How to Turn a Used Vinyl Record into a Bowl

Don't toss that old LP! A few minutes in the oven and you can have a bowl that will be a real conversation piece.

Step 1: Choose an album
Choose an album. Then do a quick internet search of the title to make sure you don't melt a rare LP that's worth big bucks.

Step 2: Preheat oven
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

Warning
Do not exceed 200 degrees Fahrenheit, or the record will release toxic fumes into your oven.

Step 3: Heat the record
Place the bowl upside-down on the cookie sheet, center the record on top of it, and put it in the oven.

Step 4: Let it soften
Let the LP soften until it begins to droop around the bowl, about five to eight minutes.

Step 5: Remove from heat
When the record feels pliable, use pot holders or oven mitts to lift the cookie sheet out of the oven and turn the bowl over. Place the record inside it.

Tip
Be careful! The bowl and the cookie sheet will be much hotter than the record.

Step 6: Mold it
Put on your gloves and begin molding the record into a bowl shape. The sides of the bowl will be wavy. Work fast: You only have about a minute before the record begins hardening.

Tip
If the record hardens before you're finished shaping it, just stick it back in the oven for a minute or two.

Step 7: Let it cool
Let the record cool completely before removing it from the bowl -- about 10 minutes.

Warning
Don't leave the bowl out in direct sunlight or use it as serving dish; it could leach polyvinyl chloride into food. Plus, it has a hole in the bottom.

Step 8: Show it off
Fill it with wrapped candy, fruit you peel before eating, or potpourri. Or just display it as a work of art!

Did You Know?
The fifth copy ever made of the LP of The Beatles' "White Album" sold for almost $29,000 in 2008.

[gunstar]

GUYS! You can pick up old, warped, scratched, and generally abused vinyl records at a flea market or thrift store and do this. The idea isn't to destroy an awesome record...

[CML_VISUAL_LABS_LTD]

"Hey son have you seen my copy of dark side of the moon anywhere? I can't find it anywhere, hey by the way . What's cooking ? "

[faithycoins]

Oh crap! I just used the 4th ever copy made of the Beatles White Album to do this! I guess I should have watched the entire video first :(

[manbok]

Vinyl starts releasing toxic fumes at 60°C or 140°F and above. Just saying. Don't say I didn't warn you.

[nepta]

how to release toxic fumes into your home 101

[DLETLU]

Cool instructional video. Tried it out today after sadly receiving a record with a broken "corner". I'll get a new intact one but still better to use it as a bowl than to throw away a record, which would hurt me a lot.

[jessicargyle]

everyone's comments about ruining music is legit if you're using a decent album for this but i have made some of these bowls in the past and you just go to Value Village or Salvation Army and buy a crap record to use for it! Something like a Christmas album or someone you've never heard of that's on sale, etc.

[DEO]

In 2009, I followed the steps and researched to see if the album was rare, and it wasn't rare, but now 5 years later, the album is rare!  Thanks Howcast, I just lost out on a $5 million dollar deal for a rare vinyl album, but at least I have a nifty bowl with a hole in it.

[breathingwater]

I made some of these years ago. Good to know the temperature restriction since I can't recall what I set it at back then. I like using the very old, thick vinyl records. Mostly scratched up ones from my massive collection of classical music. Thanks!

[rachaelly]

Lmfao when they said 'plus it has a hole in the bottom' I laughed sooo hard

[oystercultviking]

That 200 degree rule scares me too much to even try this. I don't trust my oven, but this looks pretty damn cool :p

[creativevids]

Thanks for your video ! :) It gave me inspiration.

[Bassmaster]

@tokobot This made me sad. That better have been a Barry Manilow record.

[uncled]

I wonder if it still plays afterwards?

[twitch]

i have 10 copies of "soulja boy tell em" singles, got em for free. now i have ten bowls.

[RiverInovations]

My hearth hurts. There are MUCH proper things to do with a record!

[AAErikCO]

@CollectorOfMusic

I have around 2-3, 000 antique player piano rolls, and every time I see someone online making paper crafts out of them it's a bit sad. Know what you mean.

[seqouiaflame]

That better be a Barry Manilow Melt it Mandy!

[ern]

"How to Kill Your Vinyl Records if Your Crosley Hasn't Done so Already."

[Piggie]

@tonylionzo
It's wrapped candy. They just said "Fill it with WRAPPED candy, or fruit you PEEL." It looks cool...but I wouldn't do it either.