Buy Used Beer Bottle Caps
We've been collecting bottle caps for what seems like forever anticipating this table. After moving our collection with us to 4 different homes in 3 different states, we now have enough caps for this table plus a few matching stools. What makes this project different than a simple mosaic project is that we covered the table with a thick resin, creating a look quite similar to the tables at your favorite pub.
buy used beer bottle caps
You can do this on any sized surface. I've seen huge bars covered in pennies or old photos, but unless you want to deal with storing wheelbarrows of bottle caps, a bistro-sized or small end table is good for starters.We used a Noresund IKEA table purchased in the As Is area at our local IKEA. I believe it is now discontinued. Sorry.Link to Ikea store:
You might be thinking that you can just lay caps down and pour resin over them, but don't skip this step. Since we were covering our table with clear resin, we weren't too concerned with the type of glue used. I started out with contact cement, moved on to furniture glue, then Liquid Nails for small projects, and even tried siliconized caulk. I ended up using plain old super glue. This was the best option and the one I suggest for you. Since the caps are going to get covered with resin, they just need to stick to the table, so a couple of dots are all you need. Don't go crazy, because messy excess glue will show through the resin when you're done.Extra information regarding this step:Although I suggest super glue for this project, the contact cement was truly the strongest adhesive. However, it took some time to use and was less forgiving. The silicone-based glues (Liquid Nails and caulk) seemed to shift or expand as it dried, which ultimately threw our design off. Super glue was the least elegant choice, but it dries relatively quickly and was rigid enough for this project. One note of caution: I discovered that Super Glue reacts with the hexane/toluene base of contact cement. They discolor and create a crystalline growth that resembles a fuzzy, white mold that must be removed with acetone. So pick one glue and go with it to avoid this kind of situation.
If your table has a rim, you can skip this step. Since mine had no rim, I had to create a way to keep the resin at a depth that would cover the bottle caps without running off the side. I needed something sticky enough that it would create a barrier against resin, yet slick enough that it would not stick to the resin. 6a. I decided to use aluminum foil and duct tape. First, cut some long strips of duct tape to go around the edge of the table. Next, cut strips of foil about 3" wide and 1" longer than your strips of duct tape. Laying the strips of duct tape sticky side up, carefully cover about half of the duct tape with a strip of foil. See photo for details. The straighter you do this the better. You could also do this with wide painter's tape and eliminate the need to cover the edges of the table with painter's tape in Step 5.6b. Tape the foil/tape strips around the edge of the table, making sure that the bottom edge of the foil falls just below the surface of the tabletop (the actual table, not the bottle caps). See photo for details. The reason: If the sticky surface of the duct tape is above the tabletop, the resin will stick to it and defeat the purpose of making an easy-release barrier. If the foil is too far below the tabletop, resin may seep over the edge, trapping blue tape underneath.
I won't get into how to mix the resin since there are instructions in the box, not to mention ample tutorials available online. UPDATE: The resin I used was Envirotex Lite Pour-on High Gloss Finish. You will, however, need to spread the resin to get into the gaps between the bottle caps as well as out to the edges. This is why your caps need to be glued down, as you will be running a rigid piece of paper or plastic over the surface of the caps. This is a great opportunity to use those fake credit cards that come in your junk mail. I used an old insurance card, but any stiff plastic or cardboard would suffice.Remember that the resin will level itself out, so just make sure you have enough to fill in the gaps and even out any high areas. You may want to cover your work to keep any random hairs or dust from getting stuck. Now walk away for about 7 or 8 hours.
I had custom bottles caps made for my project, is that going to interfere with the expoy? I did this project before with different expoy and superglue and it started to steam and it fried with bubbles on it and it turned a hue of yellow. I don't know what I did to mess it up but I want to do it again, any suggestions?
Now that I have the idea to make a bottle cap table, I'm being more careful about opening the bottles. Did you caps have any dents from using a bottle opener? I'm getting better at it but it is hard not to have a little dent on the cap. I'm anxious to follow your instructions. I got hooked on Topo Chico Mineral Water and I'm drinking so much each day that I got the idea for a table. Thank you for your instructions, etc. Sandy
Hi everyone this is my first attempt at doing anything like this and i think i may have gone overboard. I'm making a bar to be game of thrones themed Design to come I have about 6k bottle caps that I've amassed between all my friends an I am in some trouble when it comes to the epoxy part.... I made the table top completely out of scrap wood from the bin at work and did not build it on a level surface... there is about a 1/4"-1/2" difference on the surface of the wood and its all been glued down pretty well. anyone have any helpful hints on how pour the epoxy so that I'm not wasting a ton of it. is there a way to partition out the pours? does anyone know the S/F you get out of a gallon of epoxy. I'm very worried that the bar may be too big to cover due to $$.. any help would be appreciated!
When it comes to beer, though, it's easy to be prudent. After the beverage is consumed, glasses can be washed, kegs can be re-used, cans can be tossed in the recycling bin. Bottles are equally easy to recycle, whether you do so through a commercial recycling service or you donate your (pry-top) bottles to a friend to bottle her homebrew. That leaves just one part: the bottle cap.
My bottle cap collection started in college when I began collecting PBR caps. If you're not familiar, these caps have a number and a small heart, diamond, club, or spade printed on the underside to emulate playing cards. Once I collected an entire deck (which took a fair bit of time and plenty of help from friends), I kept collecting out of habit. I enjoy finding interesting caps from across the country and just can't bear to throw them away. I currently have a ten-gallon glass jar full of caps just waiting to be used.
One of my favorite easy ways to use bottle caps is to convert them into magnets. Simply purchase a small roll of circular magnets, apply a bit of hot glue or super glue, and stick one to the back of a bottle cap. These are great decorations for a beer fridge.
If you're not the crafty type, don't worry. One of my all-time favorite ways to display bottle caps is available for purchase and doesn't take much effort or creativity at all. Beercapmaps.com sells large "maps" cut from plywood that are comprised of many small circular openings to display your favorite bottle caps. The decorative maps, which can be easily mounted on most walls, are available in many different geographical shapes, including several countries (United States, Canada, Australia, and more) as well as any US state of your choosing. A USA beer cap map is high on my wish list.
So whether you're a crafty individual or you'd rather let someone else handle the handiwork, it's easy to reuse your bottle caps. The next time you pry open a cold one, toss the cap in a collection bucket. You never know how your favorite lids may end up being repurposed.
Smartphone and tablet chargers have been used to open bottles. Position one of the two prongs from the wall plug end under the cap and pry upward. This method will take more work than others, but who doesn't have a charger on them?
A MacBook or iPad charger can also be used very much like an actual bottle opener. The circular crown that holds the two-prong adapter or extension cord in place is shaped in such a way that it can be used to remove a cap. Just be careful, as the plastic has been known to crack and it's got to be cheaper to just buy a bottle opener than to replace a charger. It's probably a better idea to explore other options before resorting to this one.
The very tip of a butter knife can be used to bend just a small section of the cap away from the bottle. Then position the tip of the knife under the lip, so that it's between the cap and the glass rim. In a careful and swift motion, tap the handle of the knife on the counter to pop off the cap. And again, don't use your best silverware.
To ensure all of the gaps in between the bottle caps are filled, use a float to spread the epoxy evenly over the top of the table. This video on You Tube shows you how to use a float for this project:
A bottle cap or bottle top is a closure for the top opening of a bottle. A cap is sometimes colorfully decorated with the logo of the brand of contents. Plastic caps are used for plastic bottles, while metal with plastic backing is used for glass; plastic caps are commonly made from polyethylene or polypropylene,[1] while metal caps are usually either steel or aluminum.[2] Plastic caps may have a pour spout. Flip-Top caps like Flapper closures provide controlled dispensing of dry products. Caps for plastic bottles are often made of a different type of plastic from the bottle.
The crown cork was patented by William Painter on February 2, 1892 (U.S. Patent 468,258). It had 24 teeth and a cork seal with a paper backing to prevent contact between the contents and the metal cap. The current version has 21 teeth. To open these bottles, a bottle opener is generally used. 041b061a72