BigguyZ
Member
OK, so I forget where I saw it, but I read an article online about boiling PC in the microwave. According to the article, there is no way to over-cook the clays, and you don't get the discoloration you can get in the over. Also, as I am too cheap to buy a toaster oven, I like the idea of boiling in the microwave instead.
So I recently tried this, probably boiling for 20 minutes total. I put in sticks probably about 3/4"-1" thick in a plastic container. Immediately after the blanks were taken out of the microwave, they were really mushy and crumbly. Definitely not a good sign! I was sure the whole batch was wasted.
However, I let the blanks dry, and afterwards I found them to be incredibly hard. I'd say that with this method, the blanks are harder, but more brittle. The colors had definitely remained much brighter than with baking, however. I took a small chuck and turned it on the lathe as-is. I found that the brittleness made if difficult to get a clean cut with my skew. I get tearout with baked clay, but this was more consistent (yet less severe) tear out.
The blank was able to be sanded quite easily, and smothed out to a polish as well.
So, assuming you don't want a PC-only polished blank and will be finishing with CA, I think this might be a viable alternative to baking. I'd say take light cuts and plan to sand to final dimension, and you should be good to go.
I only did the one test peice to see how it worked... but I have 2 or 3 kits ready to glue up in the boiled blanks. I'll update once I have them turned (might be a loong while, however).
Anyone else try this?
So I recently tried this, probably boiling for 20 minutes total. I put in sticks probably about 3/4"-1" thick in a plastic container. Immediately after the blanks were taken out of the microwave, they were really mushy and crumbly. Definitely not a good sign! I was sure the whole batch was wasted.
However, I let the blanks dry, and afterwards I found them to be incredibly hard. I'd say that with this method, the blanks are harder, but more brittle. The colors had definitely remained much brighter than with baking, however. I took a small chuck and turned it on the lathe as-is. I found that the brittleness made if difficult to get a clean cut with my skew. I get tearout with baked clay, but this was more consistent (yet less severe) tear out.
The blank was able to be sanded quite easily, and smothed out to a polish as well.
So, assuming you don't want a PC-only polished blank and will be finishing with CA, I think this might be a viable alternative to baking. I'd say take light cuts and plan to sand to final dimension, and you should be good to go.
I only did the one test peice to see how it worked... but I have 2 or 3 kits ready to glue up in the boiled blanks. I'll update once I have them turned (might be a loong while, however).
Anyone else try this?