Fused Plastic Bags #2

A few nights ago I dragged out the ironing board and gave plastic bag fusing another go. I had some clear plastic in the form of packaging and a shopping bag, so I layered it over the souvenir bags, then cut up lots of plastic bags for the inner layers.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t that successful this time.

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The design on this bag doesn’t really show well once the bags have gone all wrinkly.

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On this one I used the clear plastic shopping bag, but it didn’t fuse at all… except in areas of light coloured printing so I can’t peel it off. Also, one of the inner layers didn’t fuse at all, so I ended up with two thinner pieces.

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The clear packing plastic didn’t fuse either, but fortunately it peeled right off again. This is the only fused bag attempt I’d rate as usable, and even then the outer edges haven’t stuck properly. I’ve noticed that all of the tutorials instruct you to sew around the edges. Perhaps this is why, and I was lucky with my first attempt that it fused so well.

So it seems results can be variable. It probably comes down to the type of plastic. I also noticed plasticy fumes this time, where I didn’t the first time. Trouble is, it’s hard to tell what the right or wrong type of bag is – though I’d wager clear plastic is the wrong type since neither kind I used worked. Fine patterns are going to be obscured by the ripple effect, which also seems to vary depending on the type of plastic, too.

Still, if you’re willing to accept that it sometimes won’t work and don’t mind experimenting (and have good ventilation) it’s an interesting way to use up shopping bags. I reckon you’d get to know pretty quickly which bags work or don’t. JB HiFi bags certainly stick well!