Melting Iron in a Microwave! Gym weight to Benchy Boat

[@berbandis]

Love it! So many videos are like "all I did was go to my $200,000 shop to heat the metal in my $10,000 kiln and then throw it on my $50,000 laith and sand blast it with my $15,000 sand blaster and it turned out perfect like this!" I appreciate that this is made with things I could actually afford to buy and could get at the local hardware or warehouse store.

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thanks for taking the time to comment. I really appreciate it. Yes, it’s definitely a frugal way to melt metals. Cheers!

[@jackjones9460]

I am totally amazed how much you can do with a microwave and simple equipment on your balcony! I never would’ve imagined. Thank you for your channel.

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thanks! Yes indeed, one microwave can go a long way.

[@Dillbeet]

Melting the blue bottle glass as water turned out really cool

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Cheers!

[@liegesaboya33]

Adorei ver o barquinho nas águas azuis da sua ilha . Adorável!. Outra coisa : a calma com que vc lida com os imprevistos e sobretudo com as limitações que o espaço impõe é maravilhosa ! Bravo !!! From Brazil with much love 💕

[@ThePhiphler]

Amazing that you found a 13th century cast iron Benchy while diving!

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Finding it buried in a field would certainly puzzle a metal detectorist 😊

[@bilbo_gamers6417]

This is insanely impressive. I've searched far and wide for actual home shop steel casting. Unbelievable. You've earned a sub.

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thank You very much!

[@ConorFenlon]

You are a true innovator in this space. Microwave casting is an incredibly inexpensive and clearly viable technology, when the necessary safety precautions are maintained. You're a hero of mine. 👍🏻

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thanks Conor!

[@gregkretchmer3588]

When I was young, I was a Foundry man, We poured gray and ductile iron. We wore gas welding goggles with the little chain between the eye cups, the Old ones that were two cups, not the plastic goggle type you see people use when grinding. The gas type lens cut the brightness just enough to see when walking around but see details in the molten iron. To vibrate, take a cheap 540 motor and make an off center weight that is fixed to the shaft and tape it to the table. We used a neck type pouring column and risers as the higher the iron is poured in, the better it fills the mold, the fill riser had a right angle bend at the bottom and filled the mold bottom up. We vented tricky parts with little sticks to avoid trapped air. I make a jewelers wax by melting paraffin (bottling type sold at the market) and adding plastic bucket chunks that will melt, 3 parts wax to 1 part bucket by weight. It shrinks a bit on setting up but is easy to carve and burns out well.

[@leonordin3052]

You could also buy a rotary sander because it has the off set weight mechanism in a durable design. Not as nice looking but just showing there are many options.

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thank you very much for the tip. I had to look up those gas welding goggles as I didn’t know what they looked like. It made me think that maybe I could just wear a pair of sunglasses under the face shield. Cheers!

[@ShakeTheFuture]

@@leonordin3052I actually found a vibrating motor that can be attached to the table and it is affordable. I must say the reciprocating saw worked pretty well, but I suppose it would be smarter to free my hands and not juggle things while doing metal melting 😊

[@gregkretchmer3588]

@@ShakeTheFuture like these... Hobart 770096 Welding Oxy-Acetylene Goggle - 50mm Eye Cup

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Who needs a shiny boat when you can have a rusty benchy. My microwave has trust issues after this video 😊

[@JJW]

@@ShakeTheFuture How many watts is your microwave sir?

[@ShakeTheFuture]

@@JJW It's a 900w microwave.

[@codures]

If you're going for that 3kW, you'll have to do something different: 220v/16A wall plugs can't handle that. You'll need a 6mm2 straight cord from the electric panel to your balcony. My kitchen 3.2kW induction table has this separate circuit (although buried in the wall).

[@ShakeTheFuture]

​@@codures I must say, I hadn't really thought about it. We'll see if I end up getting it. I don't really need it; it's purely for entertainment/educational purposes to see what's possible. I suppose I would just run it from my kitchen's oven socket with a long extension cable (since it would likely only be for a few videos or projects). I was actually checking the microwave's manual, and now I'm not sure if the output is actually 3000W, as one of the manuals says 2000W. 2000W is still good, but 3000W sounds better. It could be 3000W input, not microwave power. If that's the case, I hate when they do that - advertise it as 3000w microwave, but it's the input power. Anyway, we'll see if I end up getting it. I'll probably make a KZbin poll and ask the audience if they would be interested in a video where I try it out and compare it with a household microwave. I am pretty happy using an ordinary microwave. Cheers!

[@codures]

@@ShakeTheFuture as a rule of thumb : microwave output is slightly above 50% of the input. however, a percentage of the radiated (emitted) power is reflected back to the magnetron, hence the t(h)rust issues when using feromagnetic materials in a feromagnetic cage 😉.

[@franezdiy]

cant believe you got to melt iron in the microwave, sick

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thanks. And it's not even the most powerful microwave - 900w

[@NoahSpurrier]

Pretty cool! I’ve melted glass in a microwave before. I never imagined you can melt iron in a microwave.

[@ElizabethGreene]

Thanks!

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thank You very much for your support Elizabeth!

[@michaelhines1891]

Loving the subtle sarcasm at the end. Thanks for the clear presentation and showing your mistakes so others don't make them.

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thank You very much for watching and commenting. It means a lot to me 👍

[@brucewilliams6292]

Love the videos you do. I am impressed with the amount you get done in such a small space. I think if you get to much space, it just tends to get cluttered.

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thanks! Yes, I’m forced to get rid of things before getting something new. For example, if I end up getting that industrial microwave and keeping it, one of the other microwaves I have will have to go. I just don’t have the space, so there is less clutter like you said - I don't think my girlfriends thinks so 😊

[@macrumpton]

The musical feature at the end made a great episode even better!

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Oh, that's great! I'm glad you made it to the end. That's why I asked at the beginning of the video, "What's your attention span?" Even I’ve noticed that my attention span isn’t as good as it used to be, so I’m trying to improve it by introducing some rules to my viewing habits. For example, if I start watching a video, I have to finish it (unless it becomes clear that it's not for me)

[@Andykerrfield]

3:32 I've had that blooming song stuck in my head for 6 days you git! Great content 👍

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@ralphmourik]

Whenever I get an old microwave I scrap it to bits for the copper and other metals in it, guess I should test them first and keep the strongest one, this is a very interesting process. I've been watching your stuff for a while now but I'm very reluctant to try this myself... one day maybe 😋 Benchy came out great! Vibrating the table is very clever.

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Awesome! Thanks for commenting!

[@tracybowling1156]

This was a really fun video mistakes and all! I am sorry that you had to test the table further than you wanted. I am sure it will still be a great table for what you need it for. I love the broken melted glass as water! The whole thing is beautiful! 😊

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thank You very much Tracy! 🙂

[@LincolnWorld]

Thanks for another great video. If you have to smash up stuff with a hammer again, you can put it in a pillow case or put a thin tarp or sheet on top of it before you hit it with the hammer. It is this enough that it should not cushion the hammer much, and when the pieces break they won't go flying. "I look! I found an old Iphone 16 while I was diving!" 😂😂😂

[@ShakeTheFuture]

That's actually a great and obvious tip. I did put the bottle in the bag, I should have done the same with the gym-weigh. Thanks! I'll give it a go.

[@Zombiefruit]

Your videos are the best, I've long since moved away from the idea of casting in my apartment (my wife would kill me) but I'm always happy to watch them when you post. Such quality content made with care

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thank You very much!

[@Salted_Fysh]

I like that you address security and actually wear PPE. There's a lot of KZbin channels where it's treated in a fairly lax manner so it's always nice to see someone put a bit more thought into it.

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thank You! Safety is something I take seriously. That said, there is space for improvement.

[@kevinjames4405]

youre truly the goat at this

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thank You very much Kevin!

[@Happyfacehotwheels]

This is why I love KZbin! Finding new things that I don't know was possible by some on the other side of the world. Thanks, and subscribed.

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thank You! I am glad you found it interesting. Welcome to the community!

[@mdavisyates]

Loved the little Black & White Brothers "Pump it Up reference!

[@ShakeTheFuture]

He, he. It came naturally.

[@memejeff]

Absolutely beautiful. I really like the rustic look. Along with the really nice base.

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thank You very much for taking time to comment.

[@memejeff]

@@ShakeTheFuture No problem. Glad I could help. Thank you for making the video :).

[@pseudotasuki]

Someone at my makerspace made a brass Benchy. I use it in my beginner's 3D printing class to illustrate how it can be used in unexpected ways.

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Awesome!

[@schnauzpig]

Constantly pushing boundaries and your microwave!

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Yes indeed! One day I might even use it to heat up food 😉

[@crisradioactive91]

I loved this video! I appreciated your humor a lot too. Really made for a more fun instructional video. :)

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thank You very much!

[@Merkenau]

Your dry humor is gold (:

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Cheers!

[@fathybalamita1537]

Your videos give me hope that i can start casting metals in my balcony with the expensive casting setup. Thank you sooooo much.

[@ShakeTheFuture]

I'm so glad my videos give you hope! It’s definitely doable, but a bit risky... your spouse/partner might kick you out one day 😉. "Sorry, honey, but could you hang the clothes on the foldable rack today? I need to do some metal melting on the balcony."

[@paulmeynell8866]

Came across this by accident but it’s really interesting,what a great job . Thanks from the UK

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thanks Paul!

[@dragade101]

Loving the simplicity here!

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thanks!

[@Sigma-0007_Septem]

Damn what an amazing video . And with Materials people can actually afford and buy. Thank you truly amazing work

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thank You very much!

[@steve145]

I want to congratulate you for your great videos. You've just reached a level where your channel could take off exponentially. You are the first to have succeeded in melting steel (iron), being able to contain it and mold a precise and well-defined shape. There are lots of new videos with experiments to make based on this. Here are ideas that might interest you: reduce the silicon carbide to a thin layer and put sand around it (cheaper); Replace water glass with polyurethane or epoxy resin; make open mold; Make stainless steel part; try pieces in several pours; harden glass water with a heat gun (without microwave) for large parts; large multi-part objects; make mold shape with silicone...

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thank you very much! I will actually start using only sand for making molds (for some projects). There is definitely space for improvement. Cheers!

[@dineshvyas]

Amazing workmanship in very limited space and equipments.

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thank You!

[@Tympan]

Awesomely impressive!!

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thank You very much!

[@julias-shed]

Fantastic results 😀.thanks for sharing

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thank for watching!

[@ianphillips2443]

I love this, great work, very inspiring. Thanks.

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Glad you enjoyed it! Cheers!

[@MrAndrew990]

gem of a channel

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thank You very much!

[@cronossss22]

In the dental industry, we used to cast various metals from gold to Co-Cr alloys. In order to make these metals flow we use a centrifuge machine, in other words forcing the metal to flow in cavities. In your setup, you can use an old technique using a potato or moist toilet paper (in a metal cup). Sprooing is another level of science" where most technicians are struggling, but there a some basic rules that might help.

[@victorro8760]

I don't want my dentist to put me in a centrifuge and force molten metal in my cavities

[@cronossss22]

​@@victorro8760 The dental industry is not only a dentist it's a team behind him it is also dental technicians, dental nurses, dental surgeons, etc. When you go into the shop to buy eggs you don't expect to think that shop grows chickens in the back of the shop. Dont't you?

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Oh yes, I am aware of centrifugal casting, but I didn’t know about the moist toilet paper or potato technique. I looked it up - Interesting. Thanks!

[@victorro8760]

​@@cronossss22 Wait, they actually put patients in centrifuges to pour molten metal into their teeth?

[@jsincoherency]

Very cool process, thanks for sharing, and great end result! FYI I think sodium silicate sets faster if you heat it rather than cool it.

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thank You very much! As for freezing the molds, it might not be as obvious why I am doing it if you have not seen my previous videos :) I didn't freeze the molds to permanently harden the silicon carbide. Freezing was just to harden it temporarily, so I could remove it from the plastic mold without it falling apart. It's one of the methods I use when making silicon carbide molds, crucibles, and kiln rings. After that, I use heat-whether in an oven or microwave-to fully harden them. Cheers!

[@davidingram1902]

Wow I have never seen your method so cool!

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Cheers!

[@One_Stale_Donut]

Absolutely insane what you can do

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thanks!

[@brianhutchinson7863]

Awesome dude! This is a great fusion of technical fabrication and artistic flair. FYI Sodium silicate can be "cured" or hardened with CO2.

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Yes, I have used CO2 in the past. Microwaving the mold works for me, so I don't bother with C02. Cheers!

[@SpookyBurrito]

Attention span? For you, Denny, infinity.

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thank You very much for the kind words. It means a lot.

[@hiba]

Damn Can't believe you melted IRON IN MICROWAVE! DAAMN!! AND THE FINAL CASTING CAME OUT SOO GREAT! WOW WOW!

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thanks! I am glad you found it interesting. I'll be doing some more iron melting. Cheers!

[@KORUPTable]

I love your channel, I've been wanting to do exactly what you did in this video lol great minds think alike!

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Cheers!

[@chemarytech]

Increible, la calidad de los videos que produces es cada vez mejor

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Muchas gracias!

[@MrBassjan]

wonderfull work! makes me dream of making my own iron/steel tools

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thanks! It's possible and I have made some iron tools myself, but in very tiny amounts as large quantities are difficult to melt. Cheers!

[@Franklin-jj4jz]

Sodium silicate can be hardened quickly by exposing it to carbon dioxide gas. Place the damp mold in a plastic bucket with a chunk of dry ice. A loose lid or a towel can be placed over the bucket to keep the gas in the bucket. Being more dense than air, CO2 will permeate the voids in the mold, forming a hard shell.

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Yes, people bring it up from time to time (CO2). I’ve used it in the past as well. There’s even footage in one of my videos where I use it, though I’m not sure which one. Personally, I find it easier to use the microwave method. I don’t need CO2, which means lower costs (even comparing with the baking soda + vinegar method). I live in Spain and have never seen dry ice sold anywhere. I’m sure you can buy it online or at specialty stores, but it’s not like in the U.S. where you can just walk into a petrol station and grab a bag of dry ice (at least that’s the impression I’ve gotten). That said, it’s definitely an option for those who prefer to use it. There can be some benefits, like not having to worry about your mold cracking during curing. Cheers!

[@chadjensenster]

Great video. You can also use CO2 to make water glass set up. You can get CO2 tanks at welding gas suppliers. At least in the US, I am not sure about Germany

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Yes, indeed. I used to use CO2. I bought a 5 kg CO2 fire extinguisher and found myself using way too much CO2. Not that I needed a lot, but it was just a human thing (let’s inject a bit more just in case... and more). After refilling the fire extinguisher 3 or 4 times, I realized it was an expense I didn’t need. It’s definitely an option for those who prefer to use CO2. Cheers!

[@1337fraggzb00N]

There is some special filament for casting, it burns out with almost no ashes or other residues. For placing sprues, you could simply copy the auto support of a slicer.

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Yes, I’ve heard about the special filament. I actually have a roll of wax filament, but it’s very difficult to print with and isn’t cheap, so I don’t use it. There’s also Polycast, which, as far as I know, prints easily, but I haven’t tried it. Translucent filament burns out well and is very cheap, so I stick to that. Cheers!

[@doctorgregg6847]

Very Nice idea and work man. You fixed the issues. If You want another benchy You can take some of that paste carbide You Made and before compacting You can pack a quantity to fill the volume with your hands inside the roof of the benchy, Then do as You did. I think it Will improve the issue inside the little cabinet.

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thanks! Yes, sometimes I do it, sometimes I don't. I've done it with other casts. You are absolutely right. 👍

[@lumotroph]

Brilliant episode. I am getting close to making a microwave kiln myself thanks to you! What’s the largest amount of cast iron you think you could melt?

[@ShakeTheFuture]

That's a good question. The largest iron melt I have done was probably around 240g. I believe that with a new, optimized chamber, preheating, and cutting the iron into small pieces, you could melt up to 500g. I’m sure we’ll get there and try it out. Cheers!

[@dogbones8149]

I might be wrong, but it seems like you aren't the most confident in your English speaking. You speak very well! There's never been a time where I've been confused about what you said. You're very clear and while it doesn't seem like it's your first language, your pronunciation is almost always fantastic! Be proud! Be confident! Also keep up the work! Your casting videos are inspiring the heck out of me

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thank You very much for the kind words 😊

[@acheide]

Nice as usual. I wonder if placing the mold under the melter and melting the metal directly into the mold would work. Thanks for good info.

[@ShakeTheFuture]

You’re not the first to ask! I believe the mileage can vary depending on the metal used and the complexity of the mold. That said, it’s on my list to try out. Cheers!

[@thewatersavior]

Clutch table upgrade - not sure the old bench would have survived.. sounds like a perfect outtake

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Yes, that’s true. The old table was covered with floor tiles. They would have definitely cracked, and small pieces would probably end up flying into the air. I’m not disappointed that I spilled metal onto the table, as that was inevitable. I am a bit disappointed that it happened on the third day. It reminds me of the time I bought a car and scratched it in the first week (it was the only time it ever got scratched).

[@ArcturusArcher]

"I am going to take me ship, and go for a ride, I'll go, I'll go, I'll go for a ride" thanks for that 🙂

[@deucedeuce1572]

A quick note for anyone working with electronics that may catch fire... You want to make sure you have the right kind of fire extinguisher. Not all are designed for electronics and can be dangerous if they're ever used on electronics.

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thanks for the tip 👍

[@goodluck5642]

I love this guy

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thank You!

[@cyanyeti1556]

Wow that came out great

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thanks You!

[@erikals]

Beautiful !! 🌺

[@free_spirit1]

Your ingenuity and resourcefulness never cease to amaze me. Are the SiC molds porous? Could you still draw air through them and ensure a consistent fill every time?

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thanks! Well, I have pulled a vacuum on SIC molds, but I haven’t come to a conclusion on whether it actually worked. Since I mainly use SIC molds to cast iron and iron flows very well, I’m not sure if the vacuum did anything. More testing is required. Cheers!

[@shodanxx]

Please design a better pouring container for dumping the wet silicon carbide into the mold instead of spooning it down. I am impressed by how much you are streamlining your process at each iterations Would it be possible to increase the cast volume by having two separate microwaves or would a two-shot our fail even if you do them one after the other ?

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thanks! There is definitely room for improvement. I’ve never tried a "two-shot" pour, but I believe it’s possible because the chamber keeps the crucible hot for a while. This would give you time to microwave 2 chambers in 2 microwaves, then take them out, place it on the table, and pour one after another. It might be trickier with iron, but it’s definitely possible. Cheers!

[@EngineerNick]

hec yeah thankyou for the awesome video. Love the outro!

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thank You very much!

[@rommelfcc]

Can use a ceramic tile or fire brick cut in 3rds to put under the pooring

[@ShakeTheFuture]

I’ll be covering the table with tiles, as I’ve noticed it’s easy to mark stainless steel. The floor tiles on my old table did a good job protecting it. Yes, they sometimes cracked when I spilled some metal, but it was fine. Cheers!

[@ducomaritiem7160]

Thanx man, learned something today!❤

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thanks for taking time to comment!

[@matticuskare9327]

Just incredible! Keep it up!

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thank You!

[@tykobrising5339]

Great video, I really want to try this process now! Have you tried hardening your water glass with CO2? I have seen that used in other casting videos.

[@mehmehmehmeh]

Did i miss someting? why cant you refire with the mold to fill the voids? If the mold can hold molten cast iron, it can wtihstand the firing in the microwave right?

[@ShakeTheFuture]

There are a few possible reasons why it probably wouldn’t work very well with iron. The main reason, in my case, is that I wouldn’t be able to reheat the mold to the temperatures required to melt iron. It’s a very large mold. For example, the small crucible is made of 100g of SIC, while the mold contains 5 times more SIC. It’s just too big. I wouldn’t be able to heat it up to those temperatures with the current metal-melting chambers I have. Even if I could, I doubt it would produce very good casts. Then again, don’t trust everything I say-I might be wrong 😊

[@edstimator1]

I’m impressed.

[@ShakeTheFuture]

I am glad you enjoyed it. Cheers!

[@cheeserdane]

Miller brand safety glasses Darkness 5 should help you a lot

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thanks for the tip. They are a bit expensive, especially with shipping to Spain where I live. But I appreciate the suggestion. I’ve started a Google Keep note with all the tips and recommendations people give me, so I can go back and review them. I’ve written it down and might check it out in the future. Cheers

[@JulianMakes]

Very nice! Can you use regular casting sand with water glass instead of the silicon carbide powder? I wonder if I can make a furnace like yours. I love it. Thanks!

[@ShakeTheFuture]

I’ve only done it once, but not with cast iron, so I’m not sure how it would turn out. Sand is definitely a much cheaper or even free option. The benefit of SIC is that it’s easier to burn out. You don’t even need a microwave kiln-it will heat up on its own. For the best results, you’ll need some kind of chamber to trap the heat, like the one I use for melting metal.

[@damascenoalisson]

How didn’t I ever think about using an air fryer to dry moulds, this is genius

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Glad it helps. In my experience, they’re not quite as good as an oven, but they’re cheaper to run. I usually dry my molds in an air fryer and then transfer them to the oven if necessary.

[@markos3803]

i really enjoy your videos! maybe the most accessible and high quality "metal 3d printing" on youtube. I have two questions: Can the silicon carbide be reused? if yes is there a limit to how many times? Did you try to cut one through the middle to check for porosity or measure the density by the archimedes principle? thank you cant wait for the next video

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thanks! I have reused it before, but I don't do it anymore. The way I reused it was by breaking it and grinding it again (I believe I reused it in the hammer video). It was very hard on the grinder, so I stopped doing it. Apparently, there are methods to soften sodium silicate, but I didn’t have much success with them, so for now, I've given up. I haven’t checked the porosity yet. I tried vacuum casting silicon carbide molds, but since the casts were simple and didn’t really require a vacuum, I’m not sure if it made a difference. I’ve added it to my list for future videos and tests, as many people have been curious about it. Cheers!

[@beladn710]

Nice work, do you think it would be possible to make a basic plastic injection mold using your foundry method, with a little machining as finishing?

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Absolutely! I have a list of possible future projects, and one of them is making a cast iron mold. It’s not necessarily for plastic, but the concept is pretty much the same. Cheers!

[@beladn710]

@@ShakeTheFuture Ah thank you! it's a good news

[@kokokarias4862]

Can you melt raw gold dust in the microwave?

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Don´t see why not!

[@AhH-o6w]

@Shakethefuture I cannot stress enough how your ideas are truly genius, as always thank you for sharing your results, I have watched pretty much all your videos and I have a question with some additional notes that I would greatly appreciate any feedback if possible and maybe we can see if the idea/principle works basee on proven results you have already achieved. Can this current method work using your print wave metal casting approach which was was applied to a gypsium/plaster mold to avoid any burnout being required, the difference being the materials. So hopefully in theory , using a silicone carbide mold/ (possibly silica sand + sodium silicate) in parallel with print wave approach means no burnout needed to cast iron. I would also like to add that with print wave casting the soft pla pattern can only be used once but if you were to replace with 3d printed TPU, I would like to think that the TPU pattern can be reusable, do you think this is possible? One last question, when using a wax pattern similar to the hammer handle in a previous video, does the wax completly burnout in the microwave within the silicone carbide mold? Looking forward to your reply, and any new content, have a great weekend.

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thanks! I’m glad you find value in these videos. I think you could do print-wave-casting with silicon carbide molds, but some changes would be required. For example, you probably would not make the mold directly on top of the printer. Microwaving would need to be done carefully, as silicon carbide is essentially a heating element and tends to heat up unevenly. It’s easy to overheat the mold and melt the plastic, causing it to stick. I might give it a try. I once tried using TPU, and it did stick to the plaster, though that was a few years ago. I need to try it again. When burning out a silicon carbide mold with wax, it can be removed or burned just like PLA, but with wax, this process happens much sooner. Cheers!

[@janbeck8269]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing!!!! Question: can steel be cast, or is the microwave only good up to cast iron? Curious, because steel is a real challenge for gas/oil furnaces.

[@ShakeTheFuture]

I’ve melted a few stainless steel nuts (A2-70) as an experiment. In those quantities, it was possible. I ended up casting a ring, but I haven’t even cleaned it because the spruing was incorrect, and I ended up with only half a ring. It’s sitting in front of me as I type, serving as a reminder that I need to make a video about casting stainless steel. Cheers!

[@janbeck8269]

​@@ShakeTheFuturethank you for taking the time to reply. I'd love to see some stainless casting. I don't think I've seen anyone at KZbin accomplishing that yet...

[@jafinch78]

I know not related, though wondering what the optimal flow frequency would be like say with metal plating to prevent bubbles to fill? Small mid range speaker frequency range or higher transducer ultrasonic range? Great details as usual! Thanks Man! Really inspirational.

[@ShakeTheFuture]

I hope somebody knows the answer to your question. I always wanted to experiments with speakers and as well as ultrasonic to see if they could break bubbles, but I have not got so far yet. Cheers!

[@AhH-o6w]

@ShakeTheFuture can the current silicone carbide mold also be prepared using your print wave metal casting technique?

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Well, I have not tried it, but with some changed it might work. Since you're not the first one to ask, I might give it a go and make a video on it. Cheers!

[@AhH-o6w]

@@ShakeTheFuture Thankyou, would be great to see this when you get the chance, and any new great ideas as always.

[@motopult]

cool balcony studio dude!

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thanks!

[@KayRoepke]

You continue to impress! What is the grid size of the silicone carbide you are starting with?

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thanks! This is what I normally buy: 25kg Silicon Carbide SIC FEPA 220 (44 - 75 µm)

[@Dillbeet]

What size SiC do you buy and is it economical to buy the larger size and grind it down?

[@leonordin3052]

Ofcourse it is economical. Fine sic is very expensive due to being used in lapping. So it has to be very consistent grain size. One kg of finer stuff is like 20 dollars or more, depending on how fine you want it can get quite expensive.. Maybe there are cheap fine sources. I dont know about casting but 800 grit and above looks very fine. Lower would look rough and need more sanding, for good looking surface I would go above 360 grit because I would think there will be a lot of sanding in such grits to get smooth. The upside to blasting media is that particle size is less important so he can get it cheaply.

[@ShakeTheFuture]

That's the one I’ve been buying: '25kg Silicon Carbide SIC FEPA 220 (44 - 75 µm).' I paid 134 euros with shipping. The cereal grinder cost me 40 euros. The blades on the grinder won’t last forever; they will get smaller and smaller until they need to be replaced. The grinder came with two sets of blades, which is good. It’s actually my second grinder, as the first one broke-not because of grinding SIC, but because I was shaking it while grinding. I’m trying to be more careful with this one and not shake it while grinding. I don’t know if the blades can be purchased separately. One thing to keep in mind: don’t use a cheap coffee grinder. I tried that, and it was one of the quickest ways to waste money. The blades disappeared after grinding the first or second batch of silicon carbide-they’re just not thick enough. That said a lot of times I don't grind it at all. Cheers!

[@inifin8]

What kind of grinder grinder sand and silicon carbide?

[@ShakeTheFuture]

It's sold under various names. I think mine was sold under "Kotsy" name. Model: HC-150

[@LJSpit]

Very impressive and artistic.

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thank You!

[@MartinodePueblo]

Came here via your 3D printing post on reddit. Interesting stuff

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Awesome! Thanks for watching!

[@AhH-o6w]

@ShakeTheFuture, your method of freezing the sillicone carbide mold that is mixed with sodium silicate then microwaving is very innovative and I believe much more practical than using c02. Will this also work with a mold that is made out of fine sand that contains sodium silicate, so that no co2 canisters arr required to cure the mold. Thank you for your advice and insight in advance.

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Yes, it will work as long as the mold can breed. Whether or not CO2 curing vs microwaving will give you the same results (strengths vide) would need to be tested. Cheers!

[@nikolaiturcan6963]

How do you grind something hard with a softer metal?

[@ShakeTheFuture]

It grinds, but the blades do wear out eventually. It also depends on the grinder. I used a cheap coffee grinder once... just once, because that’s how long the blades lasted. Cereal grinder blades last for a while, but they gradually wear down and will eventually need to be replaced. It's not a solution if you need to grind SiC in large quantities. However, for home projects where you occasionally need to grind some SiC, it works quite well.

[@nikolaiturcan6963]

@ShakeTheFuture thank you for the detailed info, I get that the harder the steel the longer it lasts you...I was thinking that the kinetic energy just crushes all the grains against eachother... smoothing them and making a super fine powder... however to still consider that do this on your balcony is absolutely awesome

[@Vibe77Guy]

I have to wonder if a crucible/mold combined would work. Melt and pour in one go. True, there would be a small sprue between the cavities to be cut and finished off.

[@ShakeTheFuture]

It's a question that comes up frequently. I think it could work for some molds and metals, but not in this case. The mold was just way too big. I wouldn’t be able to heat it up in the microwave to the temperatures required to melt iron. The small crucible contains 100g of SIC, while the mold was made using 560g (or something like that... I forgot). Anyway, since it's something people keep wondering about, I'll try it out and make a video on it. Cheers!

[@diaxus388]

i made a rumble pad for shaking bubbles out of thin resin using 2 thick kitchen cutting boards and 4 ummm, love bullets that i got from anne summers, i just drilled and sanded out 4 divot holes on eacj board, turned each of the bullets on and sandwiched them between the boards, worked well and was cheap, apart from explining why i needed to buy 4 of them to the sales person in the shop

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thanks for sharing. Whatever works 👍

[@JWarren-iu4qe]

Run tie wire into the top of the microwave and have a japanese style tip fountain and have an assembly line of molds on a circle

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thanks for the suggestion.

[@jordanhorst6]

I think it would be really cool for your channel for you to explore sintering steel powders into functional parts, like gears/cogs and or other such parts.

[@ShakeTheFuture]

I also think so 😊Cheers!

[@Internet-Antics]

"Oh look I found an old iphone 16 while I was diving" lol😆

[@BartJBols]

Your mold would benefit from having an air vent to make air escape from the bottom while you pour in the top. If you dont want to grind off parts, just make this vent about the thickness of a wooden barbecue skewer. Metal wont pass through it, but air will. You can literally make a barbecue skewer wet and bend it in the way you want (or use cheese wax and roll it finely) and then just burn it out like you do with the plastic.

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thanks for the tip. Much appreciated 👍

[@Randysunwantedthoughts-fo5fh]

Great show, especially from 20:47 to 20:57

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thanks!

[@souheil2895]

Amazing! Do you think you can melt and cast Stainless Steel with this method?

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Yes, but in very small amounts. I'll be casting something in stainless steel soon. Cheers!

[@mrrooter601]

You mentioned casting with stainless steel (dont recall the timestamp, I came back to this later) is it possible to do a video with some "higher end" materials? Im mostly curious how well this works for actual functional parts and such. Im actually working on getting all the parts to do this right now, It seems much cheaper in the long run than going with propane. This is a great stopgap until metal 3d printing at home is viable.

[@ShakeTheFuture]

I will definitely make a video about melting stainless steel. At the moment, I have so many requests and videos lined up that I can't promise a specific date. However, sometimes when a project doesn't turn out as planned and I want to take a break from trying, I might switch to something else. Hopefully, I can get to it in October. That said, I want people to understand one thing to avoid disappointment. Melting metal in a microwave works like magic when you're melting aluminium. It melts like butter, and you can even go "big." If you stick to aluminium, your melting chamber will last quite a while (hundreds of melts). Brass and copper can also be melted, but it takes more time, and the chamber will wear down faster, but it's not too bad. When it comes to iron, it's a different story. We’re really pushing the limits. The ceramic fibre I use is rated to withstand 1200°C, so it gets extremely hot. While melting iron is possible, the chamber will degrade quickly. Since we’re working with microwaves, the chamber will soon lose efficiency. It will start absorbing microwaves and heating up in places you don't want it to, not necessary very hot (even though it's possible), but enough to limit the amount of microwaves reaching the crucible. After a few rounds of melting iron, you'll notice it takes longer and longer until eventually, you'll need to replace the chamber/base or keep using it for other metals. A similar issue can occur when melting brass or copper, but since their melting points are much lower, it's less of a problem. You just microwave for longer, and it works. So obviously, steel is even worse for the chamber. Cheers!

[@mrrooter601]

@@ShakeTheFuture wow that is a lot of awesome information thank you! good to hear aluminum works that well I have a ton of scrap. totally understandable that iron is pushing the limits, considering most people wouldnt have thought this was even possible in the first place (myself included). Heres hoping this gains even more traction for people looking into at home metalworking, because there are definitely more discoveries and improvements to this process to be made (not that it isnt amazing already). I could really see crucibles designed exactly for this process that are more refined being a commercial product in the future. Thanks again for sharing!

[@jeffersonsharp2292]

Really enjoying what you're doing here. Can the microwave melt stainless steel?

[@ShakeTheFuture]

Thank You! Yes it can in tiny quantities. I'll have a video about it coming soon. Cheers!

[@Migueldeservantes]

Been following your channel for as long as You started doing microwave metal casting.. and I'm really interested on this project!! It looks very promising... I wonder if you could share the link for that 3000 Watts Industrial Microwave?? I would love to find out more about it!!

[@ShakeTheFuture]

----I copy-pasted the answer from the other comment, in case you did not notice the answer.------ It's a "Royal Catering RC-MV-06" microwave with a 34L capacity. It's the first one I found that isn't too expensive-though still priced around four times as much as an ordinary microwave (the one I have), it's relatively affordable. However, it turns out it's not a 3000W microwave as I initially thought; it has a 3200W power consumption and a 2100W output. Clearly, I haven't researched it thoroughly. There may be other options available. 34L is a good size. My white microwave is a 28L microwave (sometimes advertised as 30L), so 34L sounds good. Cheers!

[@RafikisAnts]

never seen a table geode before today 😂