DIY pick handles from recycled HDPE

[bembel]

I stumbled upon this video about recycling HDPE for making slingshots. Very interesting.
Of course it can also be used for so many other things - one thing that came instantly to my mind was making pick handles.
I haven't tried it yet but they say it can be cut or sanded down like wood.
There are plenty of similar videos out there, just type in "HDPE".

[bembel]

Wrong link, the young fellow with the slingshots was here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpXq6mnbCus
But the videos describe almost the same method.

[femurat]

It's nice to recycle things. The only concern is hdpe is quite soft and flexible, not good qualities for a pick handle.

If you try it out let us know how you like it.

Cheers

[Joshua904]

Ive checked his videos out before. He uses the stuff for custom knife handles as well. If you came up with a good handle design and made molds for it, you could pump them out pretty fast, depending on your bottle lid supply.

[bembel]

From what I can see in the linked videos, especially in the beginning of the first one, it doesn't look too soft or flexible to me.
I think it's a fascinating method to create various and even colorful things, not only pick handles.
Now I have to start collecting bottle caps...

[Jacob Morgan]

Here is a source for do-it-yourself injection molding instructions. http://gingerybookstore.com/page3.html There is a video of it in use here: https://youtu.be/hvJil9lilE0 Have never read that book, but I have a couple of other books written by that author and they are good. This would more for an experimenter or a model shop.

Next time I make some picks I may see if I can find some left over wood veneer banding. Nice looking thin wood with adhesive already on it, might work just find.

[PowerHaus930]

I like the idea for making handles but unless you want a specific color and/or want to wait to collect bottle caps I'm almost positive that plastic milk jugs are made from HDPE. It would be easy to test out the idea with milk jugs and find out if you like it before going to all of the trouble of saving bottle caps only to find out that you don't like it. I'm sure there are plenty of other things that are made from HDPE. Just do a search on google to find out what else is made from it.

[kwoswalt99-]

It doesn't really seem to live up to its name if it floats in water.

[Joshua904]

In one of his tutorial videos he tells you what to look for as far as the recycle logos go. It's pretty much any plastic bottle lid, including the Gatorade ones, which aren't soft and flimsy at all.

Also sure you can use the bottles, cut up into strips but people avoid it because of the toxic fumes you get when you melt it... Which apparently the hdpe doesn't emit, or some crap like that. I looked into it once before but never pursued it.

What I did learn is- you can get mold clay kits from arts and crafts stores, and just make 2 piece handles. Once you are happy, and trim the excessive, you can sammich your naked pick (I'd drill a few holes in the pick), then toss it in the oven while it's being compressed. It will fuse the two halves. Like above, one of his videos will tell you the temps to bake at (if I remember correctly it had to do with how-to make your own hdpe block blanks)

[Latestplague[]]

Thanks for posting this link I enjoyed watching it, also think you could make great handles with this material once you have a solid piece I believe it would be plenty rigid enough. Someone should show this to NASA a kid like this is the future in new innovations. When I grew up we had to hand carve sling shots. Most kids today buy them. Thumbs up to this guy making something cool he can have pride in.

[inJapan]

I think it's a nice idea, but the plastic has many air bubbles which end up as imperfections. I can only imagine, a small imperfection in the wrong place could really bother you. No, I don't think it's worth it. If you want to make your own material, I would go for casting lead coated with something. Or even fiberglass.

Also, I don't get what some of you are on about it not being up to standard if it floats. And what's wrong with soft Material.?

Personally I think a little play in your pick would make you a better lockpicker. All the stiff super hard materials only adds unnecessary tension.

[bembel]

Today I started my first attempt of making a handle. Instead of all the melting like in the videos I simply cut strips out of an empty cleaning bottle and put it on the pick, 4 on each side. Then I melted them in the oven and pressed them together with a vice. Worked out very well and the material is absolutely suitable.
Yet there is still some room for improvement. Next time I will put them together with metal clamps.

[inJapan]

Today I started my first attempt of making a handle. Instead of all the melting like in the videos I simply cut strips out of an empty cleaning bottle and put it on the pick, 4 on each side. Then I melted them in the oven and pressed them together with a vice. Worked out very well and the material is absolutely suitable.
Yet there is still some room for improvement. Next time I will put them together with metal clamps.

Now that sounds like a brilliant idea. I'm going to give it a go later today. Thanks for the insight.

[PowerHaus930]

What temperature did you use and how long was it in the oven? I'm not an expert on metals or tempering but wouldn't the heating of the pick in the oven change the temper of the steel?

[bembel]

@inJapan: You will need something that holds everything in place and the clamps should apply some pressure to it. A vise shouldn't be needed this way.
Please let me know how it worked out.

@PowerHaus930: 180°Celsius which is 356°Fahrenheit for about 20 minutes.
There should be no negative effects on a hacksaw blade.