Scavenging MOT's for bench power supply use?

I was contemplating re-purposing some microwave oven transformers that I have on hand. They are beastly things, but in my research I have discovered that they can not be used for extensive time periods because they operate in saturation? Can someone explain this to me?

My intent is to rewind the secondary down to about 44VAC center tapped. This should give me enough room to be rectified and then fed through two linear v.regulator to give me two separate outputs. If the trafo operates in saturation for long, wouldn't it get too hot and eventually burn off the varnished windings?

Thanks as always

 

I would try that Colin, but since the output is high voltage, kv in this case, I don't think it would be safe and I do not have any insulating tapes that go over 600v. I agree that this would be the simplest approach, but I was hoping someone with theoretical knowledge would be able to comment on whether this is true or not.

 

LOL, that is inventive Colin!