Cutting HDPE Totes - Hot Wire 1

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?

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?

Here you go - look at how fast it works
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.

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

3DDave said:

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

Click to expand...

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