www.TK560.com

djtrickdog · Newbie Joined: 17 Jun 2007 Posts: 11

could i use this to heat my plastic? how would i leave it heating without burning my hand? how long would it take to heat up? (plastic)

just incase you dont know what a webber grill is, its a charcoal grill.

Plasticman · Expert Joined: 08 Jul 2006 Posts: 109

Nope bad idea. Better to use the kitchen oven. Just be sure to open the windows.....

Solo · Novice Joined: 31 May 2007 Posts: 35 Location: New Jersey

If your married, I wouldn't reccomend useing the kitchen oven. You will never hear the end of it if you stink up the house.
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Plasticman · Expert Joined: 08 Jul 2006 Posts: 109

Yeap, but it does work. Styrene doesnt smell so bad. I actually got my wife to help out too! Smile

jzawacki · Novice Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 70 Location: Illinois

Are we talking about heating plastic with a charcoal grill?!?!? Would that even work? I mean.. I don't know how you would distribute the heat at all.. Cooking on a charcoal grill can be a challenge (controling the temp) but heating plastic? That I would like to see.

jegner · Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 3:22 pm Post subject:

Here is a shot of Blaxmyth's charcoal powered vac machine oven:

http://www.tk560.com/blaxmyth/Page3.html

and

http://www.tk560.com/blaxmyth/Page4.html

drcrash · Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 3:23 pm Post subject:

I made a vacuum former oven out of a little propane grill ($15 at Academy) and some disposable aluminum pans. I made it for vacuum forming demos in places without electricity.

It's pretty much like the two-burner electric hotplate oven you've all seen by now, but with a different-shaped reflector in the middle.

Electric is more convenient under most circumstances, but the little propane grill works great. You have to adjust the heat a little as the pressure in the gas tank goes down, but it works, and you have heat control.

Charcoal sounds like a total pain in the ass, in terms of controlling the heat level.
_________________
Paul (a.k.a. Dr. Crash)

Tired of buying cheap plastic crap? Now you can make your own! www.VacuumFormerPlans.com

jegner · Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 8:27 pm Post subject:

And Paul, aka 'ANH Trooper' IIRC uses a gas powered oven, using a large metal plate as a heat sink/deflector. Here is a link:

http://www.tk560.com/gasoven.html

His diagram.

His burners.

Fun stuff, alternate heat sources. I'd say that electric is the most convienient, then gas. Gas might be a tad cheaper to build a working oven, but might be more expensive to run.

I agree, coal or charcoal is a really crude way, but it can be done, Blaxmyth proved that. IMHO, coal or charcoal is best suited for melting aluminum, bronze, etc. or for a raku kiln, and not melting plastic.

Jim

djtrickdog · Newbie Joined: 17 Jun 2007 Posts: 11

no no no im not married lol im 14 lol. even worse than a wife is a MOM LOL. BUUUUUUT i have a kitchen stove in the garage since we got a new one, maybe i can wire it Smile

so charcoal sounds like a nono especially for beginners....

jzawacki · Novice Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 70 Location: Illinois

Wow.. learn something new every day.. Makes me wounder why I'm playing with these damn sunbeam grills then.. Sad

I have a gas line already going to my garage..