microwave linseed oil
 

last night I sanded a small boat in my basement. this morning I rememberd
I had left the linseed oil in my unheated workshop. it was too cold to
work with. I was going to heat it in a pan of water on the stove when I
caught sight of the microwave oven sitting on the kitchen counter. since
the linseed oil was in a plastic bottle I removed the top to keep the
bottle from exploding and put it in the microwave for half a minute at
meduim power. It turned the oil nice and runny. I put it back in the
microwave for another half minute on meduim heat and it came out runny and
warm like the white stuff in baby bottles. Mixed half-and-half with
universal solvent (paint thinner) in the usual manner the oil brushed on
like a dream.

(caution: It the oil were in a metal container it would have to be put in a
glass or plastic container before going in the microwave.)

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microwave linseed oil
 

I guess with a small amount there is no danger but I always worried
about the oil catching fire in the microwave. How do you know how much
to heat it without it reaching its flashpoint? I remember reading about
how linseed oil will spontaneously combust if on rags thrown in a trash
can. I always heated the oil in a double boiler type set up but I
wouldn't hesitate to use the microwave if I knew how to judge how long
to leave it in.

William R. Watt wrote:
last night I sanded a small boat in my basement. this morning I rememberd
I had left the linseed oil in my unheated workshop. it was too cold to
work with. I was going to heat it in a pan of water on the stove when I
caught sight of the microwave oven sitting on the kitchen counter. since
the linseed oil was in a plastic bottle I removed the top to keep the
bottle from exploding and put it in the microwave for half a minute at
meduim power. It turned the oil nice and runny. I put it back in the
microwave for another half minute on meduim heat and it came out runny and
warm like the white stuff in baby bottles. Mixed half-and-half with
universal solvent (paint thinner) in the usual manner the oil brushed on
like a dream.

(caution: It the oil were in a metal container it would have to be put in a
glass or plastic container before going in the microwave.)

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William R Watt National Capital FreeNet Ottawa's free community network
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microwave linseed oil
 

steveJ ) writes:

.. I
wouldn't hesitate to use the microwave if I knew how to judge how long
to leave it in.

that's why I only put it in for 30 seconds at medium heat each time.
you could, I suppose, put it in and press the "beverge" button but I never
use that. when I heat a mug of water for tea I put it in for 2-and-a-half
minutes on high, so there is no danger at those temperatures.

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microwave linseed oil
 

It's a good idea and I have done similar things like melting
wax and even warming epoxy. But doesn't linseed oil have a really low
flashpoint temp. Something like 120 degrees or thereabouts?
William R. Watt wrote:
steveJ ) writes:


.. I
wouldn't hesitate to use the microwave if I knew how to judge how long
to leave it in.


that's why I only put it in for 30 seconds at medium heat each time.
you could, I suppose, put it in and press the "beverge" button but I never
use that. when I heat a mug of water for tea I put it in for 2-and-a-half
minutes on high, so there is no danger at those temperatures.

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microwave linseed oil
 

steveJ ) writes:

...doesn't linseed oil have a really low
flashpoint temp. Something like 120 degrees or thereabouts?

Had to look it up ...

"flash point: the lowest temperature at which the vapours of
petroleum or other combustable liquids will give a flash or slight
explosion on exposure to a flame"

there's no flame in a microwve oven. I don't know if the magnetron
gets hot enough to ignite vapours. I didn't smell any vapour. It
smells like paint drying because linseed is the oil in paint.
Pretty unmistakable. The oven itself didn't get warm, just the
oil, so I doubt the magnetron was hot.

I'm sure at the low temerature and short duration I was using the oven
there would not be a "slight explosion". In fact there wasn't. But if I
try it again and smell any vapour I'll be sure to press the button that
opens the door and shuts off the magnetron. Thanks for the caution.

Is is safer heating linseed oil on a stove top in the presence of a hot
stove element? :)


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microwave linseed oil
 

William R. Watt wrote:

(caution: It the oil were in a metal container it would have to be put in a
glass or plastic container before going in the microwave.)

Why?

Rick

microwave linseed oil
 

Rick ) writes:
William R. Watt wrote:

(caution: It the oil were in a metal container it would have to be put in a
glass or plastic container before going in the microwave.)

Why?

because you can't put metal containers in a microwave oven. they reflect
the microwaves instead of letting them pass through into the stuff inside.
I've never tried putting a metal container in a microwave but its supposed
to be noisy and ruin the microwave oven. There is one exception which is a
metal container with a sepcial coating for microwaves. I have an aluminum
pie plate coated for microwave use which I put under other containers
sometimes to catch drips of condensation.

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microwave linseed oil
 

I've been cautioned to use a double boiler setup on the stove to avoid
fire. The water beneath the pot containing the oil does not contact
flame directly so it is safer.

William R. Watt wrote:

Is is safer heating linseed oil on a stove top in the presence of a hot
stove element? :)


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microwave linseed oil
 

Actually the flashpoint is 145 deg F.
Here is the MSDS for what it's worth.
http://www.generalpaint.com/msds/32-002.html

William R. Watt wrote:
steveJ ) writes:


...doesn't linseed oil have a really low
flashpoint temp. Something like 120 degrees or thereabouts?


Had to look it up ...

"flash point: the lowest temperature at which the vapours of
petroleum or other combustable liquids will give a flash or slight
explosion on exposure to a flame"

there's no flame in a microwve oven. I don't know if the magnetron
gets hot enough to ignite vapours. I didn't smell any vapour. It
smells like paint drying because linseed is the oil in paint.
Pretty unmistakable. The oven itself didn't get warm, just the
oil, so I doubt the magnetron was hot.

I'm sure at the low temerature and short duration I was using the oven
there would not be a "slight explosion". In fact there wasn't. But if I
try it again and smell any vapour I'll be sure to press the button that
opens the door and shuts off the magnetron. Thanks for the caution.

Is is safer heating linseed oil on a stove top in the presence of a hot
stove element? :)


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microwave linseed oil
 

steveJ wrote:

I remember reading about
how linseed oil will spontaneously combust if on rags thrown in a trash
can.

This will only occur if the rags are wadded up. The oil in the rags
oxidizes, producing heat which can build up and eventually cause a fire.
If you leave a rag open, it cannot happen as normal airflow will prevent
heat buildup.

microwave linseed oil
 

William R. Watt wrote:

I've never tried putting a metal container in a microwave ...

Ta da!

but its supposed to be noisy and ruin the microwave oven.

Why is it "supposed" to be noisy and ruin the oven?


What do you suppose your microwave oven is made of?

There is one exception which is a metal container with
a special coating for microwaves.

Did you really spend your own money on that? Think about that one for a
moment. Is the "special coating" conductive? Does it absorb microwaves?
Does it reflect them? Is it made of some miracle material that even
Lockheed and the Air Force don't know about yet?

Rick

microwave linseed oil
 

Whenever I've put metal in the microwave (accidentally), it has
produced lots of sparks.

Try putting an AOL CD in an old microwave. Light show!

-m

----
Boatbuilder-friendly small sawmill in Ottawa/Gatineau region.

microwave linseed oil
 

microwave linseed oil
 

Max Camirand wrote:
Try putting an AOL CD in an old microwave. Light show!

It really is fantastic! I am tempted to put a switch on the light so
that it shows up better! Steel wool is also pretty good.

RicK

microwave linseed oil
 

Rick wrote:
Max Camirand wrote:

Try putting an AOL CD in an old microwave. Light show!


It really is fantastic! I am tempted to put a switch on the light so
that it shows up better! Steel wool is also pretty good.

This only occurs with very thin coatings or slivers of metal. Placing a
metal spoon or pan in a microwave will have no effect.

microwave linseed oil
 

Brian Nystrom wrote:

This only occurs with very thin coatings or slivers of metal. Placing a
metal spoon or pan in a microwave will have no effect.

Which is precisely the point I was trying to make in my first post on
the subject.

Rick

microwave linseed oil
 

"Brian Nystrom" wrote in message
...
Rick wrote:
Max Camirand wrote:

Try putting an AOL CD in an old microwave. Light show!


It really is fantastic! I am tempted to put a switch on the light so
that it shows up better! Steel wool is also pretty good.

This only occurs with very thin coatings or slivers of metal. Placing a
metal spoon or pan in a microwave will have no effect.

Except when the length of the spoon is exactly a half wavelength of
2.45GHz....

Meindert

microwave linseed oil
 

Brian Nystrom wrote:
Rick wrote:

Max Camirand wrote:

Try putting an AOL CD in an old microwave. Light show!



It really is fantastic! I am tempted to put a switch on the light so
that it shows up better! Steel wool is also pretty good.


This only occurs with very thin coatings or slivers of metal. Placing a
metal spoon or pan in a microwave will have no effect.

it does in my microwave

--
Life is NOT a dress rehearsal.

microwave linseed oil
 

dazed and confuzed wrote:
Brian Nystrom wrote:

This only occurs with very thin coatings or slivers of metal. Placing
a metal spoon or pan in a microwave will have no effect.

it does in my microwave

Does what?

microwave linseed oil
 

Brian Nystrom wrote:


dazed and confuzed wrote:

Brian Nystrom wrote:


This only occurs with very thin coatings or slivers of metal. Placing
a metal spoon or pan in a microwave will have no effect.

it does in my microwave


Does what?

make sparks. from forks and spoons.

--
Life is NOT a dress rehearsal.

microwave linseed oil
 

Brian Nystrom wrote in message ...
dazed and confuzed wrote:
Brian Nystrom wrote:

This only occurs with very thin coatings or slivers of metal. Placing
a metal spoon or pan in a microwave will have no effect.

it does in my microwave

Does what?

Sounds like some of you are questioning us that have actually put pans
or spoons in microwaves. Rick, Brian, the rest, I have personally put
metal objects in microwaves by accident and on purpose and they
sparked and crackled. May be that technology has changed, or maybe you
have not done it but you can. Do a little experiment with mom's micro
and set a spoon or pan in and cook on high for a couple of minutes and
tell us of the real time results as opposed to these off handed
slights of our experiences? That would probably clear things up at
least for now. I will trust you, if you say nothing happened so be it,
I will know that technology has changed since the early 80's when I
sold the TI products.
Scotty

microwave linseed oil
 

Backyard Renegade wrote:

Sounds like some of you are questioning us that have actually put pans
or spoons in microwaves. Rick, Brian, the rest, I have personally put
metal objects in microwaves by accident and on purpose and they
sparked and crackled. May be that technology has changed, or maybe you
have not done it but you can. Do a little experiment with mom's micro
and set a spoon or pan in and cook on high for a couple of minutes and
tell us of the real time results as opposed to these off handed
slights of our experiences? That would probably clear things up at
least for now. I will trust you, if you say nothing happened so be it,
I will know that technology has changed since the early 80's when I
sold the TI products.
Scotty

I put metal utensils in the microwave all the time and it causes no
problems. The oven in question was purchased in the early 90's. Aluminum
foil is also no problem. Staples, twist ties and such will cause sparks
and fires, as I've accidentally discovered on a few occasions.

microwave linseed oil
 

I know a woman who put her cordless phone in the microwave and
accidently cooked it. Not sure if it sparked or not. I believe it
somehow effected her husband's boatbuilding activities though.

Backyard Renegade wrote:
Brian Nystrom wrote in message ...

dazed and confuzed wrote:

Brian Nystrom wrote:



This only occurs with very thin coatings or slivers of metal. Placing
a metal spoon or pan in a microwave will have no effect.


it does in my microwave

Does what?


Sounds like some of you are questioning us that have actually put pans
or spoons in microwaves. Rick, Brian, the rest, I have personally put
metal objects in microwaves by accident and on purpose and they
sparked and crackled. May be that technology has changed, or maybe you
have not done it but you can. Do a little experiment with mom's micro
and set a spoon or pan in and cook on high for a couple of minutes and
tell us of the real time results as opposed to these off handed
slights of our experiences? That would probably clear things up at
least for now. I will trust you, if you say nothing happened so be it,
I will know that technology has changed since the early 80's when I
sold the TI products.
Scotty

microwave linseed oil
 

steveJ wrote in message ...
I know a woman who put her cordless phone in the microwave and
accidently cooked it. Not sure if it sparked or not. I believe it
somehow effected her husband's boatbuilding activities though.

So did you try this, or are we "still" talking and sniping based on
hearsay? I have done it, I have seen the sparks. But since experience
means little here, I will leave you all to your sniping... Like the
man said, "tell us what your gonna do tonight, tomorrow"... I guess I
should not talk about stitch and tape here either, guess I have not
read enough books...


Backyard Renegade wrote:
Brian Nystrom wrote in message ...

dazed and confuzed wrote:

Brian Nystrom wrote:



This only occurs with very thin coatings or slivers of metal. Placing
a metal spoon or pan in a microwave will have no effect.


it does in my microwave

Does what?


Sounds like some of you are questioning us that have actually put pans
or spoons in microwaves. Rick, Brian, the rest, I have personally put
metal objects in microwaves by accident and on purpose and they
sparked and crackled. May be that technology has changed, or maybe you
have not done it but you can. Do a little experiment with mom's micro
and set a spoon or pan in and cook on high for a couple of minutes and
tell us of the real time results as opposed to these off handed
slights of our experiences? That would probably clear things up at
least for now. I will trust you, if you say nothing happened so be it,
I will know that technology has changed since the early 80's when I
sold the TI products.
Scotty

microwave linseed oil
 

I read the instructions for my microwave oven but I'm not
going to post here what it said - why spoil everyone's fun?
Why read instructions? They make life so much less interesting.
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microwave linseed oil
 

I regularly place one gallon metal paint cans full of epoxy into my microwave (shop microwave not for food!) to warm them so I
can pour out etc. Works great. No sparks ever.

paul




Backyard Renegade wrote:

steveJ wrote in message ...
I know a woman who put her cordless phone in the microwave and
accidently cooked it. Not sure if it sparked or not. I believe it
somehow effected her husband's boatbuilding activities though.

So did you try this, or are we "still" talking and sniping based on
hearsay? I have done it, I have seen the sparks. But since experience
means little here, I will leave you all to your sniping... Like the
man said, "tell us what your gonna do tonight, tomorrow"... I guess I
should not talk about stitch and tape here either, guess I have not
read enough books...


Backyard Renegade wrote:
Brian Nystrom wrote in message ...

dazed and confuzed wrote:

Brian Nystrom wrote:



This only occurs with very thin coatings or slivers of metal. Placing
a metal spoon or pan in a microwave will have no effect.


it does in my microwave

Does what?


Sounds like some of you are questioning us that have actually put pans
or spoons in microwaves. Rick, Brian, the rest, I have personally put
metal objects in microwaves by accident and on purpose and they
sparked and crackled. May be that technology has changed, or maybe you
have not done it but you can. Do a little experiment with mom's micro
and set a spoon or pan in and cook on high for a couple of minutes and
tell us of the real time results as opposed to these off handed
slights of our experiences? That would probably clear things up at
least for now. I will trust you, if you say nothing happened so be it,
I will know that technology has changed since the early 80's when I
sold the TI products.
Scotty