0042 PE Polyethylene Big Melt 1

Today I attempted the first big melt of the Poly Tarp made of blue Polyethylene. I experienced limited success due to the cold temperatures. My toes actually felt like they were getting frost bite!! I felt like I was back in Minnesota!! :-P Polyethylene gives off fumes when it melts and it can be quite strong so I needed fresh air ventilation, but the temperature outside was so cold that it made it very difficult to get the semi-liquid plastic out of the melt chamber. The plastic was hardening as I was transferring it to the mold.
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[@indonesiamendaurulang]

it's better you put the plastic in an iron mold while you heat it, it will make the whole thing alot easier, once i even try to put a wood mold in the oven and gradually put the plastic in it, and it went well.. thanks for recycling bro, the world need someone like you

[@KalabawCNC]

Thanks for the tip! That is a great idea! :-D

[@webderek]

Thanks for doing that and sharing it, so I don’t have to try it. I was going to try that same thing with the oil, but now I know the oil will smoke and probably burst into flame before it’s hot enough to fully melt the plastic. :)

[@KalabawCNC]

Well it also helps to probably do it on a day that isn't -10 deg F outside with a blizzard roaring outside and blowing sub-freezing cold air over your work area....LOL

[@TIMLASHLEY]

Dude my brother and I just sit here and laughed at ya for a hr... sound like ya was taking a shit when u was trying to get that out of the can

[@KalabawCNC]

TIM LASHLEY ROFLOLOL hehehe so true!!!

[@jensshed3850]

You should check out precious plastics - you can melt your plastics to create hdtp that you can injection mould into something usefull - with plastic bottle tops you can create 3d printer filament or create plastic bowls etc. they give you instrutions on how to build relative machinery etc using recycled motors.

[@KalabawCNC]

That is what inspired me to do this. :-D

[@amarprokiti8022]

KalabawCNC fencing post

[@mjgarrett9885ify]

Go to Wal-Mart and by a electric stir fry pan / heat pan it might cost anywhere from $15 to $25 . With a stir fry pan You can regulate the temperature .

[@KalabawCNC]

I think I might use some left-over Nichrome wire hanging around and build something. I was also going to use it for building an extruder machine following instructions from Precious Plastic.

[@sticky59]

This method is called "the long way around" !

[@KalabawCNC]

Yea I had to learn the hard way first...LOL Can never learn if you don't try! :-D

[@gutsbones6752]

It's 50%veggie waste oil 10%polystyrene and 40%milk bottle plastic the oil is heated hard first then add polystyrene and then the plastic

[@niteshkumar-uq3ij]

I want to start this work as for professional.

[@KalabawCNC]

Go for it!! :-D I hope I can be an inspiration and perhaps help inform on process. :-D

[@hmaamiladanushka9833]

How to plastic melting safely

[@ronyerke9250]

Maybe if you stored your plastic scraps in something like an empty cereal box instead of a bag, it would be easier to pour it into your "crucible". What temperature does your oil begin to smoke at? Different kinds of oil are more resistant to scorching at different temperatures. Have you ever thought of trying a pressure cooker? You might not need oil at all. You could modify it to hold vacuum to reduce bubbles. Please wear some gloves.

[@KalabawCNC]

Ron Yerke Thank you. Some good thoughts! I may have to try the pressure cooker. This whole project is kind of on hold for now while I build my garden in the back. I've just been stock piling plastic feedstock material until I'm ready to process it in one large batch. Perhaps next summer.

[@ronyerke9250]

KalabawCNC Good luck. I'm looking forward to see how things turn out for you.

[@firstmateblackpowder6266]

IDEA 4 U , go to a thrift store and but a Crock-Pot, don't forget it's got a heater eliminate in it should not cause smoke and would be a heck of allot safer , you think ????

[@KalabawCNC]

CORKY DREAMS That's not too bad an idea but I don't expect it would be hot enough. Also I need to melt different kinds of plastic like LDPE and HDPE and I don't want any cross contamination between batches. So a different disposable can is better. I may build something from an old hot water heater if I decide to upgrade to higher volume production.

[@WOThms]

Maybe you can try building a metal frame for your melt. That way, you can heat it with the heat gun within the frame, clamp it, and enjoy it sooner.

[@KalabawCNC]

WorkingWoman I just need to get it out of thin film format. I can shred the bricks and then extrude it into a filament and perhaps even filter it to remove gunk. Besides I don't really have space for a metal frame that I would only use once every 3 years. I have to be conscious of space and time efficiency and keep it dirt simple. I don't mind the extra time holding the heat gun since I don't do this often. Doing it in the summer will definitely improve things. This last summer my focus was on paying debts and building my garden. Perhaps, maybe I might get back to this project this summer.

[@WOThms]

KalabawCNC, I understand. I’ve been remodeling my house as a study/lab-type of project. The house is small and I’ve been getting creative with making good usage of the space that I have. Kudos for paying off your debts, and best wishes to you for your good works.

[@accessoriessiam1339]

I think you make bread is better