Melting Waste Plastic to Make a New Sign 🌎

With Earth Day coming up, we thought we'd share one of our more planet-related builds. We wanted to try our hand at signmaking, so we came up with the idea of a two-colour sign, where we would engrave into the first layer to reveal the second. Once we had our sheets fully melted and bonded together, we then used our Stepcraft D840 to CNC our planet earth sign design out.
What do you think of the finished product? Using recycled plastic for this works incredibly well, and it uses up a lot of waste material in one go. There’s definitely potential here for more projects using this same technique. If you have any ideas you’d like us to try, drop a suggestion below 🤙🏽
#earthday #recycledplasticwaste #signmaking #sustainablesolutions

[@MermaidMakes]

Next use the microplastic in my blood to create a miniature version of myself.

[@allignorance4004]

Lmao😂

[@ascendingdeity]

LOL 😆 this comment hurts my DNA

[@MermaidMakes]

@@ascendingdeity no, my friend. That’s just the microplastic scraping against your mitochondria.

[@ascendingdeity]

@@MermaidMakes ✅

[@Brandon-1996]

Phytoestrogens.

[@crnkmnky]

🌍 *Keep the Earth Clean, It's Not Uranus!* 😎

[@Crits-Crafts]

That had me creased

[@redevic5292]

I wish I could visit Uranus. It's so beautiful.

[@brainwithani5693]

Noooo😂

[@amirsham3775]

Bruh

[@celestialhumanoid]

😨Keep uranus cleen too...

[@commododragon9959]

Uranus is the butt of all jokes. Let’s keep it clean, too!

[@ZekeTheFur]

HAH I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE!

[@calumcookson740]

You're just full of gas

[@caseyboone7018]

why you always so cold to me baby?

[@emmsabbidge2612]

Idk, Uranus seems like kind of an asshole.

[@purplepedantry]

He tried to break up a loving relationship! Don't support him!

[@maximumbees]

forbidden fruit rollup...

[@aatired7307]

Made with real %100 micro plastics

[@thelonelywhale219]

Forbidden? Hey I won't stop you

[@hihellowelcome116]

NOT FORBIDDEN FOR ME

[@whatisnot1926]

That has to smell bad though

[@ExpandDong420]

Forbidden taffy

[@greensheen8759]

It's like forbidden candymaking

[@DarkPanda558]

It’s like forbidden candymaking

[@KUROMIIIIIIIIIIIIII]

​@@DarkPanda558It's like forbidden candymaking

[@CelestialTacoDrawz]

It's like forbidden candymaking

[@vlnxd]

It's like forbidden candymaking

[@makeachaininthecommentsect7953]

It's like forbidden candymaking

[@andrebartels1690]

The colour scheme totally fits the sign. Perfect 👌

[@uncertaintytoworldpeace3650]

I disagree

[@aidyhd69]

​@@uncertaintytoworldpeace3650My guy it's literally the Earth. Are you blind?

[@awdeveau]

​@@aidyhd69Uranus would have worked also.

[@slugman0510]

I think that's the joke.. ​@@aidyhd69

[@zonaloca]

I know, right? It's just like they picked the colors or something.

[@ASKWildeHilde]

Anyone else see that block as floor tiles ?

[@echognomecal6742]

School cafeteria's for me.

[@portobeIIa]

A lady in quenia proposed that! Sadly the release of microplastics would be tremendous, specially in high traffic areas.

[@alexanderthegreatzabaras7492]

@@portobeIIaya, it would release even more microplastics in the environment, one reason we haven’t copied some countries in Africa doing that ,tiles/road bricks/blocks to pave walkways/roads, the rubber on plastic constantly over time wears it away and boom microplastics.

[@TheEmeraldMenOfficial]

@@alexanderthegreatzabaras7492What if we put a resin coat over top of it?

[@EikottXD]

​@@alexanderthegreatzabaras7492tires already release microplastics anyways. Asphalt has plastic in it too.

[@juliabouzan1739]

Ive made some plastic blocks in a similar way, what i learned is its a lot of work to recycle plastic and you cant avoid making mocroplastics. We really need to reduce our use of plastic. Its still great people are working on making recycling more efficient though. 😊

[@xaviercruz4763]

Why is micro plastic. Made from this?

[@luviana_]

​@@xaviercruz4763Don't you see the tiny pieces lost in the process of sanding and engraving? Just watch it over again. Tons of little bits will be lost in those processes, no matter how efficient you make them.

[@happypridebroskie]

@@xaviercruz4763 It's a bit sad but basically when carving plastic little bits of it always skid of from the blade and create smaller pieces and also when melting it down the fumes aren't good. It's probably better than it being in the ocean but still, I hope people find a way of doing it without all those particles

[@jadecoolness101]

Yeah. This is in no way "eco friendly"

[@SDAL_YT]

​@@luviana_but in the end it's still only a fraction of the plastic that got wasted compared to if you only threw it into a landfill or burnt it

[@rodmorgan7041]

At first I was thinking wow, this is a lot of work for a sign. But in the end I could see why all that work was done. Great job

[@user-gn9kk5en9w]

🌍

[@stellviahohenheim]

which only proves how recycling is a scam

[@olgar.6604]

Why wouldn't we put a lot of work into things that we get to look at every day?

[@katybug6572]

@@stellviahohenheim what? They literally recycled all those plastic bottles into a piece of art.. you SHOULD recycle. ♻️

[@daktotathecolossus7404]

I mean the creation of the normal sign is practically the same if using existing materials, its just the little bit at the start which is the recycling itself

[@jeanladoire4141]

Here's a way of recycling any plastic very efficiently : you use it as fuel with a high input of air. With enough oxygen, it doesn't smoke and combusts cleanly. So many things can be powered by scrap plastic, and it's much faster and efficient than re-processing them for hours to make very small items.

[@chrisking7603]

Downcycling vs upcyling

[@jeanladoire4141]

@@chrisking7603 i dont think making little decorations is upcycling, they are only using the best and cleanest plastics, selectioned in tiny quantity, it feels extremely restrictive and doesn't fit the needs of recycling. Burning plastic for energy is actually a decent solution, forges in the 60s in the western world and nowadays in the third world burn waste oil from cars. It makes these waste products disappear while providing energy for an industry that doesn't need to get more fuel or coal anymore.

[@chrisking7603]

@@jeanladoire4141 Single proof of concept doesn't imply gamut of possibilities. Circular use of resources reduces pressure on limited raw materials, and ultimate wastage into pollutants.

[@nerfherder4284]

While micro plastics are a real problem to consider, in general, burning stuff isn't a long term solution, no matter how clean you think you can do it.

[@johnthompson9625]

​@nerfherder4284 cleaner than the amount of fuel it took to produce the electricity to run the smelter, computer and router. Not to mention all the mining of metals to manufacturer all the equipment. Just because they are taking some plastic out of the environment, doesn't mean there isn't an environmental impact.

[@suburno2689]

You guys should invest in commercial quesadilla presses! The ones at my work are about 3-4 times bigger than the standard home hot presses and usually come with a heat control dial and damn those things get hot!

[@davemccage7918]

That place must smell fantastic with all that melting plastic. (Rhyme not intended)

[@sussybaka119]

I think waste plastic is more important than your quesadillas

[@Typical.Anomaly]

@@sussybaka119 Who hurt you? Snarky comment + upvoting yourself = serious issues.

[@Josef_R]

@@sussybaka119 Quesadillas are way more important, we'll always have waste plastic.

[@SigynRegn]

​@@sussybaka119wow, what an edgy response.

[@StephanieHodgetts-kv8tx]

That would make a great clock face

[@jenievans8531]

That's a great sign!!

[@PJSproductions97]

Part of reducing waste is reducing wasted time, and I feel like there's almost certainly a much more efficient method to remelt plastic and form it into boards, even at this scale.

[@EssieSpring]

Some people like to work slower and with their hands. Yes there are faster ways to make a sign, but maybe this creator sees themself as an artist not an efficiency-maxxxing bot.

[@GeneJordan]

Consider it a proof of concept.

[@mountainmanxyz]

I don't think you have the slightest idea what "creative process" means, let alone how to value what people create. If you value mass produced junk more than handcrafted goods, then keep imagining you have solutions to the world's problems. Mass production got us in a cycle of producing junk with unprecedented waste, and it isn't going to get us out of that cycle. People need to embrace being producers rather than consumers, and being resourceful comes with the territory.

[@joshuahauenstein1614]

That's an awesome transformation I didn't expect

[@lrdhawkwind]

I love the fact that you show that you actually do you recycle the waste plastic that you make from making these things

[@paddyoak1]

Waste. Not waist

[@simbiontedelaluz]

It is good to see he uses actually uses all the waist!

[@matthewhawkins6003]

Aren’t you just turning one large chunk of plastic into a million different micro plastics? I feel like this could be worse for the environment. Idk

[@paddyoak1]

@@matthewhawkins6003 Nah; it don’t matter.

[@simbiontedelaluz]

@@matthewhawkins6003 dude, he's located in Montana. He isn't next to the foocking sea, not even by a little.

[@ihaveseensuchthings]

The Gumby voice as the green was being stretched-unexpected throwback! Love this. 🌎

[@brit6979]

What is it saying? I keep listening and can’t figure it out

[@ihaveseensuchthings]

@@brit6979 I think it’s meant to be indecipherable because he’s “melting.” 😉

[@adamcrary1602]

sounds like “ Mama Zwreepull” to me. if that helps🤷🏻

[@andreawoods]

Didn't even notice had to rewatch after reading your comment! Love it

[@GeneJordan]

"I was wrinkled" ​@@brit6979

[@hunterdillon4414]

All I see is the production of more micro plastics during that engraving process. Is there a vacuum or suction nearby to collect the waste, or maybe it's in an enclosed area? I mean, we're all doomed to the plastic Apocalypse, but I was curious either way.

[@BrothersMake]

It’s fully enclosed and collected

[@DeviemTwen]

“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” can be applied here.

[@isilwen55]

Nicely done! I would love to have one of these signs!

[@rebeccaredletter]

Beautiful!❤️🤗 I hope you protect yourselves from the fumes of heated plastic and the airborne particles of cut/shaved/sanded plastic. 🙏🏻

[@medicbabe2ID]

I'm certain they're aware

[@terricox3559]

I'm sure they thought to look this up before investing in the tools 😂

[@kumardigvijaymishra5945]

They may have taken some liberty while filming CNC graving.

[@Dong_Harvey]

I came here for this

[@user-wx4xw7zs7o]

Me too

[@bigandy1982]

Eco-friendly signage that took about 15Kw each to make.

[@BrothersMake]

Chill, it’s all renewable

[@Wy_WyTheWizard]

Electricity is renewable, plastic is not.

[@user-nw4jh6yc2x]

​@@BrothersMakeПридумайте куда перерабатывать лопасти от ветрогенераторов!

[@albinogonzo3405]

A video guide to do similar recycling projects would be greatly appreciated

[@SpyridonVossos]

You are really amazing! Keep our earth as clean as possible!

[@queserasera7395]

I would sure love for you to make an all one piece kitchen sink / countertop, I'd buy one!

[@Wyrmwood66]

I would like to have just a square or rectangle for a table top. Not a huge top just about 15x15 maybe for this table that sits beside my chair

[@queserasera7395]

@@Wyrmwood66 these guys need to accept orders!

[@Wyrmwood66]

and just think if it ever got damaged you could turn it back in for credit toward a new one

[@LoudSunshine]

Forbidden melted cheese

[@user-vp6gm3fm9e]

Now we need to start this up all over the world! The possibilities are endless!! Genius! Ty!

[@beckinfidelis3916]

Wow! That could actually be a nice little countertop or tabletop too! 👍🏼👍🏼

[@broatehra6552]

Gorgeous, well done! ❤❤❤

[@AkshaySinghJamwal]

I’m honestly curious about the amount of nanoplastics you’re inhaling. Even with protection, you’re bound to be breathing in some of those really fine particles.

[@medicbabe2ID]

Please stop talking

[@AkshaySinghJamwal]

​@@medicbabe2ID Or here's an idea: you could stop reading and responding.

[@Wy_WyTheWizard]

@@medicbabe2IDor just don't read it?

[@EpicBunty]

Whatever it would be it would not kill him.

[@EpicBunty]

There are all types of micro particles everywhere all the time.

[@jimmyneutron8702]

WE BREATHING IN MICROPLASTICS WITH THIS ONE!!!! 🗣️💀😭💀🗣️👍

[@indiana770]

آفرین به این مهارت که این ایده رو احرایی کرد.👏❤

[@MrBoshell.]

Can you tell what the name of that CNC machine is please, model etc

[@DursunX]

Stepcraft D840...

[@GeneJordan]

It's not a Maslow4, but I highly recommend it.

[@ebonystacey6539]

Crazy awesome ❤

[@xxlifestonerxx2085]

The sounds I'm hearing give me good feels😛👍🏽

[@perrylankford4269]

When my Mom used to work at Zebco in the early '70's, when tgey would clean out the machines, we would press out ashtrays with out feet from the extruding plastic for the reel covers..

[@thatdrh]

Energy used to make this happen including but not limited to: electricity, man power (fuel by unknown source), upload time, processing servers at KZbin upon arrival of said video.. thousands of viewers watching said video charged by unknown sources…. It’s safe to safe you just made the earth a little worse than when you started! Glad I could contribute!

[@profi2307]

Безусловно-гениальная идея.!!!

[@ViQRoy89]

Worth it!

[@voradorhylden3410]

Ive been trying to figure out a way to do this for a while just because of how expensive everything is. Its ridiculous, ill make it myself, has now become my catchphrase lol

[@MvrckOkie007]

The petroleum based carbon footprint needed to melt that plastic is high.

[@BrothersMake]

Why are you assuming how we source our energy?

[@spiritedthinker2323]

"Keep the earth clean!" Also creates microplastics.

[@RaincloudUA_Warriors_Cats]

I wasn't expecting the "it's not Uranus" joke 💀

[@ItsShatter]

That scraping noise near the end pierced my ears and brain

[@JoSeph-cu2sr]

So much energy wasted for a useless sign. This is called greenwashing

[@BrothersMake]

*renewable energy. No greenwashing here

[@dylangergutierrez]

Dude wait until you find out that you can actually make things for the specific purpose of just looking at them

[@zgjohusociety6063]

It perfectly portrays how the entire surface of the Earth is covered by countless microplastic particles, only spurred on by that carving job, not to say that this isn’t a good cause, it’s just that the problem lies with the plastic itself.

[@medicbabe2ID]

And there it is Nothing is ever good enough 🙄

[@zjellymold934]

You made it so pretty!

[@lilyawoodburn]

Now THIS is the kind of ASMR I like!

[@KKKOMODOR]

Сразу примерно понятно, откуда автор, нам в Росии не понятно, зачем делать карту именно ТАК

[@deborahpadgett2417]

That's so cool, but the best part was that sign, I loved it!!!❤❤❤ Kudos

[@TriniEyeTrinity]

Talk about putting the ART in Earth 💚✨ just lovely

[@PintuMahakul]

👍 An excellent and amazing video. Thank you very much for sharing. An excellent work it is.

[@lexiwhitesfv]

This is awesome!!!

[@trash-heap3989]

Awesome sign, a great use of discarded plastics!

[@ruthwilson7451]

That's really nice😊😊

[@vickiesmith5174]

I so wish I was able to do something like that. But health issues and room would not allow me to do it. But I do reuse everything that I possibly can and I do recycle everything that I possibly can. There are many things that when I purchase it it comes in a reusable container, or has reusable parts or pieces in its packaging. I have made some creative artwork, "Close the gate" signs, angels using only recycled items, it helps keep my creative juices flowing, and I'm always trying to find another way to make something useful at least one more time. It helps keep my mind and my hands busy as well as hopefully making a dent for less waste. I love what you guys are doing keep up the good work!

[@lynettegraves6261]

Love it! ❤ Looks fantastic! Great re-use

[@user-oo2sc5kk1x]

Waaaaaaaaw..! Amazing..!!!😍

[@derfderfson]

"Keep the earth clean. It's not Uranus... Which you apparently should keep dirty'

[@cindyspears5202]

I love it! So creative! Such an amazing idea!

[@itz.yukiix]

I love that!

[@moniques8899]

Love seeing videos and companies like this ❤

[@madisondrum9179]

A big thing for me is keeping the chunks on the panini press large! That’s huge it makes a world of difference

[@Dynamic-cy8wn]

We can relax now the environment is saved.

[@keirfarnum6811]

HDPE#2 is cool like that. It’s melting point is low enough that it can be molded into a lot of useful things.

[@terredee]

Fabulous! Thank you!

[@joe_schmoe_420]

Man I could do some crazy things with that setup

[@S-North]

Awesome, I've finally found a use for that George Forman grill I bought a couple of decades ago!

[@reneehicks]

Ur the coolest ppl on earth using waste to make something new 👍🏼

[@pokey504]

This is a good way to help the environment and help keep the earth clean. I appreciate you doing this for our planet😊

[@highnoon9333]

The card scraper is so satisfying

[@robinhindman7541]

Very attractive and saved innocent animals too ❤️

[@HestiaHearthfire]

This is cool, making legit art out of waste; please keep it up!

[@samanthaorologio6866]

This is seriously a very creative idea. Especially considering the very long laborious method to get to the end result. Looks so hard to mold and flatten…like it’s just a little too cool not warm enough.. or a little too…thick and needed a little more melty…ier….? I know nothing about plastic. I’m just saying. It didn’t look easy. But it’s such an amazing end product so I’m grateful yall figured it out and do this. So cool

[@GrumpyTy34er]

My short-term goal is to melt some plastic down and flatten it enough to use as a pickguard on a guitar. Just need to figure out a perfect press for that without buying a shirt press

[@jonathanseibert8832]

I used to skate every day for like 15y. Those recycled plastic benches are the best

[@Molly-rd3iu]

So creative and beautiful ❤

[@nataliesue2485]

That's awesome 😃 I love the wording too. 😂

[@user-to5le1wd3b]

That is beautiful Artwork🌍✨

[@Nono-hk3is]

What a great sculpture!

[@ashjac0009]

Awesome! 🆒👍

[@Kikokrazyy]

Oh my gosh that’s beautiful!

[@WillowIsntHere]

Ngl working with molten plastic looks fun

[@dragonmaster9817]

I love how the recycled plastic makes it look more detailed as a nice little touch :)

[@Ricebread343]

That is awesome!! I would love a sign like that

[@peterkyalo1653]

Love the sounds

[@ashleytrantham1747]

Omg,, when it showed him rolling the plastic with the orange gloves, I swear there wasn't hands in them at first 😭🤣🤣 lmaoo. Please tell me im not the only one.

[@cheryljoy83]

That's so creative and beautiful ❤

[@cognizentone]

Love your creativity

[@feralbluee]

way cool, guys! good piece of work, too. 🌎🌼

[@ratdetecting4780]

That looks AWESOME!🥰

[@Skylar_candova]

This was a huge trust the process 😅 great end result though

[@shalenaakter9673]

so relateable your recycle and result !

[@HollyMarie72]

Ok…now THAT was dope!!!

[@indianaclifton5847]

Thanks for helping earth's environment

[@osvaldojunior1984]

Great job!!

[@christencavanaugh2555]

ASMR is on point 👌🏼

[@cheri6785]

You guys ROCK❣️💪

[@Deliveredfromevil]

Wow that’s awesome!!! Great work!

[@markshirley7773]

Hemp plastic decays back n2 the earth 🌎 naturally BUTT!? Big plastic won't allow that!?!? I love yall