I use my microwave. It's faster, safer and more energy efficient.
To cure plaster castings, 10 to 15 mins on high (I usually do a stack of casting at a time).
To dry and sterilize dirt, 20 minutes per quart of dirt.
Jay
C-415 Build: https://imageshack.com/a/tShC/1
Other builds: https://imageshack.com/my/albums
Switchman,
Thanks for both your posts. They are really funny and as the "World's Greatest Modler," I hope you post more adventures in model railroading. I can't wait to see what you come up with for electrical, painting, or carpentry techniques. And I think your wife has a long lost sister, I married her.
Tom
Pittsburgh, PA
All the tips on time and temperature are spot on! A longer incubation period with a lower temp will have the same effect.
Also, the garden top soil stuff that was used is full of mulch type material and that is most likely the stuff that smoked. Next time you might try using soil that has been matured in your yard or other surrounding areas before baking it, not as much mulch material to deal with. Of course the sifting would have filtered out much of the mulch type material too.
Ryan BoudreauxThe Piedmont Division Modeling The Southern Railway, Norfolk & Western & Norfolk Southern in HO during the merger eraCajun Chef Ryan
Here's a link to a post I left about how to bake dirt without inspiring the ire of the wife:
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/351221/ShowPost.aspx
Two points: First of all, bake longer at a lower temperature. Second, sift it first. Third, do it while the wife isn't home. I realize that is actually three points, but you don't tell the wife about the third point, so two. I use dirt from the actual location I'm modeling (which, fortunately, is only about two miles away) and I find that low-quality dirt (like that found on an industrial site or former railroad property) gives better results than something from the garden.
Im not sure that my oven even goes up to 500!! Funny story though, you learn as you go. I think 500 is crazy, and using real dirt hasn't really crossed my mind either. I hope it will work out for you, keep us posted.
*beegle55
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Thats one of the funniest stories I've ever read here. You also have a talent for writing.
rich
That is rather humorous, though I must say your dirt is certainly a lot different than what we have here in my part of the country. If I were to ever put some Arizona dirt in the oven I would probably wind up with an adobe brick.
I have used lots of dirt on my home layout and a club layout without bothering to do anything but sift out the larger pieces, and nothing has ever grown in it. The climate probably has a lot to do with it.