Recycling old crayons into new ones is a fun and creative way to give them a second life. The basic process involves melting the broken pieces and molding them into fresh shapes.
The Simple Steps to Recycle Crayons
Making new crayons from old ones is straightforward. You'll need your old crayon pieces, molds, and a way to melt them down.
Here's a breakdown of how it's done:
- Gather Your Old Crayons: Collect all those broken stubs and pieces you have lying around.
- Remove Wrappers: This is often the most time-consuming step. Carefully peel off all the paper wrappers from the crayon pieces.
- Break Them Up: Break the crayons into smaller, uniform pieces, roughly 1/2 inch to 1 inch in size. This helps them melt more evenly.
- Choose and Prepare Molds: Silicone molds work best because the new crayons are easy to remove once cool. Muffin tins (lined with paper or silicone cups) or specific crayon molds are good options.
- Fill the Molds: Place your crayon pieces into the mold cavities. Based on information from a video reference, you place a mix of crayons inside containers (like silicone cups or molds), and it's recommended to pick a couple of different colors, perhaps three or four different colors that look good together. Fill them close to the top, as the crayons will condense slightly when melted.
- Melt the Crayons:
- Oven Method: Place the molds on a baking sheet. Heat your oven to a low temperature, typically between 150°F and 200°F (65°C to 95°C). Place the baking sheet with the molds in the oven for 10-20 minutes, or until the crayons are fully melted into liquid form. Keep a close eye on them.
- Microwave Method (Use Caution): Place crayon pieces in a microwave-safe container or directly in microwave-safe silicone molds. Heat in short intervals (30-60 seconds), stirring carefully in between, until melted. Be very cautious with this method as crayons can overheat and catch fire if microwaved for too long.
- Double Boiler Method: Place crayon pieces in a heat-safe container. Place this container in a pot of simmering water. The gentle heat will melt the crayons without direct exposure to flames or high heat.
- Cool and Solidify: Once melted, carefully remove the molds from the heat source. Let them cool completely and solidify. For faster cooling, you can place the molds in the refrigerator or freezer.
- Remove New Crayons: Once the wax is solid and cool to the touch, pop the new crayons out of their molds.
Materials Needed:
| Item | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Old Crayons | The primary material |
| Molds | To shape the new crayons (silicone, metal) |
| Oven or Stove | To provide heat for melting |
| Baking Sheet | For oven method |
| Heat-Safe Container | For melting (if not melting directly in mold) |
| Peeling Tool | Optional, to remove wrappers |
Using this process allows you to transform broken bits into vibrant, multi-colored art tools, often creating unique swirl or layered effects depending on how you mix the colors.
