Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

You are here: MacNN Forums > Community > MacNN Lounge > Best Ways to Chop Up a Milk Crate?

Best Ways to Chop Up a Milk Crate?
Thread Tools
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Online
Reply With Quote
Dec 9, 2011, 03:08 AM
 
Haven't worked much with plastic except to know most of my ideas will melt* rather than cut. The waffle bottom is what I need most, but slicing up the sides into four pieces is worth bonus points.

Thoughts?


*Some melting is fine, it's more I don't want to gum up good blades. If I need to get some cheap blades and pitch them afterwards, that's okay too.
     
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: 93
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 9, 2011, 03:40 AM
 
hack saw? chain saw? blow torch?

93 93/93
     
Professional Poster
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: UK
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 9, 2011, 03:46 AM
 
Lightsabre.
MacBook 2.0GHz CD; MacBook Pro 15" 2.4GHz Late '08; PowerMac G4 MDD Dual 1GHz; 3x Xserve G4 1GHz; Mac Mini 2GHz; Big pile of broken and working bits;
     
Professional Poster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Across the river from Trump Chicago
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 9, 2011, 04:48 AM
 
reciprocating saw and a Dremel

Barack Obama: Four more years of the Carter Presidency
     
Professional Poster
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: France
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 9, 2011, 04:49 AM
 
Originally Posted by Waragainstsleep View Post
Lightsabre.
SERIOUS bonus points there.
XBL : Ze Veteran
     
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Vacation.
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 9, 2011, 04:49 AM
 
The razor-sharp wit of a used Canuckistani?
Been inclined to wander... off the beaten track.
That's where there's thunder... and the wind shouts back.
     
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: San Antonio TX USA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 9, 2011, 05:28 AM
 
To cut most plastic plastic, you need a VERY sharp, very high point count blade going very fast, and then you have to be attentive to how the plastic reacts. This "non-melt" plastic cutting saw blade will probably help; it's designed to minimize the heating/melting effect.

I'm interested to see what you're building with milk crate parts...
Glenn -----
OTR/L, MOT, Tx
     
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Washington, DC
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 9, 2011, 08:38 AM
 

"One ticket to Washington, please. I have a date with destiny."
     
Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: This is not my beautiful house
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 9, 2011, 08:40 AM
 
     
Professional Poster
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 9, 2011, 10:00 AM
 
I'd say a hand-held circular saw with a blade for plastics. I'd clamp the milkcart side to a board on a workbench. With the board being on the inside of the milkcrate.

I would say cut the bottom off first. then cut the sides apart.

edit: A table circular saw with a plastics blade would probably do it faster, too, if you have a friend with one.

edit 2:Oh, I see ghporter had a link to the blade.
Mac Pro Dual 3.0 Dual-Core
MacBook Pro
     
Professional Poster
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: UK
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 9, 2011, 10:53 AM
 
Do you think it would gum up an angle grinder? Not the most accurate of cutting tools though.
MacBook 2.0GHz CD; MacBook Pro 15" 2.4GHz Late '08; PowerMac G4 MDD Dual 1GHz; 3x Xserve G4 1GHz; Mac Mini 2GHz; Big pile of broken and working bits;
     
subego  (op)
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Online
Reply With Quote
Dec 9, 2011, 02:53 PM
 
Thanks for all the suggestions!

Let's see, I have no lightsaber, or other powered cutting tools, except for a Dremel, which would get trashed. I'm leaning towards Thorzdad's keyhole saw idea. I figure get a cheap one and not be bothered if it gets sacrificed.

I'm going to be using the pieces individually to put in front of lights to cast interesting shadows. If you've ever heard of a cuculoris, these pieces will be cratealoris.
     
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Cape Cod, MA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 9, 2011, 03:08 PM
 
Regular circular saw with a carbide blade will work fine, the less aggressive the blade the more gumming up you're going to get.
     
subego  (op)
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Online
Reply With Quote
Dec 9, 2011, 03:28 PM
 
Circular saw falls into the "powered cutting tools" category.

Now, I want a Saws-All, but I don't think I can justify it for milk crates.
     
Professional Poster
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: UK
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 9, 2011, 04:54 PM
 
Angle grinders are cheap enough. And fun.
MacBook 2.0GHz CD; MacBook Pro 15" 2.4GHz Late '08; PowerMac G4 MDD Dual 1GHz; 3x Xserve G4 1GHz; Mac Mini 2GHz; Big pile of broken and working bits;
     
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Great White North
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 9, 2011, 05:37 PM
 
Originally Posted by subego View Post
Haven't worked much with plastic except to know most of my ideas will melt* rather than cut. The waffle bottom is what I need most, but slicing up the sides into four pieces is worth bonus points.

Thoughts?


*Some melting is fine, it's more I don't want to gum up good blades. If I need to get some cheap blades and pitch them afterwards, that's okay too.
12 gauge shotgun and lots of ammo
Brian says (9:16 AM): I was looking at houses in Ottawa... I actually have a temptation in me to move
Jeff ******* says (9:19 AM): Eww, Ottawa is gross. It's infested with politicians, and presently, 1 Harper as well.
     
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: California
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 9, 2011, 05:40 PM
 
     
subego  (op)
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Online
Reply With Quote
Dec 10, 2011, 04:36 AM
 
Me and Cold Steel are already buds.

     
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: California
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Dec 10, 2011, 09:54 AM
 
NIcE
     
   
Thread Tools
Forum Links
Forum Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On
Top
Privacy Policy
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:36 PM.
All contents of these forums © 1995-2011 MacNN. All rights reserved.
Branding + Design: www.gesamtbild.com
vBulletin v.3.8.7 © 2000-2011, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd., Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.3.2