How can I reuse or recycle old vinyl 45s?
We’ve had an email from Scott Jones:
I have a bunch of old 45′s that are worthless and I feel awful just throwing them out. Any suggestions?
In my younger days, I worked at my local hospital radio and remember feeling the same way when they planned to dump a load of old records – both 7″ singles and full albums. I scavenged the ones that weren’t in good enough condition to charity shop and decorated storage boxes with them at home, particularly boxes to hold my own CD collection just for the juxtaposition of the usurped technology alongside the newer one.
I’ve also seen 45s turned into clocks – with the hands etc sticking through the hole in the middle – and ashtrays. If Scott doesn’t feel up to doing that type of thing, perhaps someone on his local Freecycle group might.
Has anyone got any other suggestions for reuses or for recycling them?
(Photo by andybahn)
Hello,
many designers use old LPs to make objects for the house. Check the website for an example.
Hello,
many designers use old LPs to make objects for the house. Check the website for an example.
http://www.onsustain.com/?lay=8&id=206
if they’re in good condition, frame them and make some art.
some people collect them.
Why are they worthless? Plenty of people still listen to vinyl- give them to a charity shop for someone else to enjoy. Re-use beats recycling.
Why not just give them to me? I’ll give them some TLC and play them out again…
email me at djkosch@hotmail.com
In fact if anybody has records then pass them my way.
turn them into purses by hotglue-ing them to fabric. they’re gorgeous :]
You could post them on Freecycle which is at http://www.freecycle.org
could you make an unsual garden windchime type thing from them??? or layer them on the side of a shed for an unusual feature?
could you use them as a funky placemats or small ones as coasters?
This website shows how to take old records and make them into bowls. Pretty neat in my opinion.
http://www.craftbits.com/viewProject.do?projectID=621
You can also contact me.
dig@cratediggers.com
The reason to recycle some vinyl LPs is that they are scratched beyond playing.
Supposedly they are exploring recycling vinyl in Europeand Japan. How about some good old Amerian ingenuity?!
You should cross-reference the record on eBay before destroying it — could be worth something. You could also donate it to your local Goodwill or Salvation Army. Many record collectors out there.
You can make bowls by heating the oven to 130′Celcius and put them in over top of an upturned bowl for 5 minutes till they’re soft then bend them how you want.
Make them into art!
http://www.gnarledbranch.com/recordart.html
I painted an old REO Speedwagon LP. It seemed to serve better as a canvas than good music.
Make a tie hanger: http://majkascrafttutorials.blogspot.com/2009/01/cds-ties-hanger.html
Book ends?
when i took shop in school-there was a machine that used flat round lucite-i would press down a handle-it would shape the lucite into a corrugated dish-flat bottom and about a 2 inch uniform corrugated side all around. i used it with records-what a nice dish-where can i get this machine-i am 54 and need a hobby. Please email w/subject vinyl dishes. THANKS
I make clocks. the hole in the middle is perfect, decorate wih almost anything. Clock works can be purchased and install easy. Quickly you have a one of a kind clock.
I’ve started a MEDIA RECYCLING PROJECT in Oxfordshire because I’ve got quite a few LPs & singles which nobody wants and I don’t want to put them into the Landfill or PAY to have them recycled – so if you live in or around Oxfordshire… drop me an e-mail! OR we can collect if you’ve got enough tapes (Within a reasonable distance or course!)
We are collecting all types of “Media” – Video & Audio tapes, Computer disks, Floppy disks, cds, dvds, reel to reel, 8mm, records, etc. to be recycled. We erase the tapes (Degauss), strip them down to separate the different types of plastics, shred them then sell the plastic to companies to make new items!
Any profit we make we will be giving back to the community
John Pring
Coordinator
Media Recycling Project