Uh... what the title says... should this not be done for any reason in an oven that will be using for cooking?
Is it a bad idea to heat plastic in your food-making oven for vacuforming?
- Thread starter Hecubus114
- Start date
Fizbin
Well-Known Member
Common sense tells me that YES it WOULD be a bad idea, but it depends on how often you did it. Toxic fumes ARE generated when heating plastic to the point where it becomes soft.
For example, when I run my vacuform machine for a while (10 pulls or more) the smell of plastic can be noticable throughout the house... and my machine is closed off in the basement... so make what you will of that.
For example, when I run my vacuform machine for a while (10 pulls or more) the smell of plastic can be noticable throughout the house... and my machine is closed off in the basement... so make what you will of that.
Jumpin Jax
Sr Member
Hmm....well air out thoroughly when you're done, Hec. I got a used oven for convenience in the shop instead of working out of the kitchen, if you're unable to avoid it I would probably clean the oven after getting a project done.
phasersonthrill
Well-Known Member
Very bad,
toxic plastic particles will be circulated and deposited through out the microwave interior by the fan and the next time you heat something up the heated air will recirculate those particles into your food.
Cleaning after each use will not be enough, unless you disassemble the oven and clean the fan and blower duct area which is not normally accessible.
Actually you should not heat any food item in a plastic container in a microwave, even microwave-safe ones.
See video...
http://www.monkeysee.com/play/11330-what-happens-to-plastic-when-i-put-it-in-the-microwave
toxic plastic particles will be circulated and deposited through out the microwave interior by the fan and the next time you heat something up the heated air will recirculate those particles into your food.
Cleaning after each use will not be enough, unless you disassemble the oven and clean the fan and blower duct area which is not normally accessible.
Actually you should not heat any food item in a plastic container in a microwave, even microwave-safe ones.
See video...
http://www.monkeysee.com/play/11330-what-happens-to-plastic-when-i-put-it-in-the-microwave
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defstartrooper
Sr Member
Think he's talking about a conventional oven.
Jaded Monk
Well-Known Member
You aren't going to develop a cancer after one pull. If you are only doing pulls once in a long while you are going to get the same level of toxicity from reusing water bottles. If you make a hobby of it, you need to explore other solutions.
Just my ¢2.
Cheers,
JM
Just my ¢2.
Cheers,
JM
Fizbin
Well-Known Member
Heh... not sure a microwave would work, but then again, I've never tried it and don't really plan to anytime soon.
Jaruemalak
Well-Known Member
Since a microwave oven doesn't generate heat, no, it doesn't work for heating plastic for vacuforming. That's why your plastic plates don't get hot in the microwave. (Please don't send messages saying "My plates get hot all the time in the microwave!" 99.9 percent or more of any heat in the plates is from the food getting hot and then heating the plate, not the oven heating the plate.)
If you are doing a LOT of vacuforming, get an oven specifically for heating plastic, or better yet, build a heating table - there are several sets of instructions online.
That said, I've used my regular (and only) oven for years and never had a problem. I don't vacuform all that often, though - couple times a month, tops.
If you are doing a LOT of vacuforming, get an oven specifically for heating plastic, or better yet, build a heating table - there are several sets of instructions online.
That said, I've used my regular (and only) oven for years and never had a problem. I don't vacuform all that often, though - couple times a month, tops.
Jaded Monk
Well-Known Member
1) No Pthalates in styrene. the most common choice for vacuum forming by the hobby builder.
2) Low levels of styrene occur naturally in plants as well as a variety of foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts. [care of Wikipedia]
3) Phthalates are used, and have been in the US since before the 1950's, in a large variety of products, from enteric coatings of pharmaceutical pills to viscosity control agents, gelling agents, film formers, stabilizers, dispersants, lubricants, binders, emulsifying agents, and suspending agents. [care of Wikipedia]
4)In '08 the US ordered a specific study regarding the effects of phalates on Humans. Until the vast majority of actual studies including those all over the world that produced results, were on rodents and even then, only after very high doses, was their any impact. At this point all concerns regarding human exposure have been theoretical and unproven. The combination of Pthalates used in PVC were thought to be carinogenic, at high levels, and in the end the research determined that this effect was found only in rats.
If you don't have children in the house. And arent licking the inside of your oven between pulls, and don't decide to go professional and use the oven every day. You will be just fine.
Cheers,
JM
2) Low levels of styrene occur naturally in plants as well as a variety of foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts. [care of Wikipedia]
3) Phthalates are used, and have been in the US since before the 1950's, in a large variety of products, from enteric coatings of pharmaceutical pills to viscosity control agents, gelling agents, film formers, stabilizers, dispersants, lubricants, binders, emulsifying agents, and suspending agents. [care of Wikipedia]
4)In '08 the US ordered a specific study regarding the effects of phalates on Humans. Until the vast majority of actual studies including those all over the world that produced results, were on rodents and even then, only after very high doses, was their any impact. At this point all concerns regarding human exposure have been theoretical and unproven. The combination of Pthalates used in PVC were thought to be carinogenic, at high levels, and in the end the research determined that this effect was found only in rats.
If you don't have children in the house. And arent licking the inside of your oven between pulls, and don't decide to go professional and use the oven every day. You will be just fine.
Cheers,
JM
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androidandy
Sr Member
The other danger of doing it in the oven is over heating and having it melt and possibly setting fire in the oven. You will get some really good fumes then
For small stuff I used to use a heat gun used in shrink wrapping. You can even heat the plastic while it is forming to the mold, but it doesn't work to evenly for larger stuff.
I once knew a guy who took apart a toaster to make a heater for this. I wouldn't suggest it though.
Andy
For small stuff I used to use a heat gun used in shrink wrapping. You can even heat the plastic while it is forming to the mold, but it doesn't work to evenly for larger stuff.
I once knew a guy who took apart a toaster to make a heater for this. I wouldn't suggest it though.
Andy
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