Old microwave ovens

[Norman]

Anyone got any good use for old microwave ovens ?

I thought about the Tesla coil but I'm not too keen on building those caps.

 

[Gary Tait]

Anyone got any good use for old microwave ovens ?

I thought about the Tesla coil but I'm not too keen on building those caps.

Use the timers for various munite timers. I was using one to replace
the function of the failed clock/timer unit on the stove, until the
keypad failed. The microswitches could be useful. I couldn't help you
with the H-V section though.

 

[Rich Andrews]

Anyone got any good use for old microwave ovens ?

I thought about the Tesla coil but I'm not too keen on building those
caps.

There are a few websites devoted to Tesla coils, etc, utilizing microwave
power supplies. A word of caution. One cannot make *any* mistakes nor
can one be too cautious when dealing with microwave power supplies. A
charged cap alone is enough to cause your body to assume room temperature.

r

 

[Hugh Prescott]

Several web sites show how to rewind the secondary of the transformer for
use as a small spot welder like for spot welding ni-cad battery packs and
things of thicker steel.

Or rewind for a heavy duty power supply

Or just use the old microwave to destroy CD-R disks, just takes a few
seconds but smells bad.

 

[H. R. Bob Hofmann]

I second the transformer rewinding. Although I haven't had any luck
with welding with it, I have had lots of luck at melting bolts and the
like at 5VAC, I can only guess the current is around 30-40A. It
didn't cost much, only the 6 feet of 4AWG wires and a few connectors
to terminate it, and a project box. The most expensive part was a 50A
dryer cord (2-8AWG, 2-10AWG, one 8 and 10 paired for each lead, and it
still gets hot). Good fun though, besides the hastle of getting the
secondary winding out.

Everyone is overlooking the obvious. If it's an old microwave oven,
there is always a need for boat anchors.

 

[William R. Walsh]

Hi!

Here's a novel suggestion! (Novel because nobody else suggested it!)

Why don't you just it as a microwave oven until it dies? Many old microwaves
will last a very long time if you keep the vents and interior clean...and if
the fan is kept properly lubricated.

If you have more microwaves than you know what to do with, donate them to
people or groups or sell them for $20 per.

William