Making Plastic Rod Stock - Melting HDPE Milk Jugs
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 ก.พ. 2016
- In this video I melt HDPE milk jugs to get a block of plastic from which I need to make a pulley for an electric motor. Because I had no decent plywood and HDPE is easily available and great pulley material.
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SAFETY:
Don't do anything you see me do. Stay SAFE!
Here's some things I do to make this safer, but do your own research. I ain't no chemist or doctor.
- I only use HDPE, other plastics might give nastier fumes.
- I don't try to guess if something is HDPE or not, I only use the things clearly marked.
- I only use translucent HDPE, clear or colored one might have nasty aditives.
- There are two types of HDPE, the one blown like the jugs and the one molded, like caps and buckets and such.
- I only use HDPE from milk jugs, the one made in molds might have aditives to make it flow better.
- I Keep it the right temperature and work in a well ventilated room.
- I only do this rarely, constant exposure to fumes has risks.
You... should not do this! - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
![ลักพาตัว เอาลูกเอิร์นกลับมา...!! [เอิร์นไดเม่]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/f4NVKlZ5qkk/mqdefault.jpg)
TOTALLY AWESOME,,,the more of your videos we watch, the better it gets. In the Philippines, we often hear "out of stock" or "not available." It is a great feeling to know there is always a way when you are stuck and must make the parts to finish a needed repair.
An Impressive and inspiring video showing the process going from a plastic (HDPE) jug to a pulley shown in use! Very nice, thank you!
Just got a 55 gallon hdpe barrel for $10 it weighs 9.8kg, while a milk jug weighs 60-62g. Ive been collecting virtually all hdpe containers for years and just more than doubled in 20 minutes and $10. I like the vid
I love watching these. Very relaxing in a sense and always interesting to see things being created handmade.
Thank you!
+The Small Workshop is that a small aluminium can u used to melt the plastic into?,(red bull size?) is it possible to chop up the plastic a bit finer so there's less air spaces?,do u think its possible to compress the plastic in the can before heating so u can get a bit extra in there?
+The Small Workshop this would be ideal for making end caps for soft faced mallets or an end cap to cover the end of a metal hammer just machine a dished recess slightly under sized so it would be an interference fit,could this plastic be heated in a microwave in a non metallic container?,or would it just burn up/catch fire?
Nice video ....how can I use plastic to make myself some molds after concrete to turn concrete models ??
Great question. My mind is telling me that the microwave wouldn't work, but ya never know...
Excellent idea and a real life saver for some out of production rollers I've been searching for. Now I'll make them.
Thanks, and you've just got another avid follower.
Thanks for adding clear text, makes everything clear!
Amazing quality. From a 1/2 gallon jug. Great build, thanks for the video.
Brilliant project, recycling at its very best.
Great idea! I'll bet you could do this in a threaded (outside) metal pipe, cap the ends, tap the top, and rig a vacuum pump to it, producing a better piece still.
Really great way to repurpose, reuse & recycle. Wonderful video, thanks so much for sharing!
Thank you too!
This video will hopefully solve problems with some of my stagnant projects, thanks for posting.
Happy you found something useful! Thank you too!
Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! I can't wait to get busy on this project. Thank you very much!
Thank you too Paul!
If you want to get rid of the gaps, I think it might work to put it back in the oven with an all metal clamp on. Only problem is you may have to figure out a better seal between the can and that piece of wood. I would try to replace the can with a metal tube cut on the sides so it can be split in half, machine some groves so it lines up and turn/polish the inside to make it perfect and ease the release. Then you can machine a presser plate that fits perfectly and make hold together with metal clamps. With some soldering and few extra parts this could be turned into a great tool for repeat use. Man I need to get a lathe :)
you are a star ive been looking for a pulley for a sander.i just had to sub.and the drum sanders are class
Nice job. I REALLY enjoy maker videos with NO dialog or silly dance or grunge music. Thumbs on the positive Z axis!
That's great to know that it doesn't shatter like other plastics would
Nice work. I'd like to see more of that old metal lathe you showed at the end!
Thanks for the video, it was nice to see how much one jug makes.
Excellent idea! Thanks for share!
Creative use of hdpe plastic! Thanks!
Don't know how I found you but I LIKED your video and am enjoying your channel
very interesting, and informative. thanks, for posting.
That came out nice. Although it seems like a lot of work.
Love the video style man.keep it up!
pretty awesome how you are able to recycle plastic and make it into something.
Some mallets have replaceable plastic ends on them. A hex head bolt embedded in plastic looks very similar. Threaded end of bolt projects out to screw into body of mallet.
Thanks for the warnings. Great idea / vid.
Impressive but how do you keep the hdpe pulley from spinning off the engine?
Another great build
Thanks!
Wow!!! I stumbled across his video in research for HDPE plastic welding. Thanks for the great idea! I need to start saving my milk jugs for raw material. Great video...Thanks :)
Ever try pool ques for handles. Beautiful wood in the heavy ones. Try it... Mike
I really like your videos but I also like your lathe where did you buy your small wood turning lathe
Great video. What lathe do you have in the video? (the small one)
Great Video Please Keep Them Coming I Watch Every Single One!
Thank you very much!
Very nicely done!
Amazing! Also..... Very satisfying video.
Great job as usual!
Thank you very much!
I have being trying to get stock for a largish gear, this could be the way and thank you for no bloody music while getting to the point.
For your purpose if you already have not, use a round or square 'pipe' or shaped form with smooth inside and a slightly oversize plate at one end secured with bolts or the base and a smaller one that goes inside for the top and as clamps to the top to compress as you coot it with some gap for some air to escape. Thus once formed and cooled you can remove the plates and pop the mold out if need be.
Hi, Can I ask what is the material of the container that you used to mold HDPE?
Good workpiece!
Thanks!
Just wondering, what will happen if one tries to melt hdpe using furnance for melting aluminum?
Thank you VM for sharing . Brilliant Super ecological your invention !. Best Regards from South America!. Well come your new videos. Good Luck! for a better future for "our home" : our planet!
Wow, I didn't even know this was possible, excellent video.
Not all plastics though. Only some.
I hope my grand kids see this so they will know how we spend our spare time!! lol!!
Great stuff, thank you from a recycling maniac. I love aluminum sheet cut from coke cans and plastic sheet cut from milk bottles.
you know you could use the bigger aluminum cans for your tube like power drinks or beer cans I save all that it would work great
brought a food grade plastic sheet for over 100 dollars ten years ago. Imagine what they must cost now.
how did you hold the pulley on the shaft, a key or set screw?
What little lathe was that that that you first turned the plug on?
Did washing remove the date stamp? I just don't want to contaminate if at all possible
I like your recycling plastic thanks for video
Nice video. Thanks for sharing. You can use the shaving to melt again for a next project.
Very cool . I have to try this. Thanks and thumbs up.
Hi i solder plastic repair with soldering iron. What filter type should i use that can store the dangerous fumes from going out in the environment?
are there any fumes to avoid ? and dust, I wonder
TO JE NÁPAD SUPERR DÍKY TI ZA INSPIRACI CO DODAT DOBRÁ PRÁCE :)
Pavel ...
Awesome! Who needs a 3D printer!
can modify, i wll use this for making motor
We can use this idea to make plastic bullets to help with our fight against Magneto. Thanks!
LOL!
You Sir' deserve an award for these videos!
subb'd
I enjoyed watching this.
Happy to hear that!
Have you done stress or heat test before it deforms?
You did a great job on making that pulley! I just wanted to know how well does it stand up to the caused by friction on that vee belt? Thanks!
I don't know, I've sold that lathe soon after I finished refurbishing it.
how fluent can it get? It look less that 'melted'. If it could become a fluid, there would be much more usages for this. Think molding in silicone, f.i. fishing lures or plugs, but can it be made pourable ?
can you try melting pe - ld? it kinda came to my mind cause its probably rare plastic. but keep up the good work mate.
Also what kond of aluminum can is this?
1:05 ?
Very inspiring~!!
It may help for future recycling to make a 2-part mold so that you don't have to continue peeling apart the mold, whatcha think~?
Very interesting, learned a lot.
I wonder if you could use a heavy duty document shredder to chop up the bottles? But your process seems like A LOT of work.
Did the shavings go back into your blue plastic tub for some future project? Nice pulley!
I just searched your channel an hour ago to see if you added another video and it was nothing new :). But persistence does wonders :). I'm would love to have a lathe, it seems so much fun working with it. Congratulations!
Thank you Eugen! You should get one! It's basically the only tool that allows you to get a raw log and turn it into the end product, no other tools needed. Turning gives great satisfaction and is very relaxing.
If money are an issue keep an eye on olx and you could find some great deals from time to time. I recently got a British made wood lathe for only 50 bucks.
+The Small Workshop Thanks, until now I tried to buy only new tools so I can be sure that they were treated well :), but I think this time I'll follow your advise and acquire one this way, cause I'm a little short on money for the moment :). Whish you all the best! I liked and shared your every video. Waiting for more!
And the shavings ... can be recycled!
Win!
HDPE does flow well if you heat it more. Be ware of overheating though as it can cause breakdown of the material after completing a part.
Especially it tends to affect UV tolerance and then affect structural properties after this if one overheats plastic.
I welded an HDPE box at home with a soldering gun producing come 450 degrees temperature and it becomes fluid, clear smelling like candle wax.
You should be ok with turning the oven up to 220 degrees C max (that is 428 F for the metrically challenged in the audience). ;)
Some tips collected on temperatures for plastics
PP => 220-240 C (428-464 F)
PE => 265 C (509 F)
TPO => 445 C (833 F)
HDPE => 220 C (428 F)
Many claim HDPE should be melted at max 175 C but professional plants use 220 C.
Formulae for conversion of temperature:
(220°C × 9/5) + 32 = 428°F
The viscosity of a plastic should decrease with higher temperature.
Viscosity is a measurement not of how fluid it is but how sticky it is due to internal friction in the material.
Thus, high viscosity => less fluidity.
Now, what is a good source of polycarbonate around the home?
Would it melt into cogs and gear molds?
Awesome, great job, thanks!
clearly you awesome. very inspiring
It seems to turn nicely on a lathe, making all those thin ribbons.
Thank You again! How much weight can your pulley stand up to? This would be great stuff for a project even without the lathe (soon!).Will it work with a double boil oil bath?
Cribbing and mats using PE in their case HDPE is quite strong compressive wise such for example a 2 inch or 4 inch can withstand up to 100 tons, but you may want to look up manufacturers for exact details as i am going from the top of my head. I used to make PE lumber for a small operation back in the day before I moved to better paying work.
When you first removed the cylinder from the tin can, the surface was pockmarked. Other people have found the same. Were there holes deeper down or was it homogeneous?What was the motor - it looks like a fractional horsepower induction motor. What was it salvaged from. And how did you fix the pulley to the motor shaft?
In some areas the holes were deeper, I had to avoid them. Motor was salvaged from an old washing machine, it's 1/2 hp. The pulley was friction fit since the motor shaft had some knurling on it.
That's awesome and something I've been meaning to try. What kind of container were you using as your crucible there?
I didn't see a reply so I thought I chime in with a best guess. It looks like a tall red bull aluminum can cleaned up.
I'd go with spray can of some kind. Red bull can is aluminum and has no welded base like this can did. Steel can is my guess.
can you reuse same way obsolete material from your own production? means second heat processing?
You can remelt certain plastic so many times before it starts to become more brittle and less stronger. There is sites with information that can tell you melting points and flammability, PP (#5) for one will catch on fire.
Nice vid.
What do you do with the shavings afterwards to prevent Micro Plastic pollution in water.?
He ships it on the USS A.O.C. to Willy Wonka's plastic factory to be used in high speed rail tracks to Hawaii and turbine fans for the Electric Airlines
Very nice. Not some abstract useless tip but rather a very specific application that you can then apply to your needs. Need a pulley? Make it yourself from the recycle pile. Well done.
Excuse my French, but that's bloody amazing
Reminds me of an old Warner Bros. cartoon where the Acme toothpick company turns down a whole tree to make 1 toothpick.
Awesome job!
Thanks!
Is that a sharpened screwdriver at 258
The Picket Piece of a picket fence (not the post or the backer rail):
Build a rectangular black metal box that has a mold of a picket fence piece at the bottom.
Fill the box with chopped up plastic.
Tilt the box and direct a series of Fresnel lenses onto it, with most heat directed towards the bottom of the box with the mold area.
Place a 100 lbs weight at the top of the box to press the melting plastic into the mold.
Get a tan while it's cooking.
Remove the mold at the bottom and you should find a picket fence piece.
I would never have thought this could be done, great job. A multitude of applications. Can you tell me more about your tiny lathe, what and where did you get it? Thanks for sharing
Thanks, I'm happy you found it useful! Lathe is a Proxxon DB 250
Great job bro
I love your work I have made so much because of you
Thanks Sean, happy to hear that!
+The Small Workshop love it thank you for replaying
One jug? Sounds more like LDPE to me.
What about higher temps before pressing?
Corey Upton higher temp will cause smoking and burning. I could not read the recycling number on the bottom. #2 is HDPE
Very Very Interesting, thanks for sharing
Thank you too!
Excellent idea.
Will a paper shredder mill that stuff ???
Well done!
what kind of lathe is that?
Very very very excellent I like it
Okay, I read the one comment on the OLX lathe, now I need more! What should I look for should I want one like yours?
Mine is a Proxxon DB 250.
Awesome work! Very inspiring! Time to save those milk bottles and melt them down. I have been looking for a cheap source of larger diameter HDPE for turning on the lathe. This stuff is perfect! :)
Just make sure you do melt the caps and the seal ring as they are not the same color or even same type of plastic, unless you want that color and capable of mixing it by hand let alone extrude it to mix it.
@@Joshua79C, I agree, the cap and seal ring is of a different type of plastic.
which lathe is at the end?