How to Melt Plastic Beads
Plastic beads come in a huge variety of shapes and sizes. While most people string them together to create jewelry products, there are other ways to use plastic beads to make craft items. One way is to melt them down and then use a mold to create something else from the melted plastic. Learning how to melt plastic beads will allow you to create a whole new array of beautiful jewelry and other crafts.
Things You'll Need
- Plastic Beads
- 9" Cake Pan
- Wax Paper
- Pam Cooking Spray
- Molds made of strong plastic
- Pot Holders
Instructions
-
Instructions
-
1
Heat your oven to 500-degrees Fahrenheit. Line your cake pan with enough wax paper or tin foil to cover the interior area of the pan. Spray the inside of your chosen mold with the cooking spray for easy removal of your finished product.
-
2
Place your plastic beads in the pan, on top of the wax paper or tin foil. Put enough beads to at least cover the bottom of the pan. Use more or less depending on the mold you're using and the final product you're creating.
-
-
3
Allow the beads to bake in the oven for twenty-five to thirty minutes. At this point, the beads should be completely melted. You may need to leave the pan in for a longer or shorter period of time depending on the strength of your oven.
-
4
Remove the pan from the oven using the pot holders and pour the melted beads into your mold. Allow them to cool for at least fifteen minutes. Remove the plastic by using a toothpick at the edges of the mold and prying the finished product out. It should be easy to remove because of the cooking spray.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If you use a variety of bead colors, they could run together to create a final color that is not so attractive. To prevent this, use beads of only one or two colors at a time.
You should not use flimsy plastic molds with this project, as they can melt when you pour your melted beads into them. Use sturdy plastic, silicone, or similar mold materials.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Getty Images
