Heating Bearings in Microwave

[JonCraig]

The sparks you would see. Easy for the wet paper towel to absorb the wave before it hits the bearing.

I’m wondering if I could fit case halves in a microwave, lol.

 

[Deets066]

I know the early microwave ovens couldn't handle anything metallic. Has that changed?

Nope

I myself have never seen a microwave that you could put metallic items in.

Wrapped in wet rags

Many have metal grills and grates in them. I’m not sure what makes a metal item “microwave safe” and what doesn’t.

Only can use the metal grates when used on the convection oven settings, not the regular microwave

 

[drf256]

Nope


Wrapped in wet rags

Only can use the metal grates when used on the convection oven settings, not the regular microwave

Not true buddy. I’ve got two convection microwaves here with metal grates. Can use with any feature.

 

[huskyboy]

Aluminum is what I think is bad to put in microwaves I think?

 

[Deets066]

Not true buddy. I’ve got two convection microwaves here with metal grates. Can use with any feature.

Learn somethin new everyday

 

[Deets066]

Not true buddy. I’ve got two convection microwaves here with metal grates. Can use with any feature.

So you can put a fork or spoon in those with no issues?

 

[Woodpecker]

Aluminum is what I think is bad to put in microwaves I think?

This. Try a regular incandescent lightbulb sometime. Pretty freakin cool.

 

[drf256]

So you can put a fork or spoon in those with no issues?

Nope. But the metal grates are fine. That was my point, I don’t know why.

 

[Woodpecker]

So you can put a fork or spoon in those with no issues?

Just tried a stainless steel spoon in mine and no sparky.

 

[Deets066]

Just tried a stainless steel spoon in mine and no sparky.

Same here

 

[Gary Courtney]

put a coffee cup that had a name in gold on it yesterday and it looked like an electrical storm before I could shut it off

 

[huskihl]

I think it has something to do with the thickness of the metal. I've seen a guy warm up a can of green beans in a mw with no issues. I also nuke a half pot of coffee occasionally. The pot has a stainless band around it. But I've seen the lightning show from aluminum foil as well.
My biggest concern would be the hotspots from a microwave. It would suck if your brand new oem bearing retainer was laying in a puddle under the bearing when you thought it was hot enough

 

[J_M____]

My new microwave says you can put “small” amounts of metal inside. I had to try it out and first tried a stainless spoon. No sparky. Then tried a large stainless bowl. No sparks either.

 

[Northwet]

Forks or aluminum foil spark because there is a gap for the arc to jump.

 

[Frank bierce]

Try a smooth metal object...like a spoon, or a bowl. No sparky...now try something with sharp edges...or metal that is close to touching, like a fork, or some crumpled aluminum...sparky sparky light show!!

The points of the metal allow voltages to concentrate, until the dielectric strength of the surrounding air is no longer an insulator, allowing an arc.

A bearing will likely spark because of the different metals...depending on where the spark happens, would likely cause damage to part of the bearing. May not be a critical part...but I am fairly sure arcing metal causes damage. Lol.

 

[RedGas]

I remember putting a penny into a microwave back around 1980, and you could get it red hot...with lots of sparks. Nowadays, pennies are zinc clad with copper, so maybe it doesn't work anymore. Dunno.

A bearing will likely spark because of the different metals...depending on where the spark happens, would likely cause damage to part of the bearing. May not be a critical part...but I am fairly sure arcing metal causes damage. Lol.

When you weld on a car or a machine, arcing through the bearings is one of the dangers you specifically want to avoid, and you place your work clamp deliberately and specifically to preclude this happening, mainly by locating the work clamp as close as possible to where you plan to weld ...

Putting a bearing into a Radarange sounds like a great way to get arcing going on inside it...in fact, I can't think of a better way to get arc strikes inside the bearing, short of whacking it with a TIG torch or stick electrode, or jacking it up with some jumper cables.

Why not heat bearings with – I dunno – an air-carbon arc gouging rig? Or how bout an oxylance?

 

[Woodpecker]

Why not heat bearings with – I dunno – an air-carbon arc gouging rig? Or how bout an oxylance?

Stick them in a flux capacitor and see what happens ...

 

[redline4]

Stick them in a flux capacitor and see what happens ...

I think that only works if you have the Mr. Garbage fuel source conversion kit.

 

[trooney]

I'll just use my Mattyo tool to put em on....

 

[Wonkydonkey]

Well my two cents worth..

The wet towel would not heat the metal before water evaporates, in the vid, he puts it in then it switch’s to another vid. We do not see the heating of the intire vid. Just maybe it worked ? and he wets the towel again.and again...

I had a micro wave with a metal turntable it was covered in enamel. It had metal sides but I guess it was not in the direction of said microwaves. But the enamel turntable must have done somthing else. But it did get a little warm. In the manual. It said about it gettin chipped and replacements avalible.

I guess it’s time for someone to debunk the story,with wet towels

I get the bearings in boiling water and water evaporates thou...
I could almost just get maybe bearings in water then in the mv.. but not wet rag/towels..