Cutting HDPE Totes - Hot Wire 1

[Trevor Williams]

I am looking for help in ascertaining if a large hollow HDPE (330 Gallon Tote – metal frame removed) could be cut with a hot wire prior to shredding.

I envisage the tote being pulled/pushed through a tunnel around 1 to 3 vertical wires.

Any advice you could give me would be appreciated.

 

[btrueblood]

Gets messy, but yes it could work if tension was placed on the tote to keep the kerf from re-closing.

Why not use a chainsaw to knock it down, or just mash it flat with an excavator bucket? Some reason it can't be re-used instead of shredded?

 

[Trevor Williams]

Units are not suitable for recertifying.
I vision a tunnel with 3 wires spaced across 3/4 of the width of the tote with each wire having a splay blade immediately behind it to keep the parts separate.
Do you know of a company that has any involvement with Hot Wire production equipment?

 

[3DDave]

Here you go - look at how fast it works

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_RZhCARZcg

Don't worry about the smokey fire, there aren't that many cancer-causing chemicals released in the process and only a small chance of setting the plastic factory on fire.

 

[tygerdawg]

I must be missing something. Do you have 500 of these totes per day?
Don't make it hard: use a circular saw or a reciprocating saw to break it down.

I did this for a 8-foot diameter x 6-foot high polyethylene tank once upon a time. I "acquired" it as salvage from my company, thinking I'd turn it into the most awesome hot tub the planet has ever seen. The Freight Train of Life hit me, and I ran out of time. I needed to put it into my trash cans. Circular saw made quick work of it. I had to use the shop vac to suck up the PE chips.

TygerDawg
Blue Technik LLC
Manufacturing Engineering Consulting

http://www.bluetechnik.com

 

[BiPolarMoment]

Don't worry about the smokey fire, there aren't that many cancer-causing chemicals released in the process

As long as you don't do it in California you should be safe.