Recycle Soda Pop Tabs Into Chain Mail

My grandson Zachery is really into Dragons, Knights, Renaissance and the like and I really wanted to make him something special so I thought up this idea using soda can pull tabs. I made this nifty chain mail shirt for him that he loves. He has worn it several times and has it displayed on his bedroom wall. So I thought I would show you how to make one for your Renaissance guys.

Step 1: Supplies Needed

Supplies you will need:
Lots and lots of pull tabs from soda, beer, or energy drink aluminum cans.
hammer
wood block
needle nose or jewelers pliers
beading or jewelry wire
Round key rings or D rings to connect at sides and at sleeves. I used 18 1" key rings.
Duct tape for lining.

Comments

[Nerd King]

This will work great for LARP. Can't wait to get started I drink enough soda to give an elephant diabetes.

[babasfarmlife]

You'll have loads of fun seeing it all come together. Good Luck on your project!

[downbey]

how do u link the tabs?

[babasfarmlife]

Though I used wire to link them together, it's much easier and neater to use links. Next time I will do that.

[lost_sanity]

why wire them when you can link them?

[babasfarmlife]

You are absolutely right. I did this before I thought about even linking them. Thanks for the reminder.

[greenfreak]

i saw this instructable and instantly thought you linked them XD LOOKS AMAZING!!!!!!!!

[babasfarmlife]

Thanks. Wish I had linked them. I'm certainly going to do that next time.

[NIJU!]

 here is a pic of mine i made in 28 mins until i ran out of tabs :( 5 mins ago

[babasfarmlife]

Very cool! Love the look!

[NIJU!]

www.instructables.com/id/Genuine-chainmaille-from-pop-tabs/ here is the link for how to make this with only the tabs no rings 

[BadVanGoh]

I've almost got a full shirt going with this style! I've even lined the edges with red closed tabs

[babasfarmlife]

Great job!. I like saving the red, green, or blue tabs for finishing touches like that. I made a rosette to go on mine with red tabs.

[darknessfalls]

you are awesome for making this!

[babasfarmlife]

Thanks so much! My grandson thought so.

[darknessfalls]

could i ask how long it took you to gather the tabs and make it?

[babasfarmlife]

Really not that long at all. I just picked up tabs where ever I found them. People thought I was crazy, but I didn't care. I had a project to do. And I had the kids helping me find them.

[ChaseyWasey11]

good idea for the soda tabs every one I hope your all having fun with this. Chainmail is fun any ways and once you make real chainmail (even this soda tab stuff feels neat) it all feels so neat and looks neat to. I'm glad there are people online that do this stuff other than me.

[babasfarmlife]

It is fun to make. I bought my grandson a chain mail making kit for Christmas and he is now enjoying it too. If I make another I will make my own rings.

[babasfarmlife]

It is a fun project and I love the look!

[DainiusGB]

maybe you could actually link the chains together somehow, i dunno but that would take alot of that extra wire.

[babasfarmlife]

Yes I thought about using links to connect them and it probably would have looked a lot better too, but the cost of buying all the links was just too much for me at the time. Thanks for the idea though! That would be great!

[Lizander]

just buy some spooled wire, then make the rings yourself.... takes a little more time, but is cheaper in the long run.

[ChaseyWasey11]

ineverfinishanyth thats a good idea. babasfarmlife how long did you work on this? Have you even tried making real chainmail? I figure if your going to do a project why not make it worth your time? ineverfinishanyth's idea is great. The pattern looks more like 4 in 1 pattern and even looks more durable than yours. If I was to do this I would use ineverfinishanyth's idea because its concept is way better and probably just as easy. Good job ineverfinishanyth.

[babasfarmlife]

If I ever do another one I will use rings instead of wire. The wire is just a bit rough to work with. The rings may take a bit longer to make but it will be well worth the effort.

[mattccc]

how long did this take to make

[babasfarmlife]

Surprisingly it didn' t take that long once I had all the tabs. I would say a full week of wiring it all together.

[animan1]

there is one that uses only pop tabs no wire at all

[babasfarmlife]

I saw that and it looks fabulous! I'll have to try that method next time I do one.

[k_man93]

no words can aptly describe how badass this looks! seriously, it is a cool way to re-purpose those tab things and make it look good

[babasfarmlife]

Thanks K_man93! It was fun to make.

[lobo_pal]

If you have duct tape on the inside, is there really a need to remove sharp edges?

[babasfarmlife]

Yes, sharp edges can poke through the duct tape, so removing them prior just improves the feel of smoothness.

[ineverfinishanyth]

This is the method I use to connect pop tabs. In my opinion it looks a lot better and is much stronger. The pop tabs look much more orgainzed when they are assembled in this manner. The rings that i used to connect them were handmade and if you search "Ye olde chain maille rings" on the instructables website there is an instructable on how to make them. Hope this helps!

[vernors]

that is a good idea. i think ill do that instead

[daedric]

much better

[babasfarmlife]

It does look so much nice using ring. Thanks so much for showing me!

[sir-zeke]

i used tabs to make a dragon
http://www.instructables.com/id/Soda-can-top-Dragon/

[lil jon168]

lol ur grandson is a nerd *dragons lol

[corey_caffeine]

how do you know? have you met him?