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TinTin
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Engineering Fields - Electromechanical Engineering - Graduate Mechatronic engineer Engineering Fields - Control Engineering - Enthusiast

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Good Answers: 5

How are Toothpicks Made?

07/06/2009 8:36 AM

Hello All,

This question has been puzzling me for quite a while now. The toothpicks that I buy at the supermarket seem to snap and splinter like real wood, leading me to believe that they're not wood pulp pressed into shape. They are tapered down to a point on both ends, some even having a decorative notch in the middle - what machines and manufacturing techniques are used to shape them efficiently for such en-masse production?

Cheerio,

TinTin
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Stinky Pete
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#1

Re: How are toothpicks manufactured?

07/06/2009 8:37 AM

There's no match for a good toothpick! <Larf, cough, wheeze>

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TinTin
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#2
In reply to #1

Re: How are toothpicks manufactured?

07/06/2009 8:52 AM

Mmm - I see what you did there...

The thing is; matches have a continuous square profile, so I presume they can be put through a mesh splitter, but toothpicks are different; cylindrical with conical ends! I'd really like to understand how these things are made. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for the laugh, "Pete"

TinTin
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Anonymous Poster
#3
In reply to #2

Re: How are toothpicks manufactured?

07/06/2009 9:09 AM

Check this video out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCLnnYzbd-Q
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TinTin
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#4
In reply to #3

Re: How are toothpicks manufactured?

07/06/2009 7:03 PM

Nice video At the beginning it looked like they were making giant pasta! Still not entirely sure how they make the ends tapered though.

thanks for that!

TinTin
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Anonymous Poster
#5
In reply to #4

Re: How are toothpicks manufactured?

07/06/2009 10:59 PM

At 1:50 in the video they talk of the "tiny cutters" that thin the edges to make the points.
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TinTin
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Engineering Fields - Electromechanical Engineering - Graduate Mechatronic engineer Engineering Fields - Control Engineering - Enthusiast

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Location: Adelaide
Posts: 79
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#6
In reply to #5

Re: How are toothpicks manufactured?

07/06/2009 11:06 PM

Indeed. I was hoping for more information than 'tiny cutters', but my curiosity has been at least partly satisfied. Thanks

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ethobil
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Location: Port Harcourt Nigeria
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#7
In reply to #6

Re: How are toothpicks manufactured?

07/08/2009 3:57 AM

You may wish to check out and search for "how toothpick works" in www.howstuffworks.com

I'm possitive you'll get something interesting.

cheers,

ethobil

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Anonymous Poster (2); ethobil (1); Stinky Pete (1); TinTin (3)

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