Introduction: Vinyl Record Bowl

About: I'm just a graphic designer that gets bored sitting at the computer all the time. You can check out my YouTube page at youtube.com/user/likeomgjess or my tumblr at http://likeomgjess.tumblr.com

Anyone can make this fun, vintage bowl in less than ten minutes with barely any materials.

Step 1: Materials

Two or three oven-proof nesting bowls (preferrably metal) - I used three just to make the process quicker because I was making 30.
Old records - I got mine from a yard sale for 25 cents each.
Baking sheet
Oven
Oven mitt

Step 2: Melting the Records

Pre-heat your oven to 200 degrees.

Then turn the smaller of the bowls (middle-size if you have three) upside down on your baking sheet & place the record (centered) on top of it.

Put your record in your pre-heated oven for about 5 minutes, just until the record starts to droop over your bowl.
I don't have any pictures of this drooping because you have to be so quick with the next step, that I just didn't have time to take pictures.

Step 3: Molding Your Bowl

As soon as you take your record out of the oven, quickly put it inside of the larger bowl. Then place the smaller bowl in the middle.
Mold the edges of the bowl as you desire to make wavy shapes. The more wavy & abstract the better. I have made some with less waves before, and they looks a little too plain.

You only have about 30 seconds to a minute before the record will start to cool and harden.

I really recommend just sucking it up and using your bare hands to do this unless you have skin-tight heatproof gloves.

Step 4: Suggestions for Use & Cautions

Records are not exactly made to be food-safe. The labels are also not waterproof. What that means is no cereal bowls for you.

Keep the windows open, or at least have decent ventilation, while making these. The fumes can get to be a little much even though you don't really smell them. Rumor has it they may be slightly toxic, but that's generally how melting plastic is.

I took Oreo truffles in one of these bowls to a football party once. All you do is put some plastic cling wrap in the bowl before you put the food in it. That way the food isn't in direct contact with the bowl, and there's no worry about how to clean the bowl after.

I use a couple of these around my house as catch-all bowls for things like change, receipts, random cords, etc., but they also make excellent (wrapped) candy bowls.

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