How to Make a Wire from a Plastic Bottle

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Last Updated: February 19, 2022 Approved

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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The width of the strip in the picture is about 4 mm (0.1575 in). [1]
Heat the plastic strip and wind it around while pulling it with both hands. Note, polyethylene terephthalate [PET] plastic becomes soft by 70ºC (158ºF).

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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.

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Pulling on the wire ensures that it is straight.

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Control the width of the wire by selecting the desired thickness of the original PET strip.

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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).

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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.

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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.

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