craft advice
crafts
heavy plastic lid
help with making slit
tools for crafts
using plastic coffee container
Need Advice From Crafters, Please
By carolbee
@carolbee (16230)
United States
September 19, 2008 9:57am CST
I've decided to make piggy banks, which aren't exactly piggy, with heavy plastic coffee cans and lids. What I would like to know which would make my job easier is: what is the best method to use for making a slit in the top of the lid? It's heavy plastic as well and I need to make the slit so it's smooth around it also. I have a good pair of scissors but don't want to ruin them. Any advise will be helpful. Thanks in advance.
1 person likes this
5 responses
@floridachick (603)
• United States
19 Sep 08
I've used a knife or even a razor blade, actually that would be better if you want smooth sides.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
25 Sep 08
Razor blade, exacto knife, craft knife, you probably have gotten all those ideas by now. How are your piggy banks going?
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
25 Sep 08
I haven't started working on the bank yet. It takes me forever to measure and make sure the pattern is going to fit exactly in the middle of the project. I need to get atleast one done before our grandbaby is here in a month but hsve been working on an afghan for the last 3 months. I have a utility knife but if it's not sharp enough or sturdy enough, I will buy an exacto knife. Thanks for responding.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
25 Sep 08
Piggy banks are a big thing in my family. I think there is a way to make them out of clorox gallon jugs and jugs like that style. That's digging way back into my memory of when I was a kid. Not sure how nice they turn out, but could save time. I'll have to look into that, we're talking the far reaches of my memory here. Good luck on your banks.
@fifileigh (3615)
• United States
23 Sep 08
how about a razor blade or a very sharp edge knife? or an exacto knife that they use in art school...
1 person likes this
@tamarafireheart (15384)
•
19 Sep 08
Hi carolbee,
If you have a stanley knife it would make a slit quite neatley but you have to be so carefuk with that, I think it is a good idea to make a piigy bank with the coffee can, wih I thought of that he he he, good luck with that.
Hugs
Tamara
1 person likes this
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
20 Sep 08
Yep,guess I'll have to use a utility knife and just be careful. The coffee container is heavy plastic so I can wrap the my pattern right around it and use the lid to make a slit and will have a bank. I won't actually be working with a tin can. Going to make it for our grandkids. Thanks so much for your response.
@thebohemianheart (8827)
• United States
19 Sep 08
I have used exacto knives for this kind of thing before. If the blade is sharp enough, the edges will be fairly smooth. If you need to, you could take a file, made for acrylic nails, and smooth the edges, or even bevel them.
1 person likes this
@thebohemianheart (8827)
• United States
19 Sep 08
Yeah, you can find them at Wal-Mart or just about any place they sell nail files. It will say on the package that they are for acrylic nails. They are good for filing down bits of plastic. I use them to do sanding on the edges of clay or metal.*S*
