Make a Wire from a Plastic Bottle

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

1. Cut a soda bottle into a spiral. The width of the strip in the picture is about 4 mm (0.1575 in). [1]
2. Sit 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).
3. Remove the strip from the hot air occasionally to allow it to cool down and fix the shape.
4. Continue until as much of the plastic strip as you want has been twisted.

Tips

Experimented example

Heat gun: Setting "300℃ (572ºF )/280L" is gauged with a digital thermometer. The temperature of the hot wind: (From vent) For 15cm (5.906 in) > 100℃ (212ºF) and for 20cm (7.874 in) > 80℃ (176ºF)

Hair dryer: The suitable temperature is in the vent nearest.

• Experiment with twisting the wire. A tight twist looks completely different than a loose twist.
• Pulling on the wire ensures that it is straight.
• Control the width of the wire by selecting the desired thickness of the original PET strip.
• For added strength, twist or braid multiple wires together.

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).
• 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.
• 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.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic bottle (soda)
• Scissors
• Hair dryer or heat gun

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• Make a Beer Bottle Bud Vase

See also

• Make a Funnel from a Bottle
• Make a Recycled Bottle Broom
• Make a Bottle Watering Can
• Make a Pencil Holder from a Water Bottle
• Make a Medicine Bottle Air Horn
• Make an Imitation Ice Vase from a Plastic Bottle
• Make a Portable Reading Lamp
• Make a Strawberry Jar Planter from a Plastic Jug
• Make a Soda Bottle Candy Dish
• Make a Sand Timer from Recycled Plastic Bottles

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