How to Make a Bracelet of Recycled Records
Old vinyl records can find new uses as jewelry. When heated, the vinyl can be cut and reshaped into bracelets. Since melting vinyl can release toxic fumes, use a dedicated craft oven for this project and work in a well-ventilated area. For variety, look for colored vinyl records or punch a hole in the softened vinyl to add a pendant. Experiment with different-sized jars and strips of vinyl until you get the shape that fits your wrist. Do not place the hot vinyl on your skin.
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Instructions
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Purchase a vinyl phonograph record at a used album store. Albums produced in the 1970s or more recently are usually of a proper thickness. Older records may be too thick for this project. Scratched records are acceptable because the heating process will soften the vinyl and the scratches will not be apparent. If you think the record might have collectible value, don't use it for this project.
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Draw lines with a permanent marker on the vinyl portion of the record to mark the shapes you will eventually cut out to form bracelets. You can create bracelets of different shapes and sizes. For example, if you want a 3-inch wide bracelet, draw a rectangle measuring 6 inches by 3 inches on the vinyl portion of the record.
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Preheat a dedicated craft oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit in a well-ventilated room. Set a glass jar on the table. The diameter of the jar should be about the size of your wrist.
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Place the record on a cookie sheet and put it in the oven until the vinyl becomes flexible and starts to warp. This may take about eight minutes. Remove the cookie sheet from the oven with oven mitts. Using the mitts, pick up the hot vinyl record and immediately cut out the bracelet strips with scissors. Alternatively, use a heavy-duty paper cutter to cut the vinyl. If the vinyl hardens before you complete this step, reheat it in the oven for a few minutes to soften it again.
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Place a cut vinyl strip on the cookie sheet and reheat it in the oven for about four minutes or until flexible. Immediately remove the hot strip from the oven with oven mitts, and shape the strip around the jar until cool. Loosen the vinyl from the jar. Sand rough edges of the bracelet with fine sandpaper. Allow the vinyl bracelet to cool completely before wearing it. Repeat this step with the remaining strips of vinyl to create more bracelets.
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