Stacy Risenmay

Do-it-yourself projects and Home Decor

Abstract Plastic Bowl

By 111 Comments

Art is subjective. And sometimes art comes in the form of a bowl. I totally get that an abstract, clear plastic, funky fruit bowl is not up everyone’s alley. But I love to mix in unexpected items into my decor. I think it gives the space interest and keeps it from being stale.

I have had this idea swimming around in my head for awhile now and when I saw that HomeRight made a  Heat Gun (affiliate link) I knew how I was going to make it happen. And luckily, as an ambassador, I get to try out their products! I also get to GIVEAWAY their products. So scroll down and enter :)

 

abstract plastic fruit bowl



plastic fruit bowl_edited-1

bowl of fruit

 

Supplies:

(affiliate links)

Leather Gloves

Needle Nose Pliers (optional)

Mask

Plexiglass

 Heat Gun

 

supplies

 

HomeRight Heat Gun

 

If I am being totally honest here, I was scared this was going to be a total FAIL. I had never tried to manipulate plexiglass and I didn’t know if I could take a square piece of something and turn it into a “round” bowl. But I think everything is worth a try so I gave it a shot.

Step #1

The plexiglass actually comes as a rectangle. It was cut on my table saw. Make sure you have a blade with smaller teeth so it doesn’t rip the edge up. Or you can use a knife that is meant to cut acrylic. Holed a straight edge up to the line and score it many times. Then snap it off.

cutting-plexiglass

Step #2

Peel the protective film off of both sides.

plexiglass sheets

Step #3

Place the plastic on top of a metal bowl to use as a mold of sorts.

plexiglas bowl

 

 

I will just throw it out there that you really should do this outside if possible. But it has been raining buckets here. BUCKETS. So my dining room gets turned into a workshop when the weather doesn’t cooperate. If you have to do in indoors, please have really good ventilation. I had all my windows and doors open and a fan on. I also wore a mask.

Make sure that the bowl or object you put the plexiglass on is tall enough. I realized as I went to bend the first corner down, that the bowl was not tall enough. I stacked a couple of paint cans under it. I know. Totally jimmy rigged and not very legit. If I were to do this again I would have placed the metal bowl on a metal stool I have. See, I get to make all the mistakes so you can do it better :)

 

melting plexiglass with heat gun

 

I also found that I needed something heavy on top to keep the plastic in place (centered) so I grabbed a heavy ceramic pitcher from the shelf next to me.

Step #4

I read the instructions before starting. Then I plugged it in and put it on setting 2 and on high heat. When you are bending the corners down, try to think about where it will need to bend in order to go down. Heat those places really well. Don’t worry about heating the entire space. I did along the top and the sides to allow it to bend down.

Once all of the corners are down, I flipped it right side up.

 

melting plexiglass (Warning: Bad cell phone pic! My camera battery died for a sec)

 

Sorry I don’t have a lot of in between pictures of the process. Between the gloves, holding a heat gun in one hand, and having no one to take the pictures for me, it was hard to document the process.

Step #5

This picture up above shows there is one last pointy side that needs bending. In order to do this, you WILL need to heat the whole surface area. Then when the whole area is heated up and soft, turn the heat gun off and set it on a safe surface (ex. concrete or something that won’t burn or melt). With your hands (that have leather gloves on them) squeeze the two side together to create a ripped, or wavy effect. I also went around and heated the first parts I did a bit more to make them more exaggerated. When I was reading about bending plexiglass online before attempting this project, one article said to be careful and not get the gun too close tot he plastic or else it would bubble. Well folks, I LOVE seeded glass so I decided to do it on purpose!

 

high heat makes the plexiglass bubble

bowl upclose

 

I didn’t go too crazy. I just did random spots here and there. But I love the effect! I loved the experience. I love knowing that even if I did this a thousand times they would all be unique. Now I am think of what else I can melt……

 

featured image

abstract bowl
detail about DIY plastic bowl

 

A few of the MANY projects you can do with a heat gun:

*Removing old paint *Removing bumper sticker or stickers on other surfaces *Making Crème brûlée  *Embossing *Shrink wrap (gifts, products, windows) *Thaw frozen pipes *Upholstering something in Vinyl *Heating floor adhesive for easier removal

 

So do you want to win one for yourself??? heat gun giveaway

 

Enter below using the rafflecopter widget. Give it a sec to load. Sometimes the old gal is slow.   *Must be 18 years or older and a resident of the USA at the time of the contest. Giveaway will run from August 27, 2014 until September 2, 2014. The winner will be chosen via random.org and notified by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.   a Rafflecopter giveawayDIY abstract bowl_edited-1 other posts


 

I was compensated for this review post but the project idea, thoughts, and opinions are all my own!

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  8. Wow Stacy I LOVE how this turned out! Plus it looks like a LOT of fun to make. It is really gorgeous with all the apples in it! (Really random, but this makes me think of that episode of Friends where Phoebe meets her brother and all he talks about is how he likes to melt stuff.)

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  13. i would use it to remove old paint. my boyfriend’s house needs help badly; but he is not a DIY’er… :D

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  15. I bought something very similar years ago — who knew! I happen to have a piece of acrylic on hand, I might just attempt it myself should I be so lucky as to win. Thanks for the opportunity!

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  21. This looks a lot safer and more productive than when I was a kid and melted spoons over the flame of the gas stove. Just sayin’

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  22. I would make crayon art by melting the crayons in specific patterns! I would probably make a bowl like this too!

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  28. I absolutely LOVE this artwork that you created with this HomeRight heat gun! I thought they were only for melting plastic wrap over fruit baskets! Now, I see an entirely new way of presenting fruit as a gift for the holidays! Thank you for taking the time to review this for us!

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  29. I love this!! Def want to make bowl, but would have so much fun with vinyl and no longer would have to use a hair dryer for vinyl work hehe.

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  35. I would make beads! I would also try to make a bowl or vase like you made and use seed beads for texture and color.

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  36. I would use it around the shop, like for heat shrink tubing and anything else that needed a little heat to fix or build. The melted bowl looks pretty cool and that’s a great application for a heat gun too.

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  48. Oh my! What a crafter could do with a heat gun! Love your bowl! I could do Shrinkies in an instant without having to heat up the oven. I wonder if it would work for shrink wrapping things?

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  49. Love this! The bubbles- they add to the organic feel of the bowl. A couple of safety notes: better to do this outside on concrete as the wood table could have been heat stripped or even caught fire (if done on tile the tile could crack with the heat). Also, paint is flammable as is the label on the can. I work in a big box DIY store and the stories you hear….
    That said I’m going to try this!

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    • Yes, there are lots of better way to do it for sure. Luckily the heat is very concetrated and it turned out ok. Next time (And I have decided I must melt plexiglass again!) It will outside on the driveway with a metal table :)

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  53. Heat guns remind me of scraping peeling paint, though thankfully I don’t have any of that right now. But I burned out my last heat gun so I’d like a replacement for the day when, indeed, I have paint peeling again. But, I love your bowl idea — totally cool. I’ll bet there are all sorts of cool things that could be created free form out of Plexiglas. I look forward to seeing what you put in the bowl as the seasons change. It reminds me of winter ice. You’re so creative, and daring! I feel emboldened to try this.

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  55. I would love to try to make a bowl like you did but I am afraid I would set my house on fire! The first thing I would do is use it to remove some vinyl stickers I have been trying to take off and then I would use it for all my crafts!
    Lisa K.

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  59. I’m not a big fan of modern or abstract typically, but I think this can be just a touch of “cool” in an otherwise traditional space. Thanks, Stacy!

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  60. That is amazing! I think I would do these as fun giveaways for party’s. Not sure how much the plexiglass sheets cost but I see different color ones for holidays. Also I would love to do a crayon melted canvas for my sons room. The list is endless.

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  61. I would definitely do the bowl! I’m moving across the country and a new heat gun would help me decorate!

    Awesome post!

    Hannah

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  66. Hello, I was making bowls out of old LP vinyl records and although they are pretty cool using the oven to melt them, I bet with a heat gun one can have more control with the shape. I would love to try it. Thanks for a great giveaway!

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  67. Ohhh I love this idea!!!! Just bought a house so this would be a great project for my table!!!! Would love to win one!!! :)

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  68. I. Would live to try a heat gun to remove trim paint that my builder put an additive tin that makes it sticky and rubbery. It has been 12 years and the paint has never hardened. I put wax paper on the shelves initially and it has permanently stuck to them. The builder made a totally ridiculous comment……it’s supposed to look like an older home!

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  78. I LOVE this bowl! Great, unique project idea. I used to melt records over a metal bowl in the oven. The heat gun seems like it would offer more control over the design.

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  84. I’d probably do what you did, it’s so neat looking! Plus being able to say I made it all on my own would be awesome!

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  87. I would have to do this project outside for sure. Those smells always give me a headache. Something to definitely try.

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  90. Awesome project! Still looking for something to melt? Have you ever tried records? They make great bowls as well – and Dali-style clocks :)

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  93. I am a disabled senior whom loves to do crafting. This is what keeps me going. This amazing heat gun that you are offering, looks and sounds axing! I know I could find many uses for it, so keep me in mind . Thank you and have a beautiful blessed day.

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  94. What a neat bowl!! Lol my husband’s rear view mirror fell off during a werid freezing night so he glued it back on in a hurry before work the next day and didn’t realize it was upside down until he finished. So we have a heat gun because he had to remove it and redo it. Great pictures. What is approximate size of the plexiglass used?

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  95. Haha, this makes me think of Phoebe’s brother from friends. Phoebe: ‘So uhm, what kind of things do you like to do at home?’ Frank: ‘Melt stuff’.

    But, I really like the bowl! ;)

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  96. I love this idea and I really want to do it. but what do you know about the toxins or possible toxins released from melting plexi?

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  97. Just a suggestion, but you should sand those edge smooth before heating, using heavy gloves and medium sandpaper block. The edges are as sharp and glass, sanding makes a nicer finished piece.

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  99. So COOL! I’m wondering about the edges. Are they sharp? Would running your finger along them cut the skin? Just trying to assess kid use vs adult art! Thanks so much.

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  101. NO WAY — PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS INDOORS! This project is far too toxic for indoor settings. Also – the dust mask you show is not made to filter chemical fumes from super-heated acrylic sheeting. I don’t believe that OPTIX brand (Plexiglas Co.) would approve of this VERY DANGEROUS use of their product. PLEASE advise your followers NOT to attempt this indoors, regardless of ventilation. If they try it, they must wear an OSHA approved VAPOR MASK. NEVER NEVER heat plastics in the presence of children, pets, and/or pregnant women!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  5. […] Arts and crafts are a great way to de-stress. With this tutorial and your trusty heat gun you can make great bowls and centerpieces for your home, as gifts, or to sell for some extra income! Check them out here for golden snake bowl and here for abstract bowl. […]

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