>> Lee Meredith, also known by the moniker Leethal, is a designer, photographer, and creator of things, living in Portland, Ore. She sells the things she makes from recycled materials, and shows you how to make them yourself in her DIY blog and zine (do stuff!), all found at leethal.net.
All thrift store shoppers are well aware of the massive piles of worthless vinyl records that gather dust on the shelves at every Goodwill, Salvation Army, and Savers in the country. Sure, some of us enjoy the hunt for that rare Beatles or Madonna album for $1 that might sell for 20 times that at a used record store, but most modern crafters would rather listen to their iPods.
Poor unwanted vinyl, we can’t let it all go to the landfill! So, crafty thrifters, next time you see that dusty stack, dig through it for the wackiest covers, coolest artwork, and kitschiest designs; there’s plenty A to be done with both the vinyl and the sleeves!
MELTED VINYL BOWLS These are definitely the most common craft use for records, and they are popular for a reason. A great project for any level of craft experience, record bowls require nothing but a bowl and an oven, take very little time, and are ready to use right away. Of course, if you’re lucky enough to come across any colored records, grab them and enjoy the beautiful results of melted colored vinyl (Figure A)!
1. Preheat the oven to 200˚F and find an oven-safe bowl at least 10" in diameter. Grab some other bowls for shaping the vinyl — a few different sizes will add variety. While preheating, you can wash your old records like plates, and be sure to open a window for air circulation!
2. Flip the big bowl upside down, place a 12" vinyl LP record centered on top, and put it in the oven. Leave it for 3– 5 minutes, depending on the thickness of the vinyl. You can always throw it back in if it’s not pliable enough.
3. Once out, peel the record off (careful, it’s hot!) and put it into the same bowl or a cool one (Figure B).
You’ll have to act quickly before it hardens (in about 30 seconds), but you can shape it however you want. Simply pushing the record into a big bowl will create the classic wavy record bowl. You can also try pushing a second bowl into the hot vinyl from the top to flatten out the curves. Experiment with different-sized bowls and sandwiching methods to get new shapes.
You can also melt 45s, aka 7" records, using the same process but a bit less time in the oven; you’ll have more limited shaping options.
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