Introduction: Cheap and Simple Bottle Cap Magnets!
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.
Step 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.
Step 2: Preparation by Sanding
Prep the bottle cap and the magnet for gluing by sanding the underside of the bottle cap and the topside of the magnet.
Sanding helps the glue adhere, particularly when using hot glue... the bottle cap liners are, by nature, pretty good at repelling anything, so sanding is necessary.
you could theoretically remove the liner, but it can be a bit difficult, and as long as you sand, isn't really a necessary step.
Step 3: Affix Nut to Magnet
After sanding the magnet, adhere one of the 1/4" hex nut to the magnet with hot glue.
I use one dab of glue on the magnet to set the nut, then fill the threads with glue (the threading on the nut helps everything adhere as well).
Step 4: Affix Nut/magnet to Bottle Cap
A small dab of glue on the sanded area of the bottle cap should be enough to hold the nut on.
Too much glue and the bottle cap will sit too far off the surface.
Step 5: Place Magnet on Fridge!
Simple as that!
A quick, easy, and cheap way to get those bottle caps off the counter / out of that jar and into the light. Plus, everyone can use a few extra fridge magnets!
59 Comments
14 years ago on Introduction
I'm sure some have already mentioned, you don't need to glue the caps. The caps are stainless steel, so they'll stick to button magnets just fine.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
while in theory, it works, many caps are an alloy that, combined with the Teflon cap liners (which can be tedious to remove), don't create a strong magnetic bond with standard (cheap) craft button magnets. Add in the nut to properly space the cap (consequently weakening the magnetic field even more), and an adhesive of some sort becomes necessary.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
I have over a hundred caps on my beer fridge and not one has ever fallen off a magnet (unless knocked off, of course). I suppose it's a matter of preference, but by no means necessary. And it's much more convenient to just pop the cap off a beer, slap it on a spare magnet and you're done. No glue or extra time required.
Reply 3 years ago
Agree avgbear....
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
I would think that if you tried to pull those magnets off the fridge (you know, to actually use them to pin something on) that the cap would be just as likely to come off the magnet as the magnet would be to come off the fridge.
6 years ago
Great idea!! Why the sandpaper??
8 years ago
Still wondering, whats up with the nuts.
Reply 8 years ago
They're spacers so the magnet isn't lost inside the bottle cap and you don't scrape the surface you're putting these on with the bottle-cap ridges.
8 years ago
Very Nice !!
8 years ago on Introduction
I've been collecting bottle caps for years, and have them coming out my ears. The best way I've found to open a non-twist cap is to grab the bottle firmly by the neck, slip a bic lighter (or other solid, similarly sized object) under the lip of the cap, and lever it off with the base of the thumb. Perfect every time.
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
Nice 'ible, by the way. I think I like yours best on this subject.
8 years ago on Step 5
I wanted to Neodymium magnets because some of
our current fridge magnets are week and will not hold up pictures, letters, or
my kid’s homework. These things are very impressive and can be a little more
difficult to work with then standard magnets. Also, instead of using a spacer
of a nut, I just created a base of hot glue and let it harden, if you do not
the magnet will force itself through the glue. Then I glued the magnet in the
center and filled in the rest with hot glue. These magnets are
very strong and have no problems holding items to the fridge. Problem solved and it looks good doing
it. Thanks for the idea!
10 years ago on Introduction
Excellent!! I am going to try this... besides making bottle cap key chains, this is much simpler. Btw, What kind of beer is the cap with the Ram on it??
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
That would be Shiner Bock
9 years ago on Introduction
I found that a cheapo bottle opener with a quarter between it and the cap kept the caps in perfect shape. Sometimes I slowly work my way around.
11 years ago on Introduction
It is a breath of fresh air to have someone care about the images they are posting. Thank you for putting in the extra effort of using a good camera, setting up your shots and actually editing your photos. Keep up the good work.
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
My thoughts, exactly! Makes it so simple and clear to follow along.
11 years ago on Introduction
This is a very great idea :)
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).
12 years ago on Introduction
This is such a cool idea! Sadly, my fridge is tiny and hidden behind a door. I'm going to try to get a square sheet of light metal to hang on my living room wall to stick them to!
12 years ago on Introduction
Great Idea!