When I got started with this adventure I had access to two microwaves, one in the kitchen and the other in the garage. The one in the garage is maybe 20 years old and I hate the thing. Thankfully the weather is cold enough now to chase me indoors. The kitchen unit sits above the range however I really have issues with working up-hill with the hot plastic. The kitchen is well ventilated with three in-ceileing fans and I have no odor whatever while working there. I decided to go get a new micro to use specifically for the plastics since I can use the purchase as a tax deduction. So I went shopping.
I ended up with a unit of 1100 watts of power and as simple of work menu as one could hope for and I am glad I went this route.
The older unit in the garage had cold spots in tha cabinet and this led to un-even and inconsistant heating of the plastic. At 1000 wats it seemed to drag at times which I am certain is due to age. Anyway, that one is back in the garage loft. The one in the kitchen just is too high up for my liking. The new unit is quite light so I cleared an area for it on a counter top as a temporary work site and things go well. The high ceilings in our kitchen and the three fans keep air-flow moving up and away nicely. I open a window in an adjecent bathroom so the air-draw stays active. But the great part is cooking times. I like working with manageable batches. I have to do some re-heating but I am ok with it. Using the new MW, heating plastic from 275 degrees to 350 is about 10 seconds. Heating new plastic from liquid to working temp is right around 120 seconds, depending on the additives. I have yet to heat new plastic longer than 135 seconds to work with it. The unit makes a quiet hum at start-up and when cooking I hardly know its working.
I bought this at a Home Depot and after snooping thru the entire selection of MW I settled on this GE brands. It was on sale for just under a C-note and is a world ahead of the units I looked at that cost anywhere from 49 scheckles to 85. The extra 15 dollars is worth the power and the convenience.
Now if I could find something along these parameters for working my lead, I'd think I died and went to heaven. I know a lot of you guys suggest picking up a unit at a Salvation Army or GoodWill store, but I don't seem to have good luck shopping in those places except for the pyrex. I have over a dozen pyrex custard cups that cost .25 cents each and are microwave and oven proof. I have several 2 cup pyrex measuring cups that set me back less than a buck apiece. All told, this little venture is not near so spendy as I imagined it would be and atop of all of it its fun to work with the colors.
