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A wire can easily be made with an empty plastic soda bottle. This wire can be used to make stems for fake flowers, as well as bracelets and other jewelry.
Steps
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1Cut a soda bottle into a spiral. The width of the strip in the picture is about 4 mm (0.1575 in). [1]
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2Sit and hold a hair dryer (or a heat gun) between both knees. Heat the plastic strip and wind it around while pulling it with both hands. Note, polyethylene terephthalate [PET] plastic becomes soft by 70ºC (158ºF).Advertisement
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3Remove the strip from the hot air occasionally to allow it to cool down and fix the shape.
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4Continue until as much of the plastic strip as you want has been twisted.
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Examples of use
Make this flower | Add a Clasp to a Cord Choker |
Warnings
- If too high a temperature is used, or the plastic is left in the hot airflow too long, it may melt and break (see Warning below for toxic issues).⧼thumbs_response⧽
- The hair dryer/heat gun will get hot. It is recommended that you wear pants while doing this, to avoid being burned. This is not a craft for children to attempt.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Toxic gases may be emitted as the plastic melts. Please control the temperature, so that the plastic strips receive only enough heat to soften. Don't melt them. PET: 68.81Tg/℃, 260Tm/℃. Consider doing this outside or in well-ventilated conditions.⧼thumbs_response⧽
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Things You'll Need
- Plastic bottle (soda)
- Scissors
- Hair dryer or heat gun
About This Article
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