A plastic shredder for cheap

How to modify a used wood shredder for shredding plastic and an impression of how it works. Clearly not as good as a custom built plastic shredder but much cheaper. If you have blisters too from cutting your HDPE by hand, this is the tool for you.

[@exitparadise2244]

I like this. Simple. No expensive equipment. Could be put in everyone’s homes. Biggest problem is dirty plastics. But if we get ppl to see the value of just merely placing their plastic trash in a separate bin at their homes, we could make 3D printing much more plausible in the next decade. Thanks for the vid.

[@emgiwoodworks]

You're welcome!

[@michschep7601]

Rather hear machine noise than blaring music in all these videos....😉

[@emgiwoodworks]

The music is gone now. Please watch again in silence.😉

[@daveartandmusic]

Brilliant video. I shred a lot of hdpe plastic and I have been trying for ages to find an easier way of cutting up the plastic without destroying my fingers by using scissors. After watching this vid I bought a wood shredder and it cuts up the plastic perfectly. I can also use it to shred up paper and cardboard to turn into fire logs.Thanks!

[@emgiwoodworks]

Nice to hear that it works well for you! In my shredder, the knives not always grab the plastic and you have to use a pushrod. But it is still quicker than a pair of scissors and cheaper than the purpose-built shredders out there.

[@bhopper6065]

daveartandmusic I make my own firelogs too.i hadn't thought of using a wood chipper for this.thanks for the idea!!!

[@Viracocha711]

@@bhopper6065 hey can you point me to a good video or website teaching best method for making fire logs?? I would like to know, thanks!!!

[@norman7179]

Skip to 3:50 if you want to pass the boring cut out of the opening. Mute the audio if you want to preserve your sanity.

[@vigilante004]

NO Shit!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Worse video (duh Movie) I've ever seen! This dude is a potential serial killer in his fucking eurovillage.

[@emgiwoodworks]

Bet you voted for Trump. 😁

[@danjones9999]

Turn that bloody racket off! Nice shredder!

[@emgiwoodworks]

Done!

[@thlynnnydb3279]

I had seen these light wood chippers at Harbor freight and had thought about them for this thanks for taking the dought out of it for me I will be buying one ASAP

[@emgiwoodworks]

Happy to know that people find this helpful. I really need to get at it again and make some improvements. The low-end shredders like mine are largely made from plastic themselves and hence you cannot weld a plate like you suggested. It needs to be custom made and mounted with screws. That could cause issues with the overall strength. What I have also been thinking of is to modify the gearing. A lower rpm will give even more torque and reduce the amount of material flying out of the intake. As it is I'm just using it every two months or so when the pile of unshredded plastic starts getting in my way. Shredding plastic is a great way to reduce its volume! Thnx for watching! /Leo

[@preciousplasticph]

did it work?

[@robertcloosterman9336]

I had worked in the plastics industry for many many years and often wondered how to make a cheap shredder. Friends asked if I could make one for their 3D printer filament extrusions. Mmmmm, Granules not small enough yet. . . but still early days. Like your line of thinking. . . Rob

[@emgiwoodworks]

Nope, this one won't do for making filament. Although the biggest issue for that is to get an extruder that can produce the required diameter with a very small tolerance. I don't think that's feasible in a non-industrial setting.

[@robertcloosterman9336]

@@emgiwoodworks Hi Leo. I have a friend who recycles pieces that did not work. Chops up finely by hand and made his own extruder. Too complicated for me. But it works for him. Biggest hassle is to get the granules small enough. ABS, PETG, and others easily available but even the commercial industry granulators don't get it fine enough. HDPE great for other purposes but not 3D printing. Love your work. Gives me ideas. 👍👍👍

[@AmateurRedneckWorkshop]

Looks like a success to me. I think lots of people can do without music in videos. I assume you are going to melt it next. Keep on keeping on.

[@emgiwoodworks]

Hi Harold, Now that I have this thing operational I guess I want to make some room in my shed first by shredding the plastic I have saved up. An HDPE pushrod would really be a good thing to have for that. Especially the milkjugs need some convincing to go and meet the knives. The next video will either be about melting HDPE to make a pushrod or about shredding (5)PP. Thnx4W8ching

[@ccgabe82]

I absolutely agree! That kind of music is terrible!

[@stevebforbes2653]

who makes the machine send info to [e-mail] THANKS

[@thlynnnydb3279]

you mentioned making a hdpe push rod to help keep the milk kuhs in top. might I suggest a weighted flat plate that can go just as far as just above the blades that is thick to protect you from getting down into the blades as well as hold the light weight milk jugs peaces from popping back out of the hopper. a stick will be more app to get chewed up but if sized right the plate can last quite a while.

[@emgiwoodworks]

Good idea!

[@scottlund4562]

My 2$ food processor did not work and then I had wondered if this would....now I know thank you!

[@emgiwoodworks]

You're welcome!

[@paulchamberlaine6757]

Noise is still there from 0:33 to 01:19 but even the blessed silence after that is very welcome and makes it a much better video. Thank you very much.

[@emgiwoodworks]

You're welcome!

[@MrJuiceboxLion]

Haha everyone is hating on the music but it's the only reason I watched the whole video.... Great job

[@emgiwoodworks]

Thank you.Meanwhile I could really use a positive comment regarding the music. On the other hand, with over 50k views one could say there are actually very few complaints, but still thnx anyway!

[@edgeeffect]

@@emgiwoodworks Hey... I like Throbbing Gristle (which is a far worse awful noise than the music on this video) but if I put out a technical video with TG playing in the background at full volume instead of my voice explaining what is going on and was then surprised when all the comments just said "TURN DOWN THE AWFUL MUSIC"... then, I'd be a bit daft wouldn't I?

[@bobferranti5222]

Great idea, I would put a cover over the intake and the exit and rerun the plastic a second time to get a better grind for easier melting.

[@emgiwoodworks]

You could do that.

[@bossdog1480]

I had this same idea. Makes good sense. 😁😁

[@emgiwoodworks]

Don't use it anymore though. No viable ideas for a production line.

[@thlynnnydb3279]

a idea to help with the plastic flying away could be to tape a trash bag over the end of the out shoot it would catch all the bits and peaces.

[@emgiwoodworks]

Good idea!

[@danimalmaxasis2762]

I wish all of you creators on KZbin would realize we're not speed readers give us a few seconds to read your texts please otherwise great job! Oh and by the way where is the list of materials and where to get?

[@emgiwoodworks]

Any garden shredder will do. You can buy them new or second-hand. As a start I'd recommend Craig's list or your lcal gardening center. Goodluck!

[@reebertJunkman]

I guess if your making the video you pick the music, but a little adjestment of the volume (turning it off...) the video increased in its usefulness.....

[@emgiwoodworks]

Right! We all learn along the way. I wouldn't do it like this again.

[@jamesmarno]

Good tune.

[@emgiwoodworks]

Sure! Too bad I had to delete it because of monetization issues.

[@rodney84075]

Is the shredder still working well? I'm wondering how much you use it and how long you expect it to last.

[@emgiwoodworks]

Yes it is. Not getting much use lately but it still works.

[@johncuthbertson2565]

Could you change the gearing to slow it down and increase the torque?

[@emgiwoodworks]

Not easily.

[@johncuthbertson2565]

@@emgiwoodworks that's a pity 😔

[@stormypast1984]

if its a wood chipper can you use a wooden spoon for a push rod

[@emgiwoodworks]

Absolutely!

[@josephlegere5290]

I'm wondering if dumping the results back through the shredder would get good results.

[@emgiwoodworks]

It gives even finer particles, depends on your application I guess.

[@josephlegere5290]

@@emgiwoodworks , I tried a blender 😔. I had large chunks with frayed edges, and a lot of powder. 😏. From the video it looks like you had some large chunks as well. Have you tried thicker material since you made this video? Have you refined the process? Do you have more recent videos on the subject? Sorry for all the Q’s, I probably have a dozen more, and they are percolating through my brain as I’m typing.

[@emgiwoodworks]

@@josephlegere5290 To be frank, I have all but given up on it. Shredding plastic is fine but if you want to melt it into something else than flat sheets, you have chronic problems with air bubbles. I don't have the space nor the $$ to install the required equipment.

[@keaco73]

@@emgiwoodworks why not build a press with clamps?

[@emgiwoodworks]

@@keaco73 And how would that help preventing air bubbles?

[@markanthony4655]

Hi Leo. A quick question. I know you can shred plastics and plastic milk cartons are the bane of my life as they take up so much space in my recycling bin. I gather, it could also do cardboard yet another pain as it fills up my recycling bin so easily. But my question is, as I see in your video, would it also shred Aluminium soda/drinks cans as you have some in a bucket (I presume for recycling) ? I am making a small smelter to make Aluminium ingots for re-use and shredding the cans would save me so much space as I have a small space at the side of my shed for large plastic storage boxes for shredded Aluminium. Thanks Mark.

[@emgiwoodworks]

Hi Mark, thnx for watching! Regarding aluminium cans, I've never given it a thought actually. When I melt them, they go in whole. I don't even flatten them because they melt faster that way. The shredder I use has plenty of power to rip the cans apart, the only question is where the pieces will go. I can imagine them sticking in every nook and cranny of the machhine and also wrapping around the knives. Anyway, I'm melting less cans than before because I found better sources in the form of cast aluminium from engine parts and such. Less dross and better quality alu. But feel free free give it a try & make a nice video out of it!

[@markanthony4655]

Thanks for the quick reply Leo, much appreciated.

[@jdovak1589]

Mark Anthony ... pick up a trash compactor...stack upright single layer....or do what i do...smash em flat with half a landscape timber held vertical ..👍👍👍😃

[@bostonmarketfeministbookclub]

I like the way you think

[@fintimwhimbim]

Tried that myself, it kept clogging up. You need something with teeth, google “David Haakkens” (think I spelled that right) he’s designed a machine and offers the plans free......it doesn’t play high volume prog rock tho! 😂😂😂

[@emgiwoodworks]

The plans are free allright but go out and get one made. Then we'll talk again.

[@billjackson6501]

Could a selection of gearbox parts ,the gears,be used to make a plastic shredder?

[@emgiwoodworks]

I doubt it. There's no cutting edge.

[@NoIntroTutorials]

Great... Plastic shredders are so expensive. Will be looking into buying a wood chipper instead

[@emgiwoodworks]

A purpose-built shredder beats this one for sure. But as you say they are just too expensive.

[@zodd0001]

What the machine was sold for ?

[@emgiwoodworks]

I paid 35 euro's for it.

[@zodd0001]

​@@emgiwoodworks Ok but which was the purpose the machine was sold for ?

[@emgiwoodworks]

@@zodd0001 It was a shredder and I modified it.

[@zodd0001]

@@emgiwoodworks again. But shredder for what ? What it was made for? To shred what ?

[@emgiwoodworks]

@@zodd0001 Wood.

[@Liberatus]

Can't seem to find the mark 2 version with the improvements you've made

[@emgiwoodworks]

Not gonna happen.

[@ewanjones8277]

Thanks for sharing. How big was the largest piece that got through the shredder?

[@emgiwoodworks]

With milk jugs, the pieces that come out whole can be quite big. However, these are easy to sort out and give them a second pass.

[@lukeprince7690]

I've got gas power shredder do you think I'd have to make any modifications to it

[@emgiwoodworks]

Just give it a try.

[@sxsfluzr8879]

I like the idea, but exactly what was it that you used to make it? A food processor presumably? What are the other pieces, where did you get them. It's cool, but honestly not very useful for lack of information on how others can make the same, please give us WAY MORE information.

[@emgiwoodworks]

Hi, this was previously a garden shredder for leaf & small branches. Pretty much the only thing I did to it was opening the top so that I could put in larger pieces. These things come in many sizes, so a universal instructable would be hard to compile. As long as you get the idea, you can make your own variation. Good luck!

[@sxsfluzr8879]

Thanks Very Much Leo, That was the critical info I needed. I'm in the initial stages of designing one that would use a rotary wood rasp. It would be biting off much smaller pieces, so it should require a less powerful motor. It's more like an angle grinder or belt sander. When I actually build it I'll post any usable results. Tim B. Green

[@a.a.b.u.n]

+! Продолжение будет?

[@emgiwoodworks]

No, I've given up on that. It is not really possible to recycle plastic in a home environment, at least not in a quality that matches my expectations. And welcome back! 😎

[@manuelstupu4295]

This muzic....if you know a little english is good . Don t be affraid to talk to people it s a a LOT BETTER than this shitty muzic. Tnx a lot for video.

[@emgiwoodworks]

will do!

[@TheOverlandingBirdies]

Do the same thing with mine!

[@emgiwoodworks]

Sure!

[@dhedarkhcustard]

That would be LOUD

[@emgiwoodworks]

Not really.

[@ThundermanDeadEndScribes]

Where did you buy one of these?

[@Viracocha711]

Home Depot has them for $125-$160 in the USA

[@emgiwoodworks]

Craig's list. (used)

[@moefritz6225]

why do you shred plastic?

[@emgiwoodworks]

To make stuff. Feel free to watch my video's on making a filament holder: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hKbCf2uFiNSVgLs

[@Trikkie87]

mmm making a plastic shredder 900 dollars, buying a second hand wood shredder and modding it 25 euros + driving costs. Mmm... ill take it. Btw if you want to snip it more, just use an old kitchen machine for fine tuning.

[@emgiwoodworks]

Good idea!

[@alphakennyone3119]

What you think I have unlimited data? You just shredded my prepaid internet

[@emgiwoodworks]

Its my pleasure! 😜

[@garoglen]

I guess you must like that music .

[@jdovak1589]

gary nicholson ....anoying music sucks the life out of this video😒

[@edgeeffect]

I suppose somebody has to.

[@emgiwoodworks]

Absolutely!

[@roniwoo]

where did you get the 1800 watt chipper?

[@emgiwoodworks]

Oh, it was just a used one via local ads. The first one that seemed more or less suitable. There's nothing critical about the 1800 Watt, a 1000Watt motor would also suffice. /Leo

[@stevebforbes2653]

DID YOU GET AN ANSWER... send me info [e-mail] THANKS

[@lilliambaezmakeup]

Omg the music 😶😶🥴🥴😵

[@emgiwoodworks]

I knew you would like it!

[@seeingdragons4319]

Terrible music

[@emgiwoodworks]

Matter of taste.

[@PavelK77]

Бред какой-то!(((

[@emgiwoodworks]

Thnx!

[@mrechelon7051]

Man. The music is ridiculous! Yoh are turning people away

[@emgiwoodworks]

You are right! Personally I like it but many people seem to disagree. Since this is by far my most popular video I have finally decided to get rid of the music. If not for any other reason than to be rid of the comments! I hope this means the original audio track is restored but I'm not sure. Lets just wait & see! Thnx for watching.

[@Doyle18able]

Openn your mouth and explain whatis going on and I will watch your video.

[@emgiwoodworks]

Too bad, I lost the original recordings.

[@paulchamberlaine6757]

Good video. Shame about the moron noise.

[@emgiwoodworks]

I just went ahead and removed the music. Are you now complaining about the silence? 😂

[@3zlatnalava]

what is with music? you need extra atention in life?

[@emgiwoodworks]

Music is gone now. Feel free to watch again.😁

[@domciancibelli]

Experiment on your own time. You just wasted mine.

[@emgiwoodworks]

Watching is not mandatory. Feel free to do so at your own expense.😉