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

[marvdmartian]

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

Hey Dave, I'm not calling shens on you or anything, but am a little confused by something, that maybe you can explain (since you seem to at least have an idea of what you're talking about here).

A friend once told me that she made the mistake of heating up a cup of water in the microwave (to make tea, I believe), and using a coffee cup that has the decorative gold edge on it. She said that she saw some sparks, quickly killed the microwaving action by opening the door, and when she pulled out the cup, the gold band was GONE. My guess is that it's because gold is even more conductive than aluminum.

So then using your explanation, how is it that the gold band was affected, even though there was water in the cup to absorb the radiation as it was being heated? Or am I totally missing the big picture???

On another note:

They say it isn'teven safe holding a smoke detector up to your head for too long, over time the radiation will cause damage.

Um, I'd LOVE to know who "They" are, and where you got this information?? Smoke detectors that use radioactive sources are loaded with a 1 micro-Curie source of Americium, which, while it can put out trace amounts of gamma radiation, is primarily an alpha emitter. Which means that if your head has SKIN on it, you're safe from the alpha particles it's putting out. Pretty much, unless you inhale, ingest, or inject that source into your body, it's not going to hurt you. And chances are, you're going to suffer more from heavy metal poisoning from it, than you will from alpha radiation exposure, due to it being such a tiny, low radiation source.
So unless you're into snorting smoke detector sources, I'm pretty sure your head is safe, at least for the time being! :roll:

 

[acemcmac]

wow

 

[Syrch]

Originally posted by: Mermaidman
Well, that explains global warming :|

LOL

 

[Kenazo]

Originally posted by: MX2times
How did the hole come to be I gotta ask

Sorry for the delay in replying to this thread. I went to bed.


Anyway, apparently my Grandma tried microwaving something in a big pot of some sort that was metal. It melted through the plastic of the door, then when it touched the metal screen it kind of wrecked that some how too. I haven't seen it, so I really don't know how big the hole is mind you. I just thought it was pretty funny, and I'm hoping they're not seriously damaging themselves.

 

[Toasthead]

Originally posted by: Kenazo
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.

SHENS


this is not possible.

 

[CKent]

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: gotsmack
I disagree. If she says 'change it for me', I'll do it, but I've told her very clearly that it needs to be done and she insists that it is going to be the same after taking it to the car wash.

Look..you should know by now that women are not very logical beings. If my mom was talking such nonsense to me I would simply say , "Mom, I am going to go down to Autozone, get some new blades, and replace the old ones.".

Then I would do it, regardless of what she says. I don't see why you are being stubborn when this involves not only your mother, but her safety on the road. She kept you in her womb for (assuming 9 months) and helped to raise you, I think the least you can do is change her wiper blades. It doesn't even take long.

Change em for the sake of other drivers... please... women have enough trouble driving as it is.

 

[SampSon]

Just got out and buy them a new one at walmart for like $40, they will thank you.

 

[Aquila76]

Watch a few episodes of Braniac and determine the best way to blow up the microwave. The best way I've seen so far was to nuke a balloon full of propane with a spoon tied in the knot. Took about 15 seconds and it left a crater where the microwave was.

 

[xarmian]

Originally posted by: marvdmartian

Hey Dave, I'm not calling shens on you or anything, but am a little confused by something, that maybe you can explain (since you seem to at least have an idea of what you're talking about here).

A friend once told me that she made the mistake of heating up a cup of water in the microwave (to make tea, I believe), and using a coffee cup that has the decorative gold edge on it. She said that she saw some sparks, quickly killed the microwaving action by opening the door, and when she pulled out the cup, the gold band was GONE. My guess is that it's because gold is even more conductive than aluminum.

So then using your explanation, how is it that the gold band was affected, even though there was water in the cup to absorb the radiation as it was being heated? Or am I totally missing the big picture???

I found the answer to this with my trusty googleness (or at least it makes sense). Since the gold band (which was probably just a gold colored foil) was thin, it acted like "the filament of a light bulb". This would explain why it sparked and "disappeared" because, in a sense, it probably burned off. (Source, about 1/6 down the page)

Another reason for sparks is "sharp edges or points" as explained in the above source, charges accumulate on the end of the point and then "leap" off. Hence why a fork in the microwave will cause sparks. (In theory, a spoon shouldn't, also noted in the source, I don't want to take credit where credit is not due)

-Dave

 

[Muse]

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

What he said, from ex-physics major.

 

[theMan]

this is what you do: light a few candles, and put them in your microwave. then, start it for like, 20 minutes, and RUN!!! instant plasma bomb. easy as that!

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Kenazo

Originally posted by: MX2times
How did the hole come to be I gotta ask

Sorry for the delay in replying to this thread. I went to bed.


Anyway, apparently my Grandma tried microwaving something in a big pot of some sort that was metal. It melted through the plastic of the door, then when it touched the metal screen it kind of wrecked that some how too. I haven't seen it, so I really don't know how big the hole is mind you. I just thought it was pretty funny, and I'm hoping they're not seriously damaging themselves.

I have to think your grandparents are not terribly smart. You never put stuff in a microwave in a metal container. Generally, ceramics are the way to go, and even so, preferably ceramics that don't absorb the MW radiation (i.e. get warm beyond what they get from simply touching the heated contents). Your grandparents should know that by now.

 

[Kenazo]

Originally posted by: Muse

Originally posted by: Kenazo

Originally posted by: MX2times
How did the hole come to be I gotta ask

Sorry for the delay in replying to this thread. I went to bed.


Anyway, apparently my Grandma tried microwaving something in a big pot of some sort that was metal. It melted through the plastic of the door, then when it touched the metal screen it kind of wrecked that some how too. I haven't seen it, so I really don't know how big the hole is mind you. I just thought it was pretty funny, and I'm hoping they're not seriously damaging themselves.

I have to think your grandparents are not terribly smart. You never put stuff in a microwave in a metal container. Generally, ceramics are the way to go, and even so, preferably ceramics that don't absorb the MW radiation (i.e. get warm beyond what they get from simply touching the heated contents). Your grandparents should know that by now.

Well, they are pushing 90.

 

[Aquila76]

Originally posted by: theman
this is what you do: light a few candles, and put them in your microwave. then, start it for like, 20 minutes, and RUN!!! instant plasma bomb. easy as that!

That is a kick-ass experiment. It never blew up any of my test subject microwaves, tho. Rendered them useless as it melted the paint off the insides and destroyed the fan thingy on the top, but I never had one explode from that.

 

[SagaLore]

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!

Actually, I learned in a home-ec cooking class, that you can cover your food up to 25% with foil in a microve. The danger of metal has to do with the waves inability to dissipate, causing an electrical arc.

 

[glugglug]

Originally posted by: gotsmack
thats nothing, my mom drives a 95 accord and has never changed the wiper blades.

Why change them when you can sharpen them!

 

[speg]

I've always wondered what it would feel like to be microwaved. Would you just get progressivley hotter? Or would it be some tremendous alien pain as all the water molecules in your body spin around and tear you up internally.

 

[Metron]

$40 Microwave at Fry's

$5 Microwave Leak Detector

I wouldn't waste your money on the detector though... unless you want to "prove" to them that a problem exists.

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: RBachman

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: gotsmack
I disagree. If she says 'change it for me', I'll do it, but I've told her very clearly that it needs to be done and she insists that it is going to be the same after taking it to the car wash.

Look..you should know by now that women are not very logical beings. If my mom was talking such nonsense to me I would simply say , "Mom, I am going to go down to Autozone, get some new blades, and replace the old ones.".

Then I would do it, regardless of what she says. I don't see why you are being stubborn when this involves not only your mother, but her safety on the road. She kept you in her womb for (assuming 9 months) and helped to raise you, I think the least you can do is change her wiper blades. It doesn't even take long.

Change em for the sake of other drivers... please... women have enough trouble driving as it is.

That too.

 

[xarmian]

Originally posted by: speg
I've always wondered what it would feel like to be microwaved. Would you just get progressivley hotter? Or would it be some tremendous alien pain as all the water molecules in your body spin around and tear you up internally.

I read a short thing on the site posted above and a guy said he had a hole in his microwave and decided to try sticking his finger in it to find out the exact same thing, and he said as soon as his finger got close it got really hot really quickly, and he instinctively had to pull it away immediately. He said it didn't burn though. I would expect your cells would burst from a little longer exposure because the water inside them is getting extremely hot extremely fast. This topic is so interesting because almost everyone has a microwave, but it's not so well understood. I mean, there's even a lot of stuff no one knows. We all know if you sit in an oven you'll become crispy and if you sit in a freezer you'll, well, freeze. Microwaves aren't as obvious

 

[McCarthy]

Originally posted by: speg
I've always wondered what it would feel like to be microwaved. Would you just get progressivley hotter? Or would it be some tremendous alien pain as all the water molecules in your body spin around and tear you up internally.

Take a trip to Iraq and find out.