Alexei Volkov
Shrinky Dinks® is a fun craft toy that was created in 1973 and became popular in the 1980s. They are made of thin, bendy sheets of polystyrene plastic. Before heating, they can be coloured and cut into different shapes. When baked in the oven, they shrink to about one-third of their original size, get nine times thicker, and harden. The only type of plastic that shrinks well in the oven is #6 plastic, which is often used to make clear boxes for carrying food.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic type | Polystyrene, also known as #6 recycled plastic |
| Plastic sources | Clear plastic containers, deli boxes, to-go container lids, etc. |
| Oven temperature | 300–375 °F (150–190 °C) |
| Baking time | 1–3.5 minutes |
| Plastic thickness | Grows nine times thicker |
| Plastic size | Shrinks to about one-third of its original size |
| Plastic state | Hardens after baking |
| Plastic design | Retains colors and designs added before baking |
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What You'll Learn
The best type of plastic to shrink in the oven
Shrinky Dinks® is a fun craft toy made of thin, bendy sheets of polystyrene plastic. They were created in 1973 and were very popular in the 1980s. You can colour, cut, and bake these sheets into different shapes. When you put them in the oven, they shrink to about one-third of their original size, get nine times thicker, and become harder. However, they retain the colours and designs you added.
Polystyrene, also known as #6 recycled plastic, is the best type of plastic to shrink in the oven. It is often used to make clear boxes for carrying food in restaurants or grocery stores. When heated, polystyrene shrinks and curls up, and then flattens out again. This is because the tiny parts that make up polystyrene, called chains, go back to a jumbled-up shape. These chains have a memory of this jumbled shape, even though they were stretched out and frozen in a different form when first made.
You can buy Shrinky Dinks® at craft stores, or you can make something similar at home using clear plastic containers (made of recycled plastic #6) such as those used for sandwiches and salads. You can cut, smooth, and decorate these containers just like Shrinky Dinks®. Look for plastic containers with a #6 stamp, as this is the only type of plastic that shrinks well in the oven.
To shrink plastic in the oven, first preheat your oven to 325–350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, decorate your plastic with permanent markers and cut out your desired shapes. If you plan to make a charm, punch a hole in your design before baking. Next, arrange your plastic pieces on a sheet pan with a piece of parchment paper underneath to prevent sticking. Place the baking sheet on the middle rack of your oven and bake for 1–3 minutes. Keep a close eye on the plastic as it shrinks. Once your designs have uncurled and flattened out again, they are done and can be removed from the oven. Allow the plastic to cool before handling.
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How to prepare plastic to be shrunk in the oven
To prepare plastic to be shrunk in the oven, you will need to start by finding the right type of plastic. The plastic that is most commonly used for shrinking crafts is polystyrene, otherwise known as #6 recycled plastic. This type of plastic is often used for clear boxes in restaurants or grocery stores.
Once you have the right plastic, you can begin to create your design. If you want to create a charm, it is recommended to use a hole puncher to put a hole in the plastic before you shrink it. You can then decorate the plastic with permanent markers, colouring pencils, crayons, paint pens, chalks, or inks. You can also print a design onto the plastic, but be sure to print it at 50% so that it is not too dark after shrinking.
After decorating, cut out your design, keeping as close to the edge as possible. You can also trim away any curved corners or other parts of the plastic that are not completely straight. Place your plastic design on a sheet pan or cookie sheet with a piece of parchment paper underneath to prevent sticking.
Now you are ready to place your plastic in the oven. Preheat your oven to around 325-350 degrees Fahrenheit. The oven needs to be fairly hot, but there is no set time for shrinking, so you will need to keep a close eye on your plastic. The plastic will begin to curl and then flatten out again as it shrinks, and the whole process should take around 2-3 minutes. Once your design has uncurled and flattened out, remove it from the oven and leave it to cool.
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How long to bake plastic in the oven for
When baking plastic in the oven, the duration of the baking process will depend on a few factors, including the type of plastic, the thickness of the material, and the desired level of shrinkage or effect. It's important to note that not all plastics are suitable for baking, and only specific types of plastic are designed to shrink when heated. The most common type of shrink plastic is polystyrene, which is often used for crafting and art projects.
Typically, the baking time for plastic in the oven can range from a few seconds to several minutes. Thin sheets of plastic will require a shorter baking time, usually around 30 seconds to one minute. During this time, the plastic will soften and become pliable, allowing you to shape it if needed. If you are working with thicker pieces of plastic or desire more shrinkage, you may need to extend the baking time to two or three minutes. It's important to monitor the plastic closely during the baking process, as overheating can cause the plastic to become brittle or produce harmful fumes.
The oven temperature also plays a crucial role in baking plastic. Preheat your oven to a low temperature setting, typically between 150 to 175 degrees Celsius (300 to 350 degrees Fahrenheit). This temperature range is sufficient to soften and shrink the plastic without burning or damaging it. Place the plastic on a baking sheet or in an oven-safe container, and ensure proper ventilation in the room to avoid inhaling any potential fumes.
Once the desired baking time has elapsed, turn off the oven and allow the plastic to cool gradually inside. Removing the plastic while it's still hot can result in rapid cooling, which may affect the final shape and quality of your project. After the plastic has cooled completely, which usually takes a few minutes, you can remove it from the oven and handle it carefully. If necessary, use gloves or tongs to avoid direct contact with the heated plastic.
It's important to emphasize that baking plastic in the oven requires caution and adherence to safety guidelines. Always work in a well-ventilated area and follow the specific instructions provided by the manufacturer of the plastic material you are using. Some plastics may have slightly different temperature or time requirements, so referring to the manufacturer's instructions is crucial for optimal results and safety.
Additionally, be mindful of the potential hazards associated with baking plastic. Overheating plastic can release toxic fumes, so ensure that the oven temperature is correctly set and never leave the plastic unattended during the baking process. Always supervise children if they are involved in craft projects that require baking plastic, and ensure they understand the safety precautions. By following these instructions and staying vigilant, you can safely bake plastic in the oven to achieve the desired shrinkage and create unique craft projects.
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What temperature to heat the oven to
The ideal temperature to heat the oven to depends on the type of plastic being used.
For polystyrene, or #6 plastic, the oven should be heated to around 325-350 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the temperature range in which polystyrene will shrink to about a third of its original size. It is important to note that the plastic will curl up initially but will flatten out as it continues to heat and shrink uniformly. The whole process should take somewhere between 1 and 3.5 minutes.
For other types of plastic, a lower temperature of 170 degrees Celsius is recommended. This is because the plastic will shrink to a fraction of its original size in just a few minutes at this temperature.
It is important to keep a close eye on the plastic while it is in the oven, as the exact shrinking time will vary depending on the size and type of plastic. Additionally, it is crucial to ensure proper ventilation during this process as melting plastic may release fumes.
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What to do with plastic after it's been shrunk
Shrinky Dinks is a fun craft toy made of thin, bendy sheets of polystyrene plastic. This plastic is also known as #6 recycled plastic and is often used to make clear boxes for carrying food in restaurants or grocery stores. When heated in the oven, polystyrene shrinks and curls up, and then flattens out again.
Once your Shrinky Dinks have been baked and cooled, there are many things you can do with them. They can be used to make necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and other types of jewellery. They can also be used as keyrings, hair clips, pendants, rings, brooches, luggage tags, sun catchers, or even embellishments for scrapbooking or other crafts.
If you want to turn your Shrinky Dinks into charms, it's a good idea to use a hole puncher to make a hole in the plastic before you bake it. This will be much harder to do once the plastic has been shrunk. You can then use jump rings, wire, or string to attach your charms to a bracelet or necklace.
You can also draw or trace pictures onto clear shrink plastic and then shrink them until they're the desired size. This is a great way to make tool charms or other types of jewellery. If you forget to punch a hole before shrinking, you can carefully drill one after the plastic has cooled, being sure not to get too close to the edge.
When colouring your Shrinky Dinks, it's important to remember that the colours will darken as the plastic shrinks. So, when using pencils and chalks, you don't need to colour as darkly as you might think. The colours will also blend together more as the plastic shrinks, so keep this in mind when creating your designs.
Overall, there are endless possibilities for what you can do with plastic after it's been shrunk. Whether you're making jewellery, charms, or other crafts, Shrinky Dinks is a fun and creative way to express your artistic side.
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Frequently asked questions
The process involves cutting plastic into desired shapes, decorating them with permanent markers, and baking them in the oven at 325-350 degrees Fahrenheit. The plastic shrinks to a smaller size and becomes thicker and harder.
Polystyrene plastic, also known as #6 recycled plastic, is suitable for shrinking in the oven. It is often found in clear containers used for food packaging.
The plastic typically takes around 2 to 3 minutes to shrink in the oven. It is important to keep a close eye on the process as the timing may vary.
Yes, oven-shrunk plastic, also known as Shrinky Dinks, can be used to create jewellery such as necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and charms. You can punch holes in the plastic before baking to make it easier to turn them into jewellery.
It is normal for the plastic to curl up during the shrinking process. It will eventually flatten out, and you can remove it from the oven once it has uncurled and flattened again.
