So, my grandparents melt a hole in their microwave's door

Kenazo

Lifer
Sep 15, 2000
10,429
1
81
If it wasn't for my grandparents microwaving themselves, I'd think it was pretty dang funny.

They seem to think spending $120 for a new, holeless microwave is too much money when theirs works fine. I at least convinced them to tape tin foil over the hole. :)
 

mcvickj

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2001
4,602
0
76
You could be a good grandson and buy them a new one. :) Maybe get a few family members to chip in on one.
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
hahahah damn. well lets be honest. they are old. they are due to die soon
 

Ronstang

Lifer
Jul 8, 2000
12,493
18
81
Originally posted by: mcvickj
You could be a good grandson and buy them a new one. :) Maybe get a few family members to chip in on one.


This is what I was thinking.
 

AMCRambler

Diamond Member
Jan 23, 2001
7,709
30
91
Umm, aren't tin foil and the microwave a bad combo if I remember correctly? Sparks and all that jazz? Them not using the thing would be a little safer!
 

Heisenberg

Lifer
Dec 21, 2001
10,621
1
0
Err...I'd replace it now. The biggest danger from microwave's is damage to your eyes, as the microwaves can heat the water inside of them and they are the least able to dissipate the heat.
 

MX2

Lifer
Apr 11, 2004
18,651
1
0
Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Err...I'd replace it now. The biggest danger from microwave's is damage to your eyes, as the microwaves can heat the water inside of them and they are the least able to dissipate the heat.

That gave me a quick nightmare:(
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Err...I'd replace it now. The biggest danger from microwave's is damage to your eyes, as the microwaves can heat the water inside of them and they are the least able to dissipate the heat.

uhm ouch.
 

xarmian

Senior member
Apr 22, 2000
255
0
0
Originally posted by: AMCRambler
Umm, aren't tin foil and the microwave a bad combo if I remember correctly? Sparks and all that jazz? Them not using the thing would be a little safer!

No, tin foil in an empty microwave is the problem, not tin foil in general. If you take a glass of water and stick it in your microwave and then wrap a piece of ice in tin foil and put it next to the glass, the ice wont melt and your microwave wont spark or break, but the glass of water will heat up.

In fact, I'm not an expert on the subject but I'd guess the tin foil taped to the door might help, if it's taped well and securely. Microwaves (the waves, not the appliance) shouldn't go through the metal and should reflect back into the microwave (which is ideal, and completely normal). This all depends, of course, on how big the hole is. And I accept no responsibility if someone drills a hole in theirs to test it and dies, cause like I said, I'm no expert, but it seems plausible.

Lastly, this would have no impact on global warming. Microwaves are radio waves (at 2.5ghz, which is why they sometimes interfere with wireless routers or cordless phones, which use 2.4ghz). They're not giving off greenhouse gasses, or any gasses for that matter.

My two cents.

-Dave
 

Armitage

Banned
Feb 23, 2001
8,086
0
0
Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Err...I'd replace it now. The biggest danger from microwave's is damage to your eyes, as the microwaves can heat the water inside of them and they are the least able to dissipate the heat.

Unless they're trying to peek in through the hole to see what's cooking I doubt they'll have a problem. Microwave ovens aren't that big a deal - I wouldn't stick my head in one, but a small hole in the door likely isn't that big a deal.
 

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
24,512
21
81
You can buy a microwave for $35... I don't know why they think they need to spend $120.

For $35 I got a nice GE microwave with digital display and controls. It's been working great for a couple years now, heats very evenly too.

ZV
 

Steve

Lifer
May 2, 2004
15,945
10
81
www.chicagopipeband.com
Originally posted by: xarmian
Originally posted by: AMCRambler
Umm, aren't tin foil and the microwave a bad combo if I remember correctly? Sparks and all that jazz? Them not using the thing would be a little safer!

No, tin foil in an empty microwave is the problem, not tin foil in general. If you take a glass of water and stick it in your microwave and then wrap a piece of ice in tin foil and put it next to the glass, the ice wont melt and your microwave wont spark or break, but the glass of water will heat up.

In fact, I'm not an expert on the subject but I'd guess the tin foil taped to the door might help, if it's taped well and securely. Microwaves (the waves, not the appliance) shouldn't go through the metal and should reflect back into the microwave (which is ideal, and completely normal). This all depends, of course, on how big the hole is. And I accept no responsibility if someone drills a hole in theirs to test it and dies, cause like I said, I'm no expert, but it seems plausible.

Lastly, this would have no impact on global warming. Microwaves are radio waves (at 2.5ghz, which is why they sometimes interfere with wireless routers or cordless phones, which use 2.4ghz). They're not giving off greenhouse gasses, or any gasses for that matter.

My two cents.

-Dave

I once broke a microwave by reheating a Sonic burger, forgetting to take it out of the foil. Sparks-a-plenty. At least the burger tasted okay, a little metally though.
 

Heisenberg

Lifer
Dec 21, 2001
10,621
1
0
Originally posted by: Armitage
Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Err...I'd replace it now. The biggest danger from microwave's is damage to your eyes, as the microwaves can heat the water inside of them and they are the least able to dissipate the heat.

Unless they're trying to peek in through the hole to see what's cooking I doubt they'll have a problem. Microwave ovens aren't that big a deal - I wouldn't stick my head in one, but a small hole in the door likely isn't that big a deal.
I don't know - while I'm sure that the amount of radiation leaking at any one time would be fairly harmless, the cumulative effects are far from well understood. In fact, new studies like this show that cumulative effects from low amounts can be significant, and the safe SAR limit should be lowered. If it were me, I wouldn't keep using that microwave for the next decade leaking radiation like that.
 

xarmian

Senior member
Apr 22, 2000
255
0
0
Originally posted by: sm8000
I once broke a microwave by reheating a Sonic burger, forgetting to take it out of the foil. Sparks-a-plenty. At least the burger tasted okay, a little metally though.

That's because there was nothing else in the microwave outside of the foil wrapper. If the foil were sitting next to the burger (crumpled up preferably) then it would have been fine. What happens is the foil acts as a reflective surface, and the waves have nowhere to go, hence sparking. If there's something that can absorb the waves inside the microwave, then it will do so and you should be fine. Note the need for a glass of water to be in the microwave with the tin foil/ice experiment. The water absorbs the waves.

-Dave