Awesome Plastic

Engineer Guy Bill Hammack loves to explain the amazing design and engineering that goes into everyday things. After schooling us on aluminum cans and duct tape, he offers an in-depth look at the humble 2-liter plastic soda bottle. Every detail of these bottles, from the kind of plastic used to their shape, was conceived with strength and utility in mind.

Backgammon is one of those old-school board games that deserves more love. This Lucite game set from Sunnylife is a nice upgrade from cheap boards. Its see-through board doubles as a carrying case and has built-in trays for its colorful game pieces and translucent dice. They also make Lucite versions of Jenga, Connect 4, and Chess/Checkers.

Never smash a finger again when hammering in nails. These safety pliers have unique grooves designed for steadying various nail sizes, so you can get them started without having to hold them between your fingertips. They’re made from sturdy plastic and lay flat against horizontal or vertical surfaces.

These versatile camping utensils from UCO combine a spoon, fork, and knife. They’re made from lightweight, food-safe nylon and stack neatly thanks to holes for lashing the included tether. They are sold as a set of four in an earthy Venture or bold Classic color scheme and are also available in UCO mess kits.

When we were kids, we built our share of models. All Process of World takes us on a tour of Korea’s Academy Plastic Model Co. for a look at how they manufacture model airplane kits. They start by creating a 3D computer design used to machine a precise metal mold, then use those parts to injection mold plastic for the models.

We’ve seen how a factory makes pencils; now, learn how they help undo your mistakes by making erasers. ProcessX toured the Iwako factory in Japan to see how they crank out millions of fun and fanciful erasers shaped like animals, food, and other objects. After designing a 3D model, they injection mold the plastic, remove the sprues, and hand-assemble the parts.

This special material uses a precision-engineered lens array to bend light around you, making it look like you vanished into thin air. Crouch down behind the full-size Invisibility Shield 2.0 or cloak your entire body with the 6-foot-tall MEGASHIELD. Both roll up for easy transport, and the shield is also available in a 12″ by 7.9″ Mini size for $69.

This stacking plastic storage box from Post General features a design inspired by a military footlocker. It can be used indoors or outdoors, and its fold-down sides and removable lid make it easy to access its contents. When not in use, it folds up to save space. It’s available in brown, green, or grey.

We’ve seen a raft made of soda bottles, but this is the first time we’ve encountered one made from red Solo cups. Drew Dirksen shared this clip of a simple but effective raft that floats because of the air trapped between pairs of party cups. We wouldn’t trust it on the open seas, but it seems to work pretty well as a pool float.

We have a hard enough time putting together an off-the-shelf model. Top One Maker is an overachiever and builds all of his models from scratch. In this video, he shows how he took some grey PVC pipe, heated it, and cut and assembled the pieces to form the body and chassis of a remote-controlled Mercedes-Benz AMG G 63 SUV.

This machine is moving so quickly that it’s hard to believe how much it is doing. The high-speed blow molding system can crank out and quality test roughly 45,000 bottles per hour – that’s 750 bottles per minute. We need The Slow Mo Guys to stop by this factory with their high-speed camera.

This fidget toy from Humango Toys is made from interlocking plastic ovals, which can stretch and squeeze from an oblong shape to a palm-size puck. Its tactile interactions help provide sensory stimulation and can reduce boredom and stress. It comes in small and large sizes. Beware of knock-offs. This is the original.

This factory in Pakistan cranks out thousands of toy horses a day. The process starts by grinding up plastic scraps from the prior day’s work and melting them, then using that to blow-mold the horse’s body. Workers then attach accessories and mold and cut out the wheels before final assembly. It’s not the most modern factory line, but they get the job done.

We’re always fascinated by the ways different products get manufactured. In this video from Process X, we take a tour of a factory in Japan that cranks out plastic balls for kids to play with. While the start of the video makes it look like they’re making cake mix, we can assure you that PVC isn’t edible.

These split-compartment bowls are perfect for separating individual portions of chips and dips, snacks and sauces, nuts and shells, and more. They’re made from BPA-free high-density polyethylene and are dishwasher- and microwave-safe. Sold in sets of six colorful bowls.

With Halloween coming up, you might wear a wig as part of your costume. Chances are that it has synthetic hair made from thin strands of plastic. While most fake hair is made by machines in factories, this one artist shows how he makes the stuff from scratch, using nothing more than some plastic, a toaster oven, a wire brush, and his hands.