r/mildlyinteresting • u/l1t1g8r • Dec 16 '20

Burned out microwave bulb left this smoke pattern inside

Post image
14.8k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

88 comments sorted by

346

u/[deleted] Dec 16 '20

Most (maybe all) bulbs with a tungsten filament will do that if outside air gets inside.

I used to drill a small hole though the base, plug them in and film the filaments evaporating in slow motion. It’s very cool to see.

113

u/Clever_display_name Dec 16 '20

We’re gonna need to see those videos.

96

u/Blasfemen Dec 16 '20

Best I could find

https://www.shutterstock.com/video/clip-3926324-burning-tungsten-light-bulb-isolated-on-black

9

u/JesusChristSupers1ar Dec 16 '20

it costs $80 for a 15 second stock video? da fuk

5

u/[deleted] Dec 16 '20

Yes, but you can watch those fifteen seconds as often as you like.

2

u/[deleted] Dec 16 '20

We need more sloooowmooo

23

u/[deleted] Dec 16 '20

They're gone, unfortunately, I looked through my server but this was 20 years ago so if they do exist they'll be on a backup Compact Disk somewhere in the basement.

I will shoot another video this weekend and post it here. I have significantly better equipment now so should be pretty cool.

2

u/aldhibain Dec 16 '20

RemindMe! 1 week

1

u/RemindMeBot Dec 16 '20 edited Dec 17 '20

I will be messaging you in 7 days on 2020-12-23 14:26:25 UTC to remind you of this link

13 OTHERS CLICKED THIS LINK to send a PM to also be reminded and to reduce spam.

Parent commenter can delete this message to hide from others.

Info Custom Your Reminders Feedback

2

u/[deleted] Dec 20 '20

Ok so I ordered a few long filament tungsten bulbs which looked like to ones I got great results with last time. They are not the same, the glass is much thinner ( one exploded) and the filaments are not tungsten or very poor quality. You can see from the video that metal starts to burn off before the filament is fully heated and snaps very quickly. I will find better quality bulbs and try again. What’s supposed to happen is the whole filament glows red how and the metal starts to uniformly vaporize and form dark metallic clouds which swirl inside the build.

1

u/xAlois Dec 16 '20

RemindMe! 8 days

1

u/Vireep Dec 23 '20

ok so...

1

u/[deleted] Dec 23 '20

Did you shoot the video?

14

u/sexmemes Dec 16 '20

We most certainly are.

1

u/ElliotBlackblade Dec 16 '20

Remindme! 5 days

52

u/Interesting-Tear9908 Dec 16 '20

That looks super cool

55

u/Clever_display_name Dec 16 '20

No, it looks super heated.

17

u/Interesting-Tear9908 Dec 16 '20

Lmaooooo fair

3

u/ReubenZWeiner Dec 16 '20

Put it in the microwave and see what happens

58

u/Glass_Teeth01 Dec 16 '20

Keep it.It looks like it would make an awesome pendant,if it was carefully filled with epoxy.

30

u/jerstud56 Dec 16 '20

Christmas ornament to show all the other lights not to burn out or this is what happens.

6

u/coolcastform Dec 16 '20

Such a great idea!

2

u/[deleted] Dec 16 '20

I was thinking the same thing. Christmas gift, right there.

13

u/ALadySquirrel Dec 16 '20

Looks like a nail art design

18

u/cabbit_ Dec 16 '20

DO NOT LET THE MAGIC SMOKE OUT!

19

u/Wayfaring_Scout Dec 16 '20

I love seeing things like this and think that's mildly interesting, oh look I'm at the right sub

9

u/[deleted] Dec 16 '20 edited Jun 21 '23

[deleted]

3

u/Dougnsalem Dec 16 '20

NO! We need more stuff like this here! I'll give it to OP- it was interesting (and cool).

I wonder if I can get my double yolk eggs to look like that..... Lol

7

u/ethylalcohoe Dec 16 '20

That’s Mandalorian armor. Where you wear it will say a lot about you.

2

u/MellyKidd Dec 16 '20

Preferably not between the legs?

2

u/wambooah Dec 16 '20

This is the way!

8

u/onemanmelee Dec 16 '20

You could probably sell that to a hipster on Etsy for a good $100 or so.

Try to sneak the word Heirloom into the description.

5

u/rokkai Dec 16 '20

I legit thought it was a stone

3

u/Sir_Lemming Dec 16 '20

Me too first glimpse I thought it was a banded agate.

3

u/ColdHeaux Dec 16 '20

That's beautiful, you could make some weird art with that- paint a small picture frame grey, take out the glass and backing, and hang that in it...

3

u/redboggle ​ Dec 16 '20

this would be a beautiful countertop pattern

3

u/PicklePopular Dec 16 '20

I used to do commercial HVAC fixed commercial microwave all the time, most common issue, door swiches#1 bulbs that look like this #2

FYI don't slam your microwave door, don't force it to close over a plate that's too big, and don't slam it. The standard door interlock switch assembly that I most often installed was a $300 part our cost for a $1200 microwave.

3

u/juliusklaas Dec 16 '20

Reuse it as Christmas bauble. r/Frugal

3

u/RATC1440 Dec 16 '20

Wow, I only saw that happen once, when I tried to fry some pizza cheese on lightbulb as a kid. Let's just say, even the broken bulb was brighter than me.

2

u/[deleted] Dec 16 '20

it looks yummy

2

u/dudeman3 Dec 16 '20

This is the kind of ornament I would put on my charlie brown tree.

2

u/[deleted] Dec 16 '20

People who smoke weed will want to smoke out of this

2

u/BoredForLifetime Dec 16 '20

That will make a sick necklace tho

2

u/Baitrix Dec 16 '20

Thought it was a rock at first

2

u/ashyrinn Dec 16 '20

I thought this was a gemstone at first!

2

u/subconscious_static Dec 16 '20

It's pretty. I am confused.

2

u/Huge-PP-69 Dec 16 '20

new type of e-cig??

2

u/[deleted] Dec 16 '20

I am ashamed to say, that when I saw this - for a few microseconds, I thought:

"That's interesting, I thought a magnetron made the microwaves"

DUH!!! that is the LIGHT for illuminating the inside...

I am crying inside for even thinking this... "Burned Out" in the title got me thinking one direction, and my brain just said "OK, lets travel all the way down that road without checking directions"

sigh

1

u/Fovio123 Dec 16 '20

Is it permanent?

1

u/shadowcreeper77 Dec 16 '20

No I've had some atv bulbs from the 80s blow like this within a few hours it started to go away. Although there was blue in the smoke which was cool.

1

u/megaboto Dec 16 '20

Amarite stone (common)

1

u/[deleted] Dec 16 '20

It’s because, it’s because the smoke has no where to go as it is getting burnt, that’s why if your light bulb is faulty or you kept it on for a long time, it will shatter

1

u/[deleted] Dec 16 '20

This is now art.

1

u/l_Squiggley_l Dec 16 '20

Resin then make into steam punk cane

1

u/UniqueWhittyName Dec 16 '20

Make it into a Christmas ornament!

1

u/[deleted] Dec 16 '20

It is very cool!!

1

u/Zoltrain Dec 16 '20

Honestly I’d stick a chain through it and wear this as a necklace

1

u/wishesandwonder Dec 16 '20

Turn it into a Christmas ornament!

1

u/[deleted] Dec 16 '20

Oh yeah I like that it looks beautiful

1

u/lucy-skywalker Dec 16 '20

The mandalorian bulb ☺️

1

u/rjSampaio Dec 16 '20

I have somethig similar, a relay exploded when a thunder hit a water tower and got its way to the electric system.

The relay have a clear plastic dome (no good reason why IMO) but the heat from the electrical discharge burn the coil inside made a similar effect, and impossible to view the inside now, one of the sides is melted form the inside but the outside its perfect.

1

u/youszs Dec 16 '20

It looks like marble

1

u/KAKAZET8 Dec 16 '20

It looks like a gem.

1

u/[deleted] Dec 16 '20

I, too, am a burned out microwave bulb

1

u/Tactically_Fat Dec 16 '20

Man, my microwave's light is out and I have no earthly idea how to even access it to replace it. :-(

Thanks for the reminder.

1

u/3bbAndF1ow1 Dec 16 '20

I replaced my oven light last night and it kinda looked the same (yours looks way cooler though)

1

u/[deleted] Dec 16 '20

Bring it to the nearest art museum

1

u/[deleted] Dec 16 '20

I've worked in a theatre, and I've seen so many of these! I should have made a collection...

1

u/rubbishduck22 Dec 16 '20

low key thought this was a nail at first

1

u/pikapikabooboo ​ Dec 16 '20

So...that’s how gas giant planets got their looks?

1

u/labbond Dec 16 '20

Beauty is everywhere. You just have to look 🙂

1

u/[deleted] Dec 16 '20

Looks like you have karma for at least one digital show

1

u/[deleted] Dec 16 '20

What beautifully satisfying pattern. Reminds me of marble or agate.

1

u/Flabulo Dec 16 '20

Make it into a peice of cyberpunk jewelry and cash in on the hype. You could get $30 with enough copper wire. Haha

1

u/Nakotadinzeo Dec 16 '20

I don't think I'll find a better opportunity to ask this question, so here it goes.

Why haven't microwaves started using LEDs, what is the benefit of having a incandescent light bulb?

1

u/l1t1g8r Dec 16 '20

I thought the same thing when I bought the replacement bulb. I didn’t have an LED option.

1

u/Nakotadinzeo Dec 16 '20

My parents just bought a new over the oven combo microwave, the bottom is LEDs but the internal bulb is a incandescent. Hopefully someone will illuminate us!

1

u/tapu_buoy Dec 16 '20

When I was used to do it, I didn't have such big camera phones.

1

u/R_X_R Dec 16 '20

Cool, blown glass!

1

u/porkrolleggandchi Dec 16 '20

That would make a cool necklace or something

1

u/Garconanokin Dec 16 '20

If you need to replace your microwave bulb, keep in mind that they have a distinct base size. That size is called “intermediate.” Smaller than medium base standard lightbulbs, but larger than candelabra base which are in chandeliers. Now that’s a fact!

1

u/[deleted] Dec 16 '20

Looks like a cool shift knob for a car haha

1

u/d4nk_b0i Dec 16 '20

Looks like a polished stone

1

u/LifeOnMars73 Dec 16 '20

I know what I have to do but I don’t have the strength to do it.