I have two topaz rocks that are a nice amber brown color. I think if I heat them up they will change to a different color, but I don't think sticking them in my oven would do the trick. Anyone got any ideas?

lol... blue topaz comes from nuclear reactors, good luck

pressure produces heat right. try standing on them.

they should change to a pinkish color with heat, but i have no idea how hot they have to get. Might try a blowtorch or one of the kilns in the ceramic engineering department.

I was kind of hoping for a pinkish color, not a blue one. Anyone know how to use a kiln or blowtorch?

try using that lightsaber in your avatar lol
*bada ching*

^I think that is the worst joke I have heard all day.

And blow torches are easy to use. Open the valve to let the gas out, light a match, and then point at what you want to heat up.

yeah sorry about that, i'm not quite in my right mind today, and yeah, blow torches are relatively easy to use.

There's always the oven over in the ME building, easy to use, just flip the breaker, turn the switch to desired temperature. I forget the maximum temperature, but we heat treat stuff in it all the time, its well over 2000 degrees F, it would be nice if you need to keep them at an elevated temperature for a period of time. If reaching a certain temp. is all thats required, go for the oxy-acet. torch.

Who would I speak to about using it? Sounds like what I'm looking for.

just email me, Ill take you over there to do it, since ive heat treated some things before, whenever, it doesnt really get all that much use except when FSAE or baja or whoever needs to heat treat something. It does take a while to heat up though, so we'll need to turn it on for like an hour beforehand. Ive got some mig-welding gloves should be able to use, as long as you are quick, you usually wont get burned. but there are some big tongs up there too.
First, find out exactly the temperatures we need and for how long, then let me knwo.

blfvd3@umr.edu

Thank you. I think I have a furnace already lined up, but if that doesn't work out, I'll be contacting you.