Rant hot hob + plastic toaster = bad idea

Right, again I come to the forum of Bit-Tech seeking help. But this time I come on behalf of another.

My girlfriend's flat mate has managed to melt a plastic toaster into a electric hob (I have no idea what type of plastic or what type of hob). But she has asked if there is any way of getting the melted plastic off (they are in rented accomidation and are desparate to keep their damage deposit)

Aparently they picked off as much as possible while it was still molten and apparently he is going to have another go at it later today. But I was wandering if there was a foolproof way (or preferably moron proof way in his case) off getting it all of without leaving a trace?

Thanks, and I will pay generously with Theoretical Dollars if you provide the winning method.

Edit: Cheap, I'm hoping that you have some wisdom on this subject

 

If scraping while molten was working for them, try a hot air gun (paint stripper) to gently warm the plastic again and get the rest.

 

My method would involve turning the hob on to re-melt the plastic, then blasting it off with a pressure washer.

I'm almost certain it would leave the hob sparkling clean, but there is a strong likelihood of collateral damage as a result.

 

Unlikely - I've got this type of hob and anything you melt onto it isn't coming off - your most powerful oven cleaner won't touch the stuff on my hobs.

 

Ok. I should point out that I have neither paint stripper or pressure hose

but there is an HSS tool rental place near-ish, so I think I can get almost anything that I woud need (except a new hob)

 

It sounds mad, but what kind of hob is it? If they're really bothered and it's a total write-off a new hob wouldn't be that expensive. Electric ones are cheap as chips anyway.

 

I'm selling an electric hob having just switched to gas, you could buy it

 

Turn the hob on full tilt in a well ventilated kitchen. Leave the plastic to carbonise. It all burns off in the end.

Obviously you do NOT use a pressure washer on an ELECTRIC hob (smc8788 is hereby nomiated for the Darwin awards). Even if you turn off all the electricity, the rapid cooling of the element is likely to cause irreparable structural damage. Else the resulting blast of steam may redecorate your skin.

 

As kind (and not at all selfish) as your offer is, I think that the landlord would object if they bought the cooker without his say-so.

TBH, I think that Nexxo's suggestion is the best. But as I won't be visiting her till Thursday, feel free to keep them coming

I would also like to say thanks for everyones help so far

 

Nexxo's suggestion is best, but if all else fails just replace it - in my experience landlord's don't give a toss about what cooker's there as long as it works and isn't knackered.

 

I think the bigger concern here is getting your girlfriend's flatmate fixed before s/he reproduces. There's already a surplus of stupid, we don't need more.

 

You're right. Let him clean the electric hob with the pressure washer.

 

A hairdryer may make it mailable enough to peal off?

 

how the hell do you melt a plastic toaster into a hob?

 

Or sand it off. If the landlord complains, tell them you lapped their cooker for better thermal conductivity.

 

What the heck is a hob?

 

1: Chemicals: Acetone could work here. It depends a bit on what kind of plastic it is.

2: Burn it! Turn the hop on full effect. Maybe help it with a gas burner to ignite it. This smells BAD and give off some toxic fumes. If you have a ventilator over the hob you should turn this on on full effect, disable any fire alarm (Remember to enable afterwards!) and be 100% sure that there isn't lots of fat in the ventilator that can ignite. It it is, put some aluminum foil over the flame.

3: Mechanical: If it's one of those old fashion steel ones, you could take a knife and just start scraping it off. Cooling down the hob could help here, as it will make the plastic more brittle (Cooling spray works well, but is pretty expensive). A wire brush bit on a Dremel will also do the job, but you should do the entire top to keep it looking good.

If the hob is a ceramic glass- thing you could get a razor and scrape it off. (The same kind they use to scrape paint of windows. They also make similar ones for scraping hobs. It's basically the same tool)

If it's a gas hob you are screwed...

Cooking top/plate. The hot circular thingys you put frying pans on to heat it.

 

Something n00bs use to heat food.

Real hard-core geeks just wire their sausages and pickles up to the mains with two forks.

 

This.

Then garnish your food with AS5.

Oh.. No, wait..

 

*resists "overCOOKing" pun*