Melting your HDPE

[@BackwoodsRaised]

What would you like to see me do with recycled HDPE, that is reasonable of course. And be sure to hit the subscribe button if you want to see more project videos

[@texas-linemangaming731]

Slingshots

[@EdBoonSucks]

Could you melt it down to where you can pour it? Or can a toaster oven do that?

[@fatcat8dog]

Make glue sticks..... get rid of shopping bags

[@ronnierunyon3726]

How about a useful tool like a mallet, or rehandle a tool or pocket knife.

[@holtbrent]

Shoot it

[@Ra1276]

I love melting plastic...especially HDPE...I use a waffle iron...and make plastic waffles...complete waste of time and money...but it brings me joy which is something you cant buy

[@BackwoodsRaised]

Oh yeah it's fun. And it's just something to past the time. I just do it on a small scale. Probably the only thing I would make will be sling shots lol.

[@kathleenbasieiwcz4636]

I just melted my first HDPE down in my oven yesterday. I built a rectangular box to press it into to form a mallet head. I was a little concerned about compressing it enough after taking it out of the oven. I had to keep turning up the heat to melt it, but I came out fine. I pealed it out of the pan and pushed it into the box and just as you did I made a lid and used my clamps to apply pressure to it. I let it set overnight before removing the clamps. Turn out a lot better than I though it would.

[@BackwoodsRaised]

Kathleen Basieiwcz yeah this HDPE stuff is pretty good. I’m working on making a mallet. Hope mine come out good lol.

[@skeetersaurus6249]

Unless you are wanting the 'kaleidoscope' look, what works best is to make a grinder to chip up the HDPE first...think 'lawnmower chopper' or 'old blender'...you want it the size of rice-grains to melt the best. If you'll prepare your HDPE like a 'TV dinner' (cook the HDPE at 385 for 30-minutes, take it out, stir it well, put it back in for about 10-more minutes, stir again when you take it out), you'll get an EXCELLENT PRODUCT with minimal air pockets (AS LONG AS YOU STIR THE LIQUID HDPE SLOWLY!!! Fast, and you will add in more air!). And as for working it like wood...you are exactly right...I bought a used 14" wood lathe and lathe tools...and I can cut PERFECT PLATES and bowls with the HDPE! If you pour it into finish-molds while liquid, you can also cast-it, like Paster-of-Paris...just MAKE SURE to use a 'releasing agent' in the mold (corn starch rubbed in works, as does powdered graphite...I'm sure other stuff does too). I make custom molds out of hardwood (2, 3 piece or more)...then get the HDPE REALLY HOT (400-420F) and pour it into the molds that I've already got rubbed down with releasing agent...let it 'room cool', then take them out...simple.

[@BackwoodsRaised]

Awesome information. Yes next time I do this project I will grind it down finer. I real don’t like the way it turned out. I will try to make a release agent for next time that will be good. Thanks for stopping by and watching

[@livinglearninglife9174]

That's really neat .... got some awesome colors in it too. Can't wait to see next step. Thanks for sharing this process with us.

[@ronyerke9250]

I saw a video where the guy melting his plastic used glass pans. The plastic didn't stick and had a very smooth finish.

[@BackwoodsRaised]

I didn’t think about using glass. I bet it would be a better heat also. I will have to try that next.

[@dionysislarson6352]

You beat me to it. But I guess that you did so a year ago! I just started doing my own melting and have tried many things for my molds. The Pyrex did work the best. And not only for HDPE, LDPE and PP but also for PET that has a much higher melting point.

[@thomasgarrison3949]

Great video. Thanks for the info. I love your T-Shirt, my wife says I look like Chuck Norris.

[@BackwoodsRaised]

Hahaha well that ca t be a bad thing.

[@ryanworden8556]

Enjoyed watching your video… I dabble in all kinds of odd crafting stuff as well. Two questions come to mind… 1. Would it be possible, when this stuff is melted to a liquid state, do use a stir stick or tongue depressor of some kind to swirl the colors around to get a “tie-dyed“ effect? Much in the same fashion as one does when Hydro dipping. 2. Another thought I had instead of pouring it into a pan would be to melt it to a pourable liquid state and pour it out on a cookie sheet covered with wax paper or the paper you used. Let it start to cool, then cover with another sheet of paper and begin to roll it out with a rolling pin? This could give you a wide flat sheet, and you could even do a different color scheme is to get different layers when you cut through it. Perhaps you could even roll it up like a piece of pumpkin roll! Going to try several of these ideas… Any thoughts? Again, thanks for the video.

[@BackwoodsRaised]

Hey there. Both are good questions. The first question can you stir it. I use a ice pic to stir it. The metal has to be cold so stir it a bit and let the ice pic cool down then stir some more. That way the plastic dont stick to the metal. Then you was asking about melting and rolling out. You could do that but this would have to be done really fast. As soon as the plastic starts to cool down it will start to get hard. This would be a little difficult to layer that way. You dont want to get the plastic to hot or it will scorch the plastic or put off toxic fumes. That way you only get it to a certain temperature. But so much can be done. I've seen people melt the plastic and them stick in a mold and press it if you do it fast enough.

[@lailamckinney9810]

I'm definitely thinking about it. keep the stuff coming pretty good stuff. G-d bless u n your entire family

[@BackwoodsRaised]

Thank you. I sure will

[@paoemantega8793]

good to hear you are on KETO - strength to your willpower

[@DeepSouthSlingsDarrellAllen]

Cool video.... I make slings too, mostly from natural tree forks. I have been wanting to do some from HDPE and have been saving all kinds of containers to do it, and getting the exact same argument from my wife too LOL Nice job though, subbed

[@BackwoodsRaised]

It’s definitely a fun little project. My slingshot turned out pretty nice.

[@CBsGreenhouseandGarden]

Looking good Spicy! Tell Momma to donate an oven mitten so you don't be burning them fingers. I will be watching for the next step.

[@BackwoodsRaised]

Oh man CB my dumb self took it right out of the oven and went to touch it hahaha. But I was looking at the phone and didnt know I was going to get that close haha.

[@DirtCheapMeals]

1. Purchase 4 pack of 12x16 black metal pegboard 2. Stack 2 on each other, x 2. 3. Push 6 inch nails through each double stack. 4. Lift top up a little and hammer bottom to 14x20 piece of wood. 5. Stack all kinds of plastic on bed of nails. 6. Place second bed of nails on plastic and jump up and down on the beds, puncturing all the plastic. 7. When compressed enough, lift off inner beds, squeezing/pinching the plastic between each. 8. Place flat black metal boards in the path of a series of Fresnel lenses to melt into a form you wish, with the lenses heating the black metal in 4-5 spots. Suggestion: Form into pickets for a picket fence. Imperfections=character of wood. Paint white.

[@mbburry4759]

Sounds very cool, but very labor intesive

[@DirtCheapMeals]

@@mbburry4759 True, but... Think about the energy used already: Energy spent: 1. Creating the plastic. 2. Delivering the plastic to you (your workshop) 3. Giving you muscles (to hoist the top half of the invention, gravity drops it down, creating punctures in the plastic) 4. Creating the earth, which is used on the bottom half of the invention (pressing upwards) So, instead of sending the materials away (using a recycling truck to pick up at curbside), keep the materials (plastic) near you. Now, all we have to do is convert the plastic to something that can be used immediately: a picket.

[@mbburry4759]

@@DirtCheapMeals your definitely on to something creative. Not sure if this exact invention makes sense or not or perhaps I just dont understand exactly what you mean. Either way I certainty think melting down and finding something interesting to do with plastic the plastic waste all over the place is very cool, or I wouldnt have watched this video in the first place.

[@davidb116]

Thanks for the great video. I enjoy your video keep it up.

[@BackwoodsRaised]

Thank you for watching

[@treyezell36]

very interesting cant wait for the next video be safe & take care

[@DukeOfMarshall]

Not bad, but you can do that in less than half that time if you use a bigger oven at 400 degrees F (freedom), no it won't burn, and wait till you're ready to melt it before you cut it up.

[@davidgenthnerjr4995]

Great video Spicey.

[@BackwoodsRaised]

Thanks

[@GrandpasPlace]

Great video, I look forward to the others where you work with the HDPE. Im curious as to what you are going to make with it.

[@BackwoodsRaised]

Yeah I have so many Ideas just got to get to it.

[@lailamckinney9810]

man u could build a house with that jazz. you can use them instead of cobble stones skies limit. good job brother!

[@BackwoodsRaised]

Yeah you could. It pretty cool once you think about it, what you could do with this stuff.

[@arthurjonesbey9999]

Have you thought about using a paper shredder. The milk jugs should be able to go through and it may cut down on melting time

[@BackwoodsRaised]

Yes I have thought about buying one and trying it.

[@sandyferrell7492]

Great way to recycle you could make some cool stuff out of that plastic!!

[@BackwoodsRaised]

oh yeah the whole thing is neat to me.

[@jmadventures9830]

I wanna use this material instead of boards to make my floor boards on top the joists do you think It'll work?

[@TheRam273]

Looks like a good way to recycle plastic. Now what are you gonna make out of it?

[@BackwoodsRaised]

This plastic I melted I made a slingshot out of it.

[@Accumulator1]

Does that block of plastic float in water? Would it make a durable boat oar? Can it be melted so it can be poured into a mold? Probably so gummy it needs injection under pressure.

[@smo-lo]

I wonder how bullet resistant that is. Maybe layer in some fiberglass or Kevlar, and top it off with a ceramic tile.

[@BackwoodsRaised]

Smokin Locust I would be glad to test that out for you and see.

[@BackwoodsRaised]

Smokin Locust with a 9mm or what.

[@smo-lo]

Backwoods Raised any caliber would be cool just to test it out. Glad you liked the idea.

[@BackwoodsRaised]

Smokin Locust sure thing give me some time to get a new blank melted down and I will get that for you.

[@smo-lo]

Backwoods Raised 🤘

[@lynnevoyle]

I’m from NZ and I’ve definitely got some backwoods in me lol 👍

[@BackwoodsRaised]

Haha awesome

[@chopperdown9114]

ive got wood do i just go thru ur backdoor? lol thats the definition of backwoods

[@timothyball3144]

Well done. Thanks for this.

[@BackwoodsRaised]

That is for watching.

[@Agamimg360]

Okay brother let me offer you some stuff, cut the peaces to about the size of 1" x 1" that is great size you can leave some longer peaces to act as binder to give it extra strength. Also when it comes time to cool down your pieces clamp them were you can move it around and when you get it clamped up just drop it in a bucket of cold water and it will cool just as good but very fast. If you will cook the pan full ounce and then flip it over and drop it back in and cook it again you will get a smoother look on each side with little work.

[@BackwoodsRaised]

Ok thank you for all the great advice

[@ronbyer7483]

Th Linn z

[@paulmeacham7694]

That was pretty funny when u touched that hot pan

[@BackwoodsRaised]

My finger didn't think so haha

[@dannyk4153]

Great video I just found your channel I'm glad I did i liked and subscribed keep it up👍

[@BackwoodsRaised]

Welcome to the channel glad you stopped by

[@SongOfWhiteWolf]

3:04 All I can think of is... Bill Engvall, "Hear's your sign!" hahahahahaha

[@BackwoodsRaised]

Hahaha yep what a dummy I am

[@BackwoodsLaw]

Spicy, when you take something out of an oven it tends to be hot brother...lol I saw you getting ready to do it and could not stop you in time!

[@BackwoodsRaised]

oh man that was dumb hahaha. almost started cussing lol.

[@jairocuriele5864]

I ended in this video with only 2 words in mind: Climbing holds 😁👍

[@BackwoodsRaised]

Oh yeah

[@dwinsemius]

Not trying to be "negative" but I'd like to point out that using an IR thermometer with a metal target is not going to be at all accurate. The reflectivities of metals at the two selected IR wavelengths are not the same as a "black body". A black body curve is compared to measures at two wavelengths to calculate the temperature.

[@BackwoodsRaised]

Hey thats not being negative at all. Thank you for the information. I did not know that.

[@luciferbritesun6976]

How freaking rare does he like it ? YOU CAN BE DOING STUFF LIKE THAT TO US

[@BackwoodsRaised]

Manny Mack hahaha it says he likes his meat so rare, that he only eats unicorns haha

[@luciferbritesun6976]

lol thanks for reply . no one usually replies thats cool , i subbed to your channel for that , plus i like your content thanks again .PEACE

[@BackwoodsRaised]

oh Yeah im going to reply. Im very active with the ones who watch and comment on my videos. I dont care how many subscribers I get that will never change.

[@BC5391]

I found the toaster oven took way too long. there is a guy on youtube that made his own and uses a propane torch to melt the plastic, he uses the strong arm apprach to inject his plastic into molds. I took a different approach using his idea and used a 12v linear actuator ( I'm, 65) the actuator can be purchased from ebay for about $30. Next instead of using strips, go to goodwill and buy a cheap electric blender or walmart for $30 - $40. you do not need to make any fancy injection molds, just melt your plastic in your pans and press as usual. You will find this will save you a great amount of time. Enjoy your plastic making

[@BackwoodsRaised]

Good points there. Thank you for the advice

[@RobPainless]

Are you not concerned about HDPE breaking down with exposure to UV rays?

[@BackwoodsRaised]

Rob Painless are you talking about when I melt it?

[@mbburry4759]

It gets brittle when its left in the sun. If you're using plastic that has not been and your new product wont be left In the sun for long times, it's no worry. But I have wondered if doing this to really old hdpe left outside would make a decent material after melting or if it would stay brittle. (Think 5 gallon buckets left of construction site for years)

[@mattaspreppingsurvival4658]

That's a real cool idea spicy

[@BackwoodsRaised]

Yeah I like the Idea of the recycling

[@mnichols31]

I wouldn’t have thought that you could take those items and melt them down especially at such a low temperature and so easily.

[@BackwoodsRaised]

mnichols31 oh yeah each plastic has its own melting point. HDPE is the best to use and just like I said you can do to this plastic the same you can do with a piece of wood.

[@archangel20031]

A cross cut paper shredder is the best for making flake sized HDPE.

[@BackwoodsRaised]

Will have to look into that

[@susansk8sorrell123]

What did you make out of it!?

[@turbofiat]

Not to get off the subject but I'm from the south just like you and we have similar accents. I can understand every word you say but I turn the sound down and the captions on so I don't bother other people around me and KZbin always distorts the captions when dealing with Southern accents. KZbin's voice recognition needs some work. I mean "hard as a rock", KZbin interprets as "whores".... On the subject of what your doing, I'm looking into using waste plastic (like those gray Wal-Mart bags) as an alternative to fiberglass resin and polyester. I have used cotton and even cardboard brushed with Bondo fiberglass resin instead of polyester to make things. I've made speaker boxes for cars out of cardboard coated with fiberglass resin then glued that felt material over top of it. It's been holding up fine for a few years.

[@BackwoodsRaised]

Oh yeah I wanted to try some things with the plastic bags but haven’t done it yet

[@decatjean]

Greetzz from belgium

[@mrMacGoover]

How those finger tips doing buddy..Lol , you crack me up!

[@BackwoodsRaised]

Hahaha yeah that was stupid on my part for sure.

[@ruralreadiness5910]

now that time lapse was awesome! Pretty neat stuff! Love you and do ya think that was hot or what? LOL Crazy boy! LOL

[@BackwoodsRaised]

Southern Ark Homestead hahaha hot as hell. I was looking at the phone. I didn’t think I was that close. Almost started cussing hahaha.

[@BaronBoar]

Is that hdpe bulletproof?

[@BackwoodsRaised]

Good question. No it is not. I did a video on that as a matter of fact

[@BaronBoar]

@@BackwoodsRaised oh cool.

[@MasterK9Trainer]

Dude.... I have that same shirt and people are always trying to read it.

[@JITPrepping]

Well that looks cool brotha' mow what

[@BackwoodsRaised]

mow I get to make something with it. With this one I will be making a slingshot with it.

[@JITPrepping]

Backwoods Raised cool

[@lucretiawrolstad3997]

Do you have a market for the melted plastic?

[@BackwoodsRaised]

No not really. It is something I like to do to just recycle and teach myself to use things around me.

[@A5566z2]

Man i love your accent

[@BackwoodsRaised]

Random Things haha thanks. Louisiana has that affect on people. I did a video called duck hunting is not for me. I kinda played that accent up a little lol. Thanks for stopping by and watching

[@reshmiramesh5958]

Is this a domestic oven?

[@kimwaknitz7594]

What about fumes? Are they toxic?

[@BackwoodsRaised]

No there are no fumes. Each type of plastic has a certain melting point. When you go past that melting point you will start to burn it and that’s when you will get the toxic fumes. So when you decide to work with any plastic just look up what the melting point is and you will be safe to work with it.

[@jerryrigg6293]

Just be careful doing all this I work at a plant that makes etfe and ptfe and fep polymers. Different from hdpe but can look and feel similar. I run samples on the plastic pellets and the melting point for these pellets at around 250-270c but perfluoroisobutaline is given off by the plastic at 245c which is an extremely extremely toxic gas. Not saying this is dangerous but take extreme caution in handling these materials and melting them. Make sure you know what material you are melting.

[@mbburry4759]

rigg pretty sure there arent fluorine molecules in hdpe?

[@ralphh4131]

dont melt at 400c or use cheap thin eax paper. i ruined my last hdp build. now i need to collect more plastic :(

[@BackwoodsRaised]

Oh wow yeah I’m always worried about messing up and ruining my project

[@7484tsmith]

I went through 4 blenders. they strip out the blades.

[@BackwoodsRaised]

Oh wow good to know.

[@JesusisLord-7A]

So why are you doing this again?

[@BackwoodsRaised]

Hey there. Well the whole process is a neat Idea of just recycling. With this plastic that I melted I will be make a slingshot with it. With this plastic melted down you can manipulate it the same way you can with a peace of wood. So the options are kinda unlimited. The next thing I will make is a plastic mallet to use in my wood shop.

[@JesusisLord-7A]

That sounds pretty cool. How does it act when you shoot it? I'm in Georgia. It's raining here I think for three days. I now want to try melting down milk jugs as well.

[@BackwoodsRaised]

This is my first time doing it so I haven't made the slingshot yet. But I will have a video on it as soon as I get it done. Also I plan on making Knife handles with is.

[@smo-lo]

Backwoods Raised looks like wasn't the first to suggest it😆

[@davidb116]

If you don't have nothing positive to say there's thousands of channels to watch move on. Don't be a Negative Nancy I like spicy he's alright.

[@BackwoodsRaised]

David B I just read that comment again and really just seen how rude it was. I took care of that. Lol some people can be something else.

[@mrMacGoover]

make a wall clock with it

[@BackwoodsRaised]

Dang that’s a great idea. Now I’m going to get some more plastic and make a clock.

[@stevewyatt3339]

dioxin risk is still a huge problem, so this is fine for hobby shit, but forget the plastic recycling in your garage idea

[@BackwoodsRaised]

Yes you are right it is ventilated and open in the shop

[@mbburry4759]

Dont you need the element chlorine to make dioxins?

[@davidshelp7116]

I've tried the blender. Don't waste you time like I did mine.

[@NoName-po7ez]

3:04 😂

[@CurrentElectrical]

@3:05 the reason why everyone subscribes.

[@BackwoodsRaised]

Hahaha yep I still remember that. That was real smart.

[@dondiezel]

Please add Celsius conversions for your international viewers