captmike Posted April 5, 2017 Report Share Posted April 5, 2017 New to this forum. I have found lots of excellent information here so was wondering if any of you have experience in building microwave kilns. YouTube only has one video and I think there must be a better way. I have large microwave kiln and it is great for testing various techniques, but it is not going to last long. I was thinking about building one to my size specifications. The material used in my kiln is softer than soft kiln fire brick. Anyone know what is used? I am think in terms of using 9.5" soft firebrick and cutting them down to size and using refractory cement to put them together. I know I am reinventing the wheel, but that is what I do. Thoughts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted April 5, 2017 Report Share Posted April 5, 2017 Do you mean like the small fiber vessels that go into a regular microwave oven for fusing glass? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captmike Posted April 5, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2017 Yes. The commercial ones are cylindrical in shape and come in three sizes. The insulation/housing material is very soft, softer than standard soft kiln brick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted April 6, 2017 Report Share Posted April 6, 2017 From what I understand, what makes them work is that the inside of the cylinder is coated with some sort of material that gets very hot, thus heating the work. I don't have a clue what that material is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captmike Posted April 7, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2017 You have to coat the inside (walls only) with fine graphite. You will have to use a bonding agent such as sugar (it will burn off). What I need to know is what type of material is used for the bod/insulation. The material is white and softer than soft kin brick. I ordered a few soft bricks and will try to build a square microwave kiln. I am still engineering on how to stick it together. I have refractory cement,but it may need a little reinforcing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted April 7, 2017 Report Share Posted April 7, 2017 It's probably a cast fiber material. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captmike Posted April 7, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2017 Could be. I'm thinking maybe perlite mixed with a bonding agent. Don't know if sodium silicate would work or not. Do you know the thermal properties of perlite? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted April 7, 2017 Report Share Posted April 7, 2017 You can blow up an egg without all this other trouble of making a kiln inside Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captmike Posted April 9, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2017 I'm sorry Mark, I don't understand you comment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JBaymore Posted April 11, 2017 Report Share Posted April 11, 2017 Microwave unit kiln inserts are made from ceramic fiber castable. I do not think IFB will work due to the thermal mass it represents (when compared to fiber). Fiber's main "advantage" over IFB in all kiln uses is not higher insulating value per inch thickness (look at the transmission values.......not much difference between IFB and fiber) is in its low thermal mass. You are not storing heat energy in the refractory material itself. So in the microwave...where it is not all that efficient in energy transfer/use....... you might not get the temps you need with IFB containers. That's a guess. Also PLEASE study up on the potential health hazards from fraying dust from ceramic fiber in the air. Or in working with the material in any form. best, .......................john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captmike Posted April 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2017 Thanks for the input John. I will show my ignorance by asking what IFB stands for. Thanks, Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JBaymore Posted April 12, 2017 Report Share Posted April 12, 2017 Thanks for the input John. I will show my ignorance by asking what IFB stands for. Thanks, Mike Sorry Mike. No ignorance. That's an abbreviation for "Insulating Firebrick". Sometimes assumptions can bite you in the butt......... Sorry if I assumed too much there. best, ......................john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted April 12, 2017 Report Share Posted April 12, 2017 In electric kilns, IFB makes for all sorts of strange magnetic fields and static electricity and such. I'm wondering if that'll mess with a microwave as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captmike Posted April 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2017 Funny you mention this. I have been testing in my current microwave kiln pretty heavily for the last two weeks, experimenting with glass and a few small raku pieces.. The first microwave blowed a fuse yesterday and then blows the replacement fuse. I plugged up my spare microwave oven and it worked fine until this morning and it to blew a fuse. I have st picked up more fuses from the hardware store (appliance fuses) and will see if they hold. It would not surprise me if the long term use of a microwave kiln has an effect on the appliance. John thanks for the explanation. Just never heard insulated fire bricks referred to as such. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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