@cire
Just a leg pull. But I expect that simple kitchen popcorn maker was only a few dollars. I expect some ingenious work with a hot air paint stripper gun would do the job as well.
Thanks for the clarification @DuncB that your comment was done "tongue in cheek". Being ever conscious that nearly all my brewing techniques are adopted from others, I needed to verify that process was one I couldn't personally verify. Being an engineer by training, hobbies have always included a challenge to not buy what isn't necessary. I do have a hot air paint stripper, but have yet to conceive a method I'd be confident with, more especially of late to my chagrin, learning how little hot air is necessary to ruin plastic sheeting.
My first efforts were were with wheat in a domestic oven, but the product was mostly roasted. Barley in the same setup gave better results, but not what I was after. One try in a microwave and I was won over. It's time taking, but being a hobby became part of the fun. done half a kg (one pound) at a time it's done when I can have the kitchen to myself with a result of better beer for less cost, though more effort.
It has to be said that while I'm convinced of its virtues, I'm still looking forward for others to confirm my belief.