When vinyl records were first invented, they quickly became the standard for music. Vinyl records have significantly impacted American culture and lifestyle, but that’s all changing now as more people are switching over to digital formats. But what do you do with your existing vinyl collection? and How to dispose of Vinyl Records? Here are some of the most common ways people are getting rid of their vinyl records:
- Distribution Centers/ Libraries/ Schools accepting donations
- Recycling centers
- Give them away online
- Local record shops may accept some for cash or trade value
There are plenty of creative ways to get your old albums into new hands. Here are some ways I’ve found that will allow you to share your old music with others.
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Make Some Art
Turn that record into some art! This is the easiest way for someone who doesn’t care about their music collection or has no use for it anymore to get rid of their records finally. Take a look at these creative ways people have turned records into art:
Create a vinyl wreath
Turn those old vinyl records into something new! You can make a stylish and modern-looking wreath using some wire, an old picture frame, and your favorite vinyl record. Just flatten the record as best as you can (you may need to break the grooves on the back with a butter knife or pair of pliers). Then use some round-nosed plyers to cut two circles from the flattened record and attach them to either side of one of your picture’s legs with adhesive putty. Once you’ve wrapped it all together with green garland, hang up this unique piece of wall art for everyone to admire.
Make coasters out of your vinyl
Admit it. You have that one album that’s just begging to be dinged up on the corners or scratched all over. Step 1 is finding that gem. Or if you’re lazy, pick up anything by The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan… I bet you can’t find a single copy of Dark Side of the Moon without some damage already present.
Offset damage before it happens with cardboard coasters! Get some old cardboard boxes and cut them into 4×4 squares (or whatever size will fit your plates). Then grab your favorite beverage coasters (you know the ones with cutesy images like flamingos, hearts, etc.) and use those for cutting out circles in the center of your corrugated cardboard squares.
Your record collection is safe, and you can drink in style! Placed under a plate while listening to an album, the cardboard allows the record to spin while protecting it from scratches and damage. You can also use these squares as boards to place your vinyl records when they’re not spinning on your turntable.
Recycle vinyl records into a business card holder or a new vinyl record clock
One creative idea is turning the vinyl records into clocks or business cardholders. A little patience and good craftsmanship can make your old records look new again. You can give them away as personalized presents (e.g., birthday presents, Christmas presents) or sell them on Etsy, flea markets, or car boot sales (the latter is particularly popular in the UK).
Cut out vinyl records and hang them on your wall
In the 21st-century, vinyl records are a rare sight to see, but that doesn’t mean you can’t give your home a fresh new look with vinyl records! Follow these simple steps below to decorate your home or office in vinyl records.
1) Cut out vinyl record shapes from poster board or paper. We recommend cutting out hearts, triangles, squares, rectangles… anything.2) Next, attach a string so it hangs vertically off of a nail or screw.3) Repeat until the desired number of vinyl record cutouts have been made.4) Hang up on walls.5) Be sure to play vinyl records while hanging vinyl record art around the house for extra fun.
Vinyl records can be a great decoration for your house, and vinyl records sound much better than digital music too. Vinyl record art is easy to make, and vinyl records will never go out of style.
Create Holiday Gifts
Halloween is just around the corner, and if you need some last-minute costume ideas, why not makes a record man or lady – complete with tassels! This is an easy way to turn those old worn-out records into something your guests will love for years to come.
Make Some Decorations
There are so many ways you can decorate your home with vinyl records without making it look like you’re still stuck in the ’80s. From picture frames to candles to planters, tons of unique and unexpected projects would be perfect for fall decorating or just everyday decoration. For example, use this list of DIY tutorials to create one-of-a-kind items using your old records as material. Here are just a few ideas to get you started!
Make Planters Out Of Your Old Records
In case vinyl records are no longer your jam, you can turn them into planters! This is a great way to add some greenery to your living space while also adding a little personality.
Use as drawer/shelf pulls Out Of Your Old Vinyl Records
Okay, so you have vinyl records sitting around in the closet or even stacked in a corner gathering dust. Why not up-cycle them? If you have extra drawer pulls, why not give your vinyl records another life. They are the perfect size to turn into knobs for drawers, cupboards, and kitchen cabinets. Remove the vinyl record from its cover and screw it onto the back of the pull knob, ensuring that there is plenty of vinyl showing on top and bottom and all sides. Then reattach to the cupboard door and try to keep other people’s hands off your funky new retro vinyl cabinet pulls.
Get Creative with Sculpture Out Of Your Old Vinyl Records
If you are creative with sculpture and vinyl records, you will find several vinyl records sculptures out there for you to make.
1 . Make a wall hanging vinyl record sculpture
The easiest vinyl record wall hanging is going to be a vinyl record hung from a string. This is easy to do, and if you have the larger seventy-eight rpm records, it will also look great. What could be more interesting than a piece of art with a bit of motion created by the vinyl movement? Plus, many people can relate because they have old vinyl records laying around at home just waiting for the right project. So this would also make an awesome gift idea or any other kind of project.
2 . Make a desktop vinyl record desk sculpture
Another fun vinyl record desk sculpture that you could make is a vinyl record with a vinyl record clock. Cut out vinyl records to look like CDs and attach them for the vinyl clock effect. There are several colors of vinyl, so you can use whatever vinyl looks best. However, if you want it to match your existing furniture, pick up vinyl records in the same color as your other ones to give the impression of one larger piece of artwork on your desk at home or work.
3. Make an outside vinyl record sign
This type of vinyl record art form may require a bit more work, but it does not mean that it should cost any more money or take more time if you already have old vinyl records laying around. This will entail vinyl records of different sizes and designs that will be glued together to form words. So one vinyl record might read “Welcome,” while another vinyl record may say “To The Party” or something similar. You can get creative with this by adding vinyl record flowers, animals, or anything else you would like around the vinyl sign.
Make the shape of your favorite animal Out Of Your Old Vinyl Records
You can make the shape of your favorite animal out of vinyl records with just a few simple steps. It’s easy to do, and this is the perfect project for vinyl fans who want to give their old vinyl collections new life.
Take any vinyl record you have lying around. By looking at the thickness of the vinyl, it should be possible to tell if it’s 33 1/3 or 45 rpm. Trace out an image on your vinyl record that you would like to make with your collection. Cut the edges of the defined shape carefully using a blade knife (or anything sharp, really) until your vinyl pieces are separated from each other enough that they will not cut into each other when you cut through them all at once. Be careful not to cut yourself! Once you’ve separated all pieces with the vinyl knife, use an X-Acto blade to cut through vinyl layers all at once. If vinyl is too thick, wrap it around a piece of scrap wood inside a clamp. Make sure pieces are separated enough to not touch each other while cutting. With the image cut out, you should end up with something that looks like this:
Place vinyl in front of the record player to make sure vinyl fits over the spindle correctly. Once everything seems to fit right, put clear packing tape on the front of your cut vinyl pieces and attach them to the vinyl records again, making sure there are no wrinkles or bubbles in the process. Take extra care when putting them back together so they lay flat without leaving bumps underneath where you can see them.
Use circular records to create abstract elephants.
The vinyl record circular shape is perfect for creating abstract elephants! This would be a wonderful decoration idea for an outdoor setting or somewhere where people can see it often. If you’re short on vinyl records to craft this elephant design, consider asking friends and family members if they have any old types of vinyl they don’t need anymore. Another great alternative option is visiting thrift shops that sell used vinyl records because they are usually very cheap to buy.
Finally
Vinyl records are a great way to listen to music, but they can be difficult and cumbersome. How to dispose of Vinyl Records? If you want to dispose of your vinyl records without it being too much work or hassle for you, here’s how! You could donate the record collections at any library, school, or distribution center that accepts donations. There are recycling centers that will accept them if you don’t have access to these donation centers. You may also find local shops that’ll take some off your hands for cash or trade value. And finally – make some art! Create holiday gifts with them by turning them into abstract elephants. Or create decorations around your home like the ones seen in the photo above.
