This instructable is about how to make a bowl out of a record.

This instructable calls for:
1. An LP Vinyl Record (or another size if you want a smaller bowl)
2. A Cookie Sheet
3. An Oven-Safe Bowl which is about the shape and size you want your record bowl to be
4. An Oven
5. Oven Mitts
6.

Step 1: Step 1: Choose a Vinyl Record

Choosing the record is an important step. There are a couple guidelines I would put in place for making your choice.

1. Choose something with a pretty design on it as it will be the base of the bowl (As seen in the picture below) or another option is that you could draw or print a design on a piece of paper and paste it on after the bowl is formed. If you do not want to go for a pretty picture you could use a record that has meaning, say your favorite band from the 70s (though keep in mind that the disk will be ruined and unplayable). Also, when choosing a record please try to pick ones that have scratches across them or are otherwise unusable since you will be ruining them anyways (: You do not want to make any record collectors angry.

2. If you do not have your own records, I would suggest looking for one in a relative's attic (if they do not mind), or go to the thrift store (that is where I got mine, it cost me about a dollar)

3. It will be better to have the larger vinyl records and have the material not too thick. (The ones in the picture are the smaller disks as far as I can tell, I think the larger size is called an LP)

4. Check the record on ebay to make sure it is not valuable, who would want to ruin a record they could get good money for? (:

The record I chose was a Disneyland one with the songs form Robin Hood, (see second picture of finished product) this movie was one of my favorites from when I was a kid, plus when I found it at the thrift store it had a huge scratch on it.

Step 2: Step 2: Find a Bowl to Use

You will want to pick an oven safe bowl that is about the shape and size that you want your record bowl to be. You might want it a bit bigger than the final product will be. The Graduated size bowls in glass or metal would be a good choice (glass pictured). Or like what I used which is a bit more angled at the bottom edge (not quite sure how to explain it but it is in the second picture, a picture from a later step).

Step 3: Step 3: Preheat the Oven

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees

Step 4: Step 4: Stacking

Stack the bowl on top of the cookie sheet, with the bowl upside down and then place the record centered on top. The side you want to be the inside of your bowl should be against the bowl you have chosen as your guide.

Step 5: Step 5: Put It in the Oven

Place the Cookie Sheet, Bowl, and Record in the oven. Leave them in the oven for about 8-10 minutes.

Step 6: Step 6: Take It Out of the Oven

After the 8-10 minutes are done the record should look about like the first picture, but probably with only four main points. You are going to want to take it out of the oven (using oven mitts) and start shaping it to how you want it to look, which is what the first picture shows. I found that the record got hard again fast, so I chose to put it back in the oven (another couple minutes (2-3) did the trick for me) until it was pliable again.

Step 7:

After the second time I decided to use the inside of the bowl to help with forming the edges. I turned the metal bowl over and stuck the record inside. I used my hands with oven mitts on to press the folds and get them in the shape I wanted.

Step 8: Step 8: Final Step

I then let the record cool for a bit and then pulled it out of the bowl. I opened up the bowl a bit, keeping the folds intact and made it so the bowl had a wider opening. You can see my finished project in the picture. (:

Step 9: Now That You Have a Record Bowl, What Can You Use It For?

I personally would not use the bowl for food of any kind. I have heard that when you put it in the oven fumes are released and I would not want food near that, plus the fact that there is a hole in the middle makes food fall out.

I use my bowl as kind of a catch all bowl, once I move into my dorm and back to college I will be putting it near my door to put my keys and other various and sundry items into it.

You could possibly use the bowl as a flowerpot, if you either find a way to plug the bottom hole or have something on the bottom to catch the draining off water. This would only work if you did not get the record for the label because the label would probably be ruined.

You could make a whole bunch with one flat side and hang them from the wall and use them as a shelf maybe. Or without flat sides and just as decoration on the wall

You could make several and use them as organization containers on a shelf somewhere.

You could used one as a candle holder.

Have another idea? Let me know and I will try to add it here along with credit to you!