video on it. Cheers!
@@ShakeTheFuture Thankyou, would be great to see this when you get the chance, and any new great ideas as always.
Is your fire extinguisher rated for metal fires? May want to check that
It's a powder ABC extinguisher. I know it's not the best type for metal fires, but it's better than nothing. I'll be getting type D as some point in the future. Cheers!
Can I ask how much does it cost to use a microwave to melt cast iron?
It cost 0.33/kHW here in CommieFornia.
Looking into metal casting and your method seems to be the most doable for folks like us that dwell in small living quarters, but cost of energy is very expensive in this godforsaken state. Would be interest to know melt times and energy cost for different metals. Thank you!
This is another question that people keep asking frequently. Well, I just ordered a power meter, so I'll make a video about it soon. Cheers!
Wouldn't you typically use CO2 to set up sodium silicate?
Yes, but I like to do it this way. That way I don't need to mess around with co2.
Has anyone told you that you look like Moriarty from RDJ's vr of Sherlock Holmes?
No, you are the first one 😊
What kind of grinder grinder sand and silicon carbide?
It's sold under various names. I think mine was sold under "Kotsy" name. Model: HC-150
Can't you use CO2 to harden the sodium silicate instead of freezing it?
Yes, but I don't do it. The freezing is done only to be able to remove it from the plastic mold. The actual hardening in done with the microwave. Cheers!
Mir ist echt unklar, wie Du das Benchy in einem Teil gießen kannst? Das kann doch von der Form her gar nicht gehen?
Iron flows very well, that might be the reason. Cheers!
Kefir
My daily drink!
You can use carbon dioxide gas to help harden the water glass making the mold more resilient before baking.
You can get CO2 by mixing vinegar with baking soda and collecting the gas in a bag large enough to cover the mold
@@killpidone Yes, indeed. I used to use CO2 a few years ago. I tried both a CO2 fire extinguisher and the baking soda + vinegar method. In the end, I stopped doing it as I found microwaving the molds much easier. Cheers!
@@ShakeTheFuture very cool love the videos