Here is the real answer to the question: Paper or plastic? Join your friendly neighbor for a fireside chat about plastic bags and how Americans consume 380 billion of them a year. If you don't need a bag, don't take one. You can use fabric bags and reuse them over and over again. You can also reuse plastic bags for trash can liners, doggy bags, etc.
Tired of plastic shopping bags everywhere? This instructional video shows a simple, practical, project you can do at home. All you need is a pastic bottle. Tidy up your kitchen from the clutter of plastic bags by making this handy plastic bag dispenser.
A few simple adjustments can turn a boring old plastic fork into a terrific iPod stand. Give your hards a break and watch videos on your iPod using this iPod stand. You'll be glad you kept those plastic forks laying around!
Medieval knights did not have access to plastic, but modern reenactors certainly do! This tutorial shows you how to take a food-grade plastic barrel (at least a quarter inch thick) and turn it into a set of medieval style armor!
Whether you admit it or not, you probably wanted to be Barbie at one point in your adolescence, whether for five years or five seconds. Clearly we know by now that she represents a one-track view of female beauty, but god was it fun dressing her up in her clip-on pink extensions and plastic stilettos.
The best way to recycle is to reuse trash items as new, useful ones in your own home. If you enjoy gardening, watch this video to learn how to turn an old plastic milk or juice bottle into a cute plastic watering can for your plants.
Recycle plastic bags! Watch this video to learn from Threadbanger how you can turn those wasteful and polluting plastic bags into something useful. Upcycle them into a laptop case. It's convenient and something you'll always have a need for. So why not? Watch this video and you can see how to turn this toxic product into something beautiful and utilitarian.
To fish with a plastic grub or a plastic worm, rig with a lead head so that the lure will go to the bottom and "swim" back to the boat, imitating a crayfish or a baitfish. First, cast your lure out to a likely spot like a rock or a tree or some place that looks like a good habitat for a fish. Let the bait hit bottom because bass like to watch it come down. They will swim over and inspect the lure on the bottom. You can raise your rod to lift the lure up and down or you can reel in the lure sl...
The video deals with a clear step by step process of making a plastic airplane. He asked us to select the model of the airplane we are going to make first. He has selected the North American F86A SABRE model in this demo.
This video describes how to remove unwanted odor from plastic storage containers. The video shows three easy steps to remove odor. Firstly, thoroughly wash the plastic container as you usually would. After it dries, place a few pieces of crumpled up newsprint inside of the container and close the lid. Leave the newsprint in the container for a couple of days before removing the paper. After you remove the paper, simply wash the container again and the odor should be gone. A viewer would benef...
What can you make from an empty CD holder? Check out this how-to video to make something amazing from those old plastic crappers... see how to recycle a plastic CD spindle into various uses. With this disc box, you can make a flashlight or torch, a food container, a string, yarn, or wire holder, and a tissue box.
This video segment will show you how to build a plastic line bender using BriskHeat Strip Heater, so that you can bend plastic at home.
In this tutorial, we learn how to recycle plastic bottles and make decorative flower art. Start out by cutting around the cap of the bottle until the body is cut off. Then, cut small slits in the bottle until it's completely cut up. From here, you will spread these out so they are opened up like petals. Take different colored plastic bottles and repeat this process. When you're finished, you will then attach these together using heat and use them as decorative art for your wall! This is great...
In this tutorial, we learn how to recycle a plastic bottle to make a toy bottle rocket. First, take a large plastic bottle and a sharp knife, then cut it in half. After this, take the side with the cap on it and then paint on the inside of the bottle. You can paint whatever you want on the inside, feel free to use different colors and get as creative as you want! From here, take some bottle caps and poke holes in the center of them. Then, string these together by pushing a string in the middl...
In this tutorial we learn how to recycle plastic bottles to make a toy windmill. First, cut the bottle in half so you just have the cap end of it. Then, use the scissors to cut strips in the plastic, all running next to each other. Once you have all of these cut, pull the strips out so they are flared away from the cap. Then, twist these so the are all going backwards from the cap and place a stick on the bottom of these, connecting with the cap. Now you can use these as a toy windmill, enjoy...
In this video, we learn how to cut plastic push-fit pipe. Make sure you never use a hack saw to cut the push-fit pipe because it can damage the O-ring in the connector. What you need is a pair of dedicated plastic pipe cutters. Once you have this, put your pipe in the middle of the cutters and then push down on the handles. After this, your will cut the pipe and it will com out nice and clean. From here you will be able to fit a connector into the pipe and continue to use it rather than ruini...
Greg Swanson and Joe Kelley demonstrate their superb skills at creating bottle rockets on rooftops.
If you're interested in creating a dosimeter using simple tools, take a look at this video. Using a digital camera, a plastic scintillator, and some tape a radiation dosimeter can be crafted allowing for radiation information to be collected with simple materials.
Plastic masks are usually the cheapest that you can get, but their tiny eye and mouth holes impede your use of your organs and can cut you as well. Watch this video to learn how to use a woodburning pen to widen the holes in such as way that they wont' come out sharp and jagged, and will make you Guy Fawkes or other mask much more wearable.
Easter is over, and what to do with all the plastic eggs that hold candy? You can always recycle them and turn them into a bumble bee! This craft requires 2 googly eyes, one black pipe cleaner, one white, gold or silver pipe cleaner, a stick and some glue.
Teach your children art at the same time you teach them conservation! This video shows you how to take an old pair of jeans and an empty plastic bottle, then add a little lace and other decorations to make a cute denim bracelet.
Plastic milk bottles are a fixture of most American trash cans, but they need not be. With a little effort and some simple tools you can covert an old milk bottle into a DIY bird feeder! Watch this video to learn how.
In this tutorial, learn how to make a vacuum table that you can use to make plastic objects. You will learn how to build this type of surface and create anything you may need to replace - for example, if you lose the cover of your cell phone - don't spend a ton getting a new one- just make your own!
Now, there are many different ways to make certain dishes using all sorts of different tools and pot and pans. This tutorial seems to take it to a whole new level. In this video you'll not only find out how to make sauerkraut, but you'll find out how to make it using a plastic bucket. How's that for weird? Enjoy!
This video will teach you the process of vacuum forming sheet plastic into 3D shapes using the $40 make-it-yourself vacuum former from this "Instructable."
This week, Christine and Bre Pettis break it on down and show us how to use #6 plastic to create miniature mustaches! She's made a bunch of these in the past. They are awesome for people who need a moustache on the go.
Bruce Sublett demonstrates tying his 'Genuine Imitation Plastic', a jig type fly for saltwater fly fishing.
Watch and learn how to make this awesome DIY toy car that runs off solar power. This makeshift mini-vehicle is made from a plastic bottle, small motor, tires, supports and a solar panel. See if you can replicate this interesting solar toy, or see if you can come up with a better and cheaper design!
Watch this video to learn how to make a simple mold and cast Smooth-Cast 300 liquid plastic and resin into it.
Watch this video to learn how to make your own professional fake breakaway glass, using SMASH plastic. This glass is great for special effects and pranks!
This video segment will show you how to cut plastic sheet. It will also show you the cutting option you have, should you choose to have TAP Plastics cut it for you.
This video segment will show you how to bend plastic using the BriskHeat Strip Heater.
In this video we learn how to recycle plastic bottles and make a decorative mobile. Start off by cutting the strips off of the water bottle then pinning them down to a table. After this, you will start to cross each of these with another piece to make a checkered effect. Nail them down on the sides as well to make it stick to where you want it. When finished, you will remove the nails and then place in a needle with beads and shells attached to it on each of the holes. Once you are finished w...
In this how to video, you will learn how to clean your plastic headlights. This is important if you cannot afford to replace the headlights of your classic or semi-classic car. Toothpaste works great as a rubbing compound to fix this. First, take a rag and rub the toothpaste into the headlights. Next, take the paste off with another rag. Use some water to aid you in this. Now, your once clouded lens will be fairly clear. You can then move on to the other side to finish the whole car. This vid...
You just bought a laptop, but how to do you protect it? Buy a laptop case! No wait... make your own laptop case out of household items. Watch this how-to video from Gianny L and learn how to make a simple laptop or notebook case out of old pants or jeans and a piece of plastic.
There is a great cost effective and durable fence option that is available now. It is fence made from plastic PVC. Start by putting a stake in the ground to mark the location of the first fence post. Use a string tied to the first stake to mark the rest of the fence line. Drive stakes in the ground to mark the location of additional fence posts along the string line every eight feet. Dig your fence post holes with a post hole digger or rent a motorized digger. Once you've dug the hole put gra...
Have you ever wondered how to tie a slip knot on your grocery bags? When we go to the grocery store, the clerks always tie the bags in a carrying knot. With this easy to follow video, tying these knots is made easy. Knots always seem perplexing, but now they are easy to do. This is a must watch video for anyone who goes shopping.
This photography video shows how to make a rewind helper out of an 35mm film canister. If you use a simple film camera with a small rewind crank, you can use this tool to make a more comfortable grip. Use a 5/32 inch drill bit to make a small hole in a film canister. This can easily slip over the small film crank for quicker film winding.
Many people have trouble loading 120 film into developing reels when they are first starting. In the darkroom, it's tricky business to wind film and load it into a developing tank. Find out what works for you and repeat the process until it becomes second nature. If you are interested in developing your own photographs, you will need to know this process backwards and forwards, using all types of film, reels and developing tanks.
Tim Carter, of Ask the Builder, shows the easiest way to install a leak-free faucet at home with some plumbing fittings.
