DIY: Plastic Cup Coasters - Use Caution

Caution: "Baking" plastic releases chemicals into the air.

I tried the plastic cup coaster hack at:

https://youtu.be/qtPeeCgayRU

2:23

I don’t consider plastic cups “waste” because I wash and reuse them but was curious about this process.

I placed wax paper on my toaster oven tray before I baked the cup.

I baked one cup at 400 degrees for 2-5 minutes. It was quick, but I kept waiting for the cup to flatten out further. I pulled it out before it began burning.

It never flatten out enough to become a coaster.

I tried it again with a lighter weight plastic cup. This time I oiled the wax paper because I wondered if the cup got stuck on the wax paper and could not flatten out.

While it flattened out better, parts of the edge were uneven. It could be used as a coaster but its imperfections made it unattractive.

 

Boy, that statement says a lot. That I would find imperfections unattractive, whew!

I know we seek symmetry in all things. But, imperfections is part of our DNA, it's what makes each of us different.

Got to learn to love the imperfections.

Oh, I won't be making any more plastic cup coasters, the kitchen smelled strongly of chemicals after only "baking" two plastic cups. I have no idea what chemicals were released into the air but I don't think they are good for your health.