Extra bottle caps lying around? Need a quick way to display 'em? Just need a few more fridge magnets?
A quick, cheap, and simple way to turn your extra bottle caps into simple yet cool fridge magnets. Plus graphic designer in my loves the variety, color, and visual dynamic that a few bottle caps on a fridge can create.
A quick, cheap, and simple way to turn your extra bottle caps into simple yet cool fridge magnets. Plus graphic designer in my loves the variety, color, and visual dynamic that a few bottle caps on a fridge can create.
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Signing UpStep 1: Materials
This is the quickest, cheapest, and most bare-bones method. you could go crazy with materials, but I can't personally justify spending tons of money on extra bottle caps. Total cost, if you factor in the glue used, comes to around 15 cents per magnet. not bad in my book.
Here's the bare bones materials list:
- bottle caps
- sandpaper (I used 220 grit... the grit isn't critical)
- hot glue gun
- hot glue sticks
- button magnets (1/2")
- 1/4" hex nuts
Notes on the magnets:
sure, one could use heavy-duty neodymium magnets, but they cost significantly more and for my purposes, the simple ProMag Magnetic Buttons (available at local craft stores i.e. Michael's, Hobby Lobby, etc. ) work well and come out to only a few cents per magnet. They sufficiently hold photos, postcards, papers, etc. And are soft enough that no damage could possibly be inflicted on fridge surfaces.
Notes on the glue:
You could easily go all out and use some heavy duty epoxy or other adhesive, but hot glue is simple, quick, and cheap. For these bare-bones magnets, hot glue does the trick.
Why Nuts?
using a nut helps space the bottle cap off of the fridge surface so there's no chance of scratching the surface, and creates a uniform distance between the magnet and the bottle cap. Using a large gob of hot glue usually creates a relatively uneven wonky mess.
One other note: I've found that the best way to remove bottle caps without causing any damage is to use the bottle-opener end of a wing-style corkscrew. The larger dimensions usually spread the force evenly across the cap so it doesn't crease or bend.
Here's the bare bones materials list:
- bottle caps
- sandpaper (I used 220 grit... the grit isn't critical)
- hot glue gun
- hot glue sticks
- button magnets (1/2")
- 1/4" hex nuts
Notes on the magnets:
sure, one could use heavy-duty neodymium magnets, but they cost significantly more and for my purposes, the simple ProMag Magnetic Buttons (available at local craft stores i.e. Michael's, Hobby Lobby, etc. ) work well and come out to only a few cents per magnet. They sufficiently hold photos, postcards, papers, etc. And are soft enough that no damage could possibly be inflicted on fridge surfaces.
Notes on the glue:
You could easily go all out and use some heavy duty epoxy or other adhesive, but hot glue is simple, quick, and cheap. For these bare-bones magnets, hot glue does the trick.
Why Nuts?
using a nut helps space the bottle cap off of the fridge surface so there's no chance of scratching the surface, and creates a uniform distance between the magnet and the bottle cap. Using a large gob of hot glue usually creates a relatively uneven wonky mess.
One other note: I've found that the best way to remove bottle caps without causing any damage is to use the bottle-opener end of a wing-style corkscrew. The larger dimensions usually spread the force evenly across the cap so it doesn't crease or bend.
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I saw a similar idea selling in Tampere, Finland. Those guys printed fun pictures shaped into circle. They put the picture inside the cap, stuffed the cap with some transparent stuff, probably it was clear transparent silicone. And then they have glued the magnet to the cap (to the opposite side from what you did).
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Excellent photography in this Instructable. Good work, and good ideas!