Make a homemade rug needle from an old toothbrush. The process is simple but takes up to two hours to make. This inexpensive alternative to purchasing a rug needle helps to recycle old toothbrushes into usable items.
Things You’ll Need:
Old toothbrush with hole for hanging
Ruler
Permanent marker
Sharp knife
Flat file
Rattail file
60 grit and 320 grit sandpaper
Instructions:
Step 1 – Measure from the tip of the handle toward the bristles and make a mark at 4 ½-inches. Draw a straight line across the handle at the mark.
Step 2 – Carefully score the toothbrush across the line with a sharp knife. Grab the two ends of the toothbrush and bend back and forth to break at the score line. If the toothbrush does not break, score deeper and retry or cut through the toothbrush with the sharp knife.
Step 3 – Locate the center of the cut end. Draw on the surface of the toothbrush to create a point for the end of the needle.
Step 4 – Using a flat file, file the plastic from the toothbrush to create the point.
Step 5 – Enlarge the hole in the handle until the plastic around the hole is approximately 1/8-inch thick. This is the area to hold the strips of fabric or yarn. Enlarge the hole to the specific dimensions you require.
Step 6 – Sand the edges with 60 grit sandpaper until rounded and smooth.
Step 7 – Sand all filed and rounded edges with 320 grit sandpaper to remove file markings and large scratches from the 60 grit sandpaper.
Polish the sanded toothbrush rug needle with liquid sandpaper to create a highly polished smooth surface.