What you will need:
- Bottle caps;
- melting container;
- oven;
- 2 identical metal molds for casting;
- wide clamps;
- wooden linings.
The process of making a tray from plastic bottle caps
The lids are laid out over the melting container. If they are multi-colored, then they can be distributed so that, after melting into a plastic mass, you get the desired pattern with interspersed colors. Then the container is placed in a regular oven and the heating is turned on at a higher temperature than melting polyethylene.
At this time, 2 identical metal molds are prepared for casting. They can be used as trays, plates, salad bowls, etc. They must be dry and clean. It is important that the containers have an unfolded shape and fit tightly into each other when stacked.
As soon as the mass in the oven melts and becomes fluid, it is removed and poured into one of the molds. To do this, you need to use a wooden spatula, but try to mix the mass less. With its help, the plastic is evenly distributed along the bottom of the container. Next, the second form is covered on top and pressed with hands with slight vibration to evenly distribute the material.
A wide wooden board, plywood or chipboard is placed under the forms. A smaller board, adjusted to the size of the bottom, is placed on the top form. Then everything is compressed through them with clamps. They need to be pulled together with such force that the plastic is evenly squeezed out through the sides of the molds. For convenience, before installing clamps, it is better to place the form with boards on a brick, block or box.
The protruding polyethylene is immediately scraped off with a knife while it is warm. After the plastic has hardened, the molds are separated. Polyethylene easily lags behind them even without a release agent. The finished product has uneven edges that need to be trimmed with a knife and polished to perfection.
Homemade utensils made from bottle caps can be used for water, oil, vinegar and sauces, and can come into contact with food. It looks very unusual due to the interspersed plastic of different colors. If desired, you can make it monochromatic by using all the lids of the same color.
