Plastic Recycling Heat Press for Less Than $300 USD

Polyethylene wrappers and bags are found everywhere. This heat press is a very effective - very fast and low cost to convert those trash plastic bags and wrappers into a panel. The panel can be formed and crafted into many different products! Make a chair, a table, a sign, a pickleball paddle holder, a fence post, a tray, a trash can large or small. The only limit you have is your imagination. P

Metal for the frame

A heater element from an electric oven

Aluminum for the heated surface

Mineral or ceramic high temperature insulation

Wire to connect heater elements to either 110v or 220v power

Teflon sheet or oil to protect the aluminum in the heat press from the hot plastic

Decide on the size of your heat press. Common sizes we use at WasteFree23.org is 9 x 32 inches and 12 x 48 inches. You can build any size.

Next decide if you will place a heater on the top only or both the top and the bottom. it is highly recommend to also heat the top as heating top and bottom will reduce the bonding time from 15 minutes to 5 minutes for 2 kilograms of plastic

With the size decided you will need to decide on a hinge design. A hinge is not required as the top of the heat press can be lifted and placed on the plastic. A hinge allows for faster loading and unloading. The hinge should allow for a stack of plastic upto 8 inches thick to be pressed down evenly.

The aluminum and heaters are the most critical components. THe aluminum should be at least 1/8" thick. It does not need to be a single piece as the aluminum is very conductive and a few breaks will have no impact. Thinner aluminum will not dissipate the heat as well and hot spots will result with uneven heating of the plastic and slower production times.

The heating element is the same as if found in electric ovens and electric cook tops. A new element is easiest to bend into shape but a used element is fine to use as long as you can still bend it to heat the aluminum

With the aluminum and heater ready to go - build the frame to secure everything to. Any metal will work - angle iron, square tube or round tube! High pressures are not needed for bonding the plastic so the structure does not have to be too strong.

Make the top and bottom frames.

You can choose to use temperature controllers. Any type will work. Typical press temperature is 160c. You can use a higher temperature to process a little faster but no matter what temperature you use the plastic should NEVER create smoke!

Connect the heaters to the electric cables to supply power. Make sure to ground the frame to the electrical and earth ground. Also make sure the wires are protected from the heat! typical insulation and wire nuts are not designed for and will melt and fail at 160c. Fiberglass high temperature wire wrap / insulation is available. I place it over wire with the low temp insulation and the fiberglass protects the wire from damage and shorting.

Insulating the heaters and aluminum is not required but the press will operate better, you will use 1/2 the electricity and it will be more comfortable if you have insulation. Ceramic or rock wool insulation works well. Fiberglass insulation that is common for homes may char and discolor if used.