Thermogravimetric analyzers (TGAs) deliver valuable information about a material’s response to temperature. But while the information they deliver is critical, TGAs themselves tend to be bulky and difficult to use, and can cost tens of thousands of dollars. This paper explores how you can gather the same data as a TGA using an instrument which is considerably easier to use, more durable, and less expensive: the Computrac MAX 5000XL. The materials examined in this paper are certain flue gas desulfurization byproducts—gypsum, calcium sulfite hemihydrate, and calcium hydroxide—but the principles in question can apply to all manner of materials, from biofuels to pet food to landfill waste.