Bottle Cap Table With Poured Resin Surface

Intro: Bottle Cap Table With Poured Resin Surface

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.

STEP 1: Collect Bottle Caps.

Tips:

-Become friends with bartenders.

-Cheap date night: Visit alleys behind local bars.

-Buy microbrews based on how cool the caps are, not how good the beer is.

-Get your friends to help you collect.

-When traveling overseas, buy beer instead of souvenirs.

STEP 2: Find the Table.

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: http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/10073835

STEP 3: Lay Out Your Design.

We started out with a random design, featuring just one bottle cap from every kind we had in our cap stash. This left room for some repeats, so we arranged a pattern around the circular shape of the table.

STEP 4: Begin Gluing.

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.

STEP 5: Prepare Your Surface.

Once everything was glued down, I used blue painter's tape to cover the edge of my table just even with the surface of the table. This is usually recommended to avoid drips of resin from drying to sides of your project, but I did it to keep the duct tape from getting my table all sticky (see Step 6).

Don't forget to also tape up any holes on the surface of your table. I did this from underneath so that the blue tape wouldn't show once the resin was applied. If you have a table surface with lots of openings (like a metal mesh or expanded metal), you may want to get a piece of Plexiglas or MDF and use that for your tabletop.

STEP 6: Build a Barrier.

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.

STEP 7: Cover With Resin.

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.

STEP 8: Remove the Tape.

After the resin is fully set, carefully begin peeling away the foil/tape. If the foil was kept relatively smooth and the tape was not touching the resin, it should peel away from the hardened resin easily. The only area I had problems was where some resin seeped between overlapping ends of the foil/tape. Also, there were a couple of spots where the resin seeped over the edge of the blue tape slightly. These were both easily remedied using a hobby knife.

STEP 9: And Voila!

You have a great new conversation piece for your home or patio.

Comments

[melody2]

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?

[actgreen]

Hello! About how much epoxy will I need for the bottle top project on a 14" round table? Thanks!

[Ebah]

I have a glass dining table I want to work on
Will it work on glass? What do I need to make sure it sticks and for it not to run dwn my table

[SaraG135]

How much resin should you buy

[WendyR45]

Just wondering how heavy the resin makes the table? I would like to do this for a framed artwork with an initial for a friend's bar. No bigger than 12x12... Thanks!

[SamanthaL99]

Hi, I have quite a large project and have no idea how much resin I need. Could you please tell me how big your table was and how much resin you used?

Thank you

[NicoleK40]

I have about 4000 that I've been collecting since I was 14 in anticipation to make a small bar top and I think it's time I stop and make one! Super helpful. A tip to anyone who finds a brand with a cap you love, write to the company because they just asked how many I wanted and sent them to me for free, usually with other promo stuff like shirts/stickers etc. Doesn't hurt to ask!

[MarilynP35]

thank you so much for the info. I wonder if they do the same with can tabs?? I have been making many things with tabs like jewelry, coin purses, and pocketbooks. I just find it fascinating and i love to do it. Especially for craft sales and shows.

[MarilynP35]

I was wondering if anyone ever thought of making a pole lamp with beer cans of many kinds and decorate the shade with all kinds of pretty beer caps. I DID!!! Got so many comments on it.

[SandyS171]

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

[Maverick1776]

how much resin did you end up using and how thick was it?

[Papat444]

I'm working on collecting caps but my caveat is they each have to be different AND from breweries i've sampled. Down to 29 left (have 300 + already) but it's getting tough LOL.

[MikaylaC7]

How many ounces of the resin did you use? I'm looking at it on Amazon and there are many different sizes and I'm wondering how many I need to buy?

[LukeC70]

i know you put it on here but i cant find where, what kind of resin did you recomend?

[Dupell6]

How did your edge come out? I just finished both of my flood coats and the edge is a bit off. Did you even it out at all with the exacto knife

[znelson88]

How come you cant just put a thin layer of resin down, place the caps and then cover it the rest of the way?

[wowlop]

I have the same question? wouldn't that also seal the wood from drips better as well. maybe brush a layer on first?

[wowlop]

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!

[PrincessL3]

Just a tip...you can buy crimp free microbrew and soda caps in bulk on eBay for not a whole lot of money.

[RichardT6]

-Buy microbrews based on how cool the caps are, not how good the beer is? Really? Great instructions though.