It is important to make sure that the plastic will not spill on the oven surfaces if it becomes totally liquid. If it does, it can be difficult to remove. [1] X Research source
In fact, if the heat is too high, the plastic will smoke and burn quickly.
Also consider wearing a respirator like these to avoid inhaling any fumes. [3] X Trustworthy Source US Occupational Safety and Health Administration U. S. government agency responsible for setting and enforcing workplace safety standards Go to source
Melted plastic can be put into a mold to shape it. You can use a pre-made heat resistant mold or make your own. If you want a particular shape, it may be best to make your own mold out of wood. Cooled plastic that has hardened can be cut and then sanded into whatever shape you like.
However, styrofoam, which can be identified by its light and airy consistency, will disintegrate when heated. Avoid melting this type of plastic.
Heat guns typically have low and high settings. The low setting heats to about 500 °F (260 °C) and the high setting heats to about 1,000 °F (538 °C). You may be able to rent a heat gun from your local home improvement store. However, they typically cost under 50 dollars (USD), so if you plan on using it several times it’s probably best to buy one.
Having the plastic on a surface outside will minimize the risk of you inhaling fumes as it is melted. When heating plastic you can release hazardous fumes, such as dioxins. To avoid breathing them in, put on a respirator that is designed to filter fumes out. [7] X Trustworthy Source US Occupational Safety and Health Administration U. S. government agency responsible for setting and enforcing workplace safety standards Go to source
If you only want to melt the plastic to smooth it out or bend it, then only a small amount of heat may be necessary. If you want to melt a piece of plastic completely, then you should repeatedly go over the surface of it with the heat gun.
Go over the entire piece of plastic with sweeping motions. This will melt the whole piece of plastic as evenly as possible.
Remember not to pick up the plastic or container it is in without wearing gloves if it is still hot.
Get pure acetone, as it will work better than a mixed solvent solution for dissolving plastic.
For instance, acetone works well to melt abs plastic, which is a hard plastic that has many common applications. Acetone also instantly melts Styrofoam into a gummy, runny consistency.
If you are using the acetone to melt a small area of a piece of plastic, use a cotton swab to apply the acetone to the surface. This can be handy if you are melting hard abs plastic together to fix a crack.
If you only used a little bit of acetone to melt small area on your plastic, you can either rinse that area with cool water or just let the acetone evaporate. While the plastic is still malleable, mold it into whatever shape you like.
