"Whatcha doin?" "Oh nuthin' just melting milk jugs in a toaster oven."

"I will use it. A lot". A burglar attempting his house would get the living daylight beat out of him. With a bunch of milk jugs. Awesome work.

Slick - looks a bit like marble.

I'm looking to make a milk jug out of mallets. Anyone have any advice?

This is the first video that turned me onto this channel and I have been a subscriber ever since. Coming back all these years later, It's crazy to see how much he's grown and how his style changes with it.

I thought this was a frozen solid block of milk from the thumbnail.

it looks like a mock marble mallet

Cool mallet, cool melting! I like it's texture!

3:20 is what my parents were like when I was born.

Ha! I have that same knife you use at 0:40. It's in so many of my videos. Best. Knife. Ever.

OMG!!!!!! NO LIE! Today I've been in the process of filming and making an HDPE mallet. As I was letting it cool, I turned on KZfaq and your video was just uploaded! I have to send you a pic , so crazy! Although the mallet is a little different, I'm still blown away! Ha! Good job!

That's so cool Peter, I think you've earned your own blender for the shop. Great video funny stuff.

“I’m gonna use milk juuuugs >:3c” this is the most malicious recycling has ever sounded.

both hdpe (type 2) and polypropylene (type 5) will melt in a domestic oven at around 220 deg celsius without emitting any toxic fumes.

Going off the beaten path is how I found your channel. Keep it up. I love it.

I never knew you could melt the plastic and reform it, something tells me I will be trying this out. As usual a fun and informative video from Peter.

Don't suppose one can post pics into KZfaq comments huh? Well if I could, I'd show off my HDPE mallet. Your work introduced me to the concept of melting down HDPE so - owning no jointers mallets - I figured I'd reproduce your efforts. I thank you sincerely for sharing this. My mallet head consists of 7 jugs and one cool whip container. I initially processed the first two jugs to a ridiculous extent, cutting them into small (1cm sq) cuts which took a solid 2-1/2 hrs - after that...and a blister on my thumb from hours of scissor work...I went with far larger cuts...which obviously worked just fine. The annoying part was melting the HDPE as my toaster oven is cheap and the temperature setting way off. I had to use a volt meter equipped with a K-type thermocouple to monitor the real-time temperature and do my darndest to keep it around 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Gotta work the stuff while it's hot and manhandle it into the mold but I got it. It took a nice finish with sanding up to 400grit then buffing with a dremel + felt pad. Handle was made from layered Paduk-Maple-Paduk and I couldn't be happier with the finished look or "feel" of the mallet. Thanks again for sharing this tutorial!- James

For the longest time I actually thought he had a brother

This is such a specific thing, but the actual final product has a cool marble look to it.

This is the first ever video I watched on your channel. It was the reason I started my three day marathon of watching every one of your videos from the first one.

You see, I shouldn't really watch your videos because I have enough crap collected up that I know has value in some future, unknown, project and now I'm going to have to start collecting milk jugs. My wife thinks I am insane but you have just proved my whole Theory of Potential... I know... I'll get her to watch your videos and then she'll see I'm not insane. (Did that come out right?) Best Wishes, Brendan.

Kinda looks like marble. Looks cool

I just put my second block in the mold/press. The first wasn't quite big enough for the size mallet I wanted so I re-melted and added more. I can't wait! Thanks for the idea and keep them coming!

I made one of these this weekend with a donut style head. turned a ring melted the plastic layers in it with a heat gun. After I got my brick i turned it on the lathe and drilled a hole in the middle. Made a handle out of some scrap 2x4 with some pyrography (since the heat gun was out). The kids enjoyed melting the milk jugs with the heat gun and I was surprised how hard the plastic was and how little marks wood. Great weekend project

A joiner is an artisan who builds things by joining pieces of wood, particularly lighter and more ornamental work than that done by a carpenter, including furniture and the "fittings" of a house, ship, etc - from the O.E.D.

Peter, you crack me up. :) Very unique.

loved that you melted old plastic containers. will try that in my projects. thanks for the video

Awesome video. Not only did I enjoy watching your process, but this is a fantastic way to recycle old milk bottles; much like you, I'm a bit of sentimentalist when it comes to tools and although I know tools are made to be used, I just hate dinging them up. I'm going to find myself a countertop oven and give this a shot. Thank you!

It looks like ivory or bone. Not bad.

I LOL'd when he said, "...and you can tell because it burned when I looked at it!'

I just finished this project based off your video, and well done sir! I love mine. Made mine of red and white HDPE with a stained oak handle.

I love how you think outside the jug, I mean box when to comes to your projects.

Pretty neat.

I know the clamp thingies are necessary, but I always find it funny because of how many you use!

This is one of my favorite videos of yours. practical, good way to recycle and a great tool.

Peter, the intro to this vid just perfectly sums up your channel and I love it! Keep trying awesome new things!

Very cool idea!

One of the coolest things I've seen made from HDPE Peter! Stupid cherry. You just send that right over here. Also, gonna need a demonstration of the durability. Something needs to be smashed. :)

Very nicely done. I hadn't considered reusing the HDPE from milk jugs. Awesome video. Now I'm inspired :D

I love your work. I don't know how you flew under my radar for so long, but I'm hooked!

Pretty cool idea... How has it held up?

what about initially melting it in a bread pan or some other type of form or do you need to be able to cut excess off?

Love your out-of-the-box creativity, keep making art

I just subscribed. You had me at "Though, in all honesty, I have not been allowed to use the kitchen blender again." HILARIOUS.

That turned out really great! When you pulled it from the mold I had my doubts. I'm also surprised to hear that it's denser material. Have you had an opportunity to try it out?

how long at how hot is the plastic in the toaster oven and does it make the place smell like burning plastic

Good job of thinking outside the box. I especially like the way you 'milked' recyclables into a useful and functional tool.

don't know if it was the singing (in the lens video) or the being banned from the blender, but I just have to subscribe. Thanks for sharing the creativity, ingenuity, and humor!

Off the beaten path is an understatement. But that looks like a very useful tool.

Sweet project, you're an inspiration man! Hey, I had a question, does CA glue stick to HDPE? I was thinking it could be a good material for non-stick pen bushings. Thanks for another great video and project Peter, can't wait to see it in action!

Looked great, the different blends almost gave it a marble look with a quick glance.

A guy i knew used to make chairs from milk jugs by pouring the plastic over cardboard forms...but your mallet is a fine tool, very impressive.

Freak, LOL, very cool I really like that one and sorry you are no longer allowed to use the blender. I have been planning a small mallet made from melted pop cans since I learned how to make a homemade forge. Just need it to get above freezing outside so I can work in the garage. Can not wait to see what you think of next :)

I'm so high I don't even know how I got to this video... Now I know how to make a mallet lol

Very inventive, and its upcycling. I like it.

Excellent video and great up-cycling skills. It certainly beats having them floating in the oceans.

How reliable is this mallet?

Last year I snagged a free toaster oven for the shop. Now I have to save plastic containers. You see what you are doing here, right?

you make me miss my old wood shop class! maybe I'll pick up lathe work and such again!

That is a such a nice looking Mallet! I can see in your face you are proud too making one! One of kind! I want to make one as well! Thanks from Melbourne, Australia!

You know what I just realized, is he could have heated the inside hole of the head and then put it on the handle and it would have molded to the shape of the handle

Why not melt the plastic till its liquid form and then pour it in a mould and put in the handle at the same time?

it makes me really happy to know that he uses the mallet!

Great Idea.. Nice for a beater mallet.. I will def have to try this. Thanks for sharing!

I'm going to switch from cartons to jugs just so I can make one lol. Did you have any issues with fumes when the plastic melted?

I love your "oven mit"... why did that oven scene remind me of Breaking bad?! Hahah @ the cherry comment.. I was thinking you were going to say because it smells like cherry, but the burn comment is another sign! Too funny I think this is a great idea for a mallet! Does it absorb the impact better too?

I like the way you have up cycled.

"You can tell because it burned... When I looked at it" LMFAO 😂 I love this guy. My new favourite channel 😂😂😂 you remind me so much of myself hahaha.

Wow that's a lot of HDPE! Whenever I see that acronym, I think High Definition Physical Education. lol Good to know cherry burns when you look at it too.

what to do when the milk jugs are cartons?

Fantastic usage of HDPE. I never thought of being able to melt the stuff in a toaster oven. The possibilities are endless!

I can’t believe you are still using this hammer. Just a testament to how useful it is! Awesome vid.

4:39 ...if you know what I mean.

"Because it burned when I looked at it." HA!

Great Mallet project. Really like the off the wall projects you come up with. Keep it up!!!

Coolest recycling of HDPE I've seen so far. Looks real nice too.

That mallet looks ALOT like a marshmallow on a stick...

fun stuff! :) Hey "nice adpe!" :) Chris

Man, you're moving in right direction. Awesome!

Guys- I want to add a tip for everyone to speed this up. If you set up a single burner on your grill, and you create a double boiler, you will be able to heat the plastic much faster and more even, with far less work to do (plastic will be pourable) when placing it into the mold. Hope this helps guys!!! Great video!

If you ever make anything out of that plastic again you should marble some colors through it

What if you made a HDPE knife handle?

I like that you show your experiments in their entirety, including unexpected failures.

I love your tenacity!

I'd much rather make a mallet made from milk itself, not the container it comes in

And, he made a hammer and called it Mjolnir.

This is GOLD. I can't wait to get an oven for the workshop!

Very cool! Never really see anyone with makeshift tools especially not something useful, great job!

In light of your epoxy knife, why not make an HDPE one? It shouldn't soften in the hand and could hold an edge better

Can you microwave the plastic, or would it get too hot?

Thanks, now I have another use for all those milk jugs I've been saving for another project and probably could have stopped saving them a few years ago.

I think this looks really good because it looks a lot like marble and it insPires me too do stuff like it

i left a turkey sandwich in my car but I already ate. Damn first world problems

OK, but where's the radial arm saw?

I think that's real cool..... The way the different plastics melt together it almost looks like how some stone countertops do.... Kinda

Ha! I kept my old toaster oven in my shop and never used it! Great videos!

you freeze some milk and put a stick in it, next video

why do I love these videos so much Peter?

Peter, absolutely fantastic project.

"off the beaten path"!! That puts it mildly. You do open people's minds to strange, cheap, and useful possibilities. Great work Peter.