Dragon Scales

I was inspired by this artist's bottle cap fish to create my own bottle cap dragon. 540 beer bottle caps (170 Amber Bock, 206 Killians, 68 Budweiser Select, 96 Budweiser) make up this 41 x 43 inch piece.

Step 1 Planning

I took some time to draw out the design in my notebook and to measure the size of a standard bottle cap.

To save on the amount of caps I would need to complete the design, I decided to flatten them out with a hammer; carefully avoiding folding the sides over.

Comments

[dodib]

Cool. I have a beer cap project in mind. I wondered if you flattened the caps out before adhering to plywood? thanks dodib

[skeplin]

Yep, I spent many of tedious hours hammering caps flat. By doing so, it made it easier to glue them to the plywood backing.

[Orchid-Black]

I do believe I'll have to do this!

[krusty]

That looks super!! Hey, next time you want to make something like this, why not have an "instructables" party and everyone can bring a 6-pack :) That would make for a rock'n night!!

[skeplin]

Yeah 90 six packs would be quite a party. I'm still (slowly) collecting bottle caps -- I need to find a bigger source.

[BarginsTech]

It may be more gross of an idea but rummage through some recycle cans on trash day :]

[cupojoe999]

see if you can get in to a collage party, there is easily 500+ bottles of beer if you get in to the right party

[thepelton]

You could go to a nightclub or a bar, and maybe give them some finished art in exchange for the caps.

[John Smith]

Hmmm. 540 Beers. Wow.

[BEAST14]

I like it!!

[BEAST14]

I believe your hunk metal might just be a.... hunk of metal.

[nerdy-bot]

I love it! What a lovely dragon for decorating the walll ... it looks awesome .. since i dont drink beer .. i might try something similar with toffee wrappers ...

[zipzapper859]

what is you next project?

[PetBennett]

has any one said "trogdor" yet?

[skeplin]

Burnination!

[PetBennett]

lolz

[pontiac]

its really cool but needs sum arms and legs,

[moo of the cow]

this must have taken foreva gr8 ible

[skeplin]

I think it took somewhere around 3-4 months to finish. Much longer to collect the caps though. If you went around to local bars, you could probably collect enough caps in a few days.

[Jennine117]

are those bottle tops flattened at all? I can't tell from the pictures. Absolutely great project!

[skeplin]

Thanks!

Yes, the caps are flattened -- a very tedious process. I did develop a method though: I placed a piece of cardboard on the concrete floor and then turned the cap on it's face. The head of the hammer just barely fit into the cap. Then, I would carefully hit it a couple of times making sure to bend the edge out and not over. Once it was pretty well flattened, I would turn it over and hit it a couple more times. Rinse and repeat.

I imagine that someone could develop a machine to do this. Any takers? ;⁾

[Shifrin]

Skeplin, This was a great Instructable, this has really inspired me to do some sort of junk pop art, with old bottle caps, or mettle things i find laying around in the house! Favorited! -Shifrin

[skeplin]

Thanks! I once saw a picture of an angler fish that someone made out of cut up soda cans that was absolutely amazing. Unfortunately, I have been unable to locate the link again....

[skeplin]

I couldn't find the angler fish, but I did find some killer can creations made with Red Bull cans:

http://www.redbullartofcan.com

and this awesome bird of prey:

http://www.kiwipulse.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/redbullartofcan8.jpg

[Grey_Wolfe]

There's a incredibly unnoticed source of surplus sheet metal just lying around most peoples homes. And the secret ingredient is... ...sopa pop cans (or beer, or whatevever). lol But seriously, I collect the side panel from rinsed out cans to use in just such projects (not that I've actually started any of them yet. lol). It's easy to get, readily available, and chances are you've already got some. It does take some finesse to get clean straight sheets, but that just takes a good blade and a little practice. I also collect the bottoms, as they are thicker metal and quite sturdy.

[Grey_Wolfe]

For heavier duty applications, you can use the metal from canned goods, though that also requires better tools to reqlaim, and its not smooth.

[Calltaker]

OK, that definitely qualifies as highly kewl. Great idea getting your friends involved, after all, having all the caps but being in the hospital with alcohol poisoning would suck :) Looks great tho!! ~C

[trebuchet03]

Almost missed this one :P Very cool :)

[Scott The Pyro]

What's your next project, i'm eager to to see it finished! I might even start my own.