Make Holes in Plastic With a Hot Nail

I like the recycled bird feeder idea. Here is a faster, simpler way to make holes in any plastic without using a hammer. If you have a gas stove in your kitchen, I use a pair of long handled pliers to hold a longer nail. Just hold the pliers tight onto the nail and hold the nail over the low gas flame until the tip of the nail gets real hot. Only about 1/8th to 1/4 inch of the nail needs to be heated.

Then, holding the pliers let the nail touch the plastic where you wish to make the hole. Be sure to hold the pliers closed tight onto the nail so the nail can't fall from the pliers grip. The hot nail will melt a hole through the plastic. The larger the nail tip, the larger the hole will be. It's not a good idea to allow a child to hold the pliers or work near the flame.

Also when using either this idea or the hammer and nail idea, I suggest laying the plastic (bottle, other plastic, or even the tin can idea below) on a piece of scrap board to protect the place you are working on. Hope this is useful for someone who make items with plastic.

Bending an old wire or metal coat hanger (cut to desired size, I use pliers or wire cutters) will make a good handle for hanging the bird feeder or hanging many other things. So do not toss out that old worn out wire or metal coat hanger, re-use it for handles.

If you have a bench vice, you can use the bench to hold a small section, about 2-3 inches of thicker dowel, while you drill a hole through the wood large enough to slide the wire coat hanger through. Makes a more comfortable handle to hang on to for anything you need to carry.

This handle will also come in handy on an old empty coffee can to hang outside, half filled with sand, for smokers to place their cigarette stubs in instead of on the ground for you to pick up. I also paint the cans with pretty flowers and I leave the plastic cover pushed onto the bottom of the hanging can to protect the bottom of the can from the weather.

I use the hammer and nail idea to make the holes for the wire hanger and I hang the can on one of those metal plant holders that push into the ground and put it near my side door. It helps keep the smokers outside.

I hope some of this is helpful.

Source: These are just some ideas I found useful. I have used them for so many years, I cannot remember how I came up with these ideas.

By Dot from upstate NY