Introduction: Custom PVC Napkin Rings: Weekend Project
With the Holidays around the corner, I thought I would try my hand at creating a project for the Instructable community!
I gave myself 3 criteria to make it more widely accessible:
1: It needs to be cost friendly
2: It's a weekend project
3: It uses toolsyou might already have around the house
NOTE
ALWAYS USE PROPER SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AND EQUIPMENT!
The following is me sharing my experimentation with making custom napkin rings using 1 inch pvc couplers to create a piece that your guests can enjoy (literally) over a meal! Enjoy!
Step 1: Gather Your Materials
MATERIALS
Clear Coat Gloss Spray Paint $3.97
1 inch PVC coupling $0.49 each
NOTE
You can also use acrylic paint to substitute the spray paint color of your choosing
TIP
The PVC diameter should be determined based on the dimensions of your utensil handles and/or thickness and area of your napkins.
Step 2: Gather Your Tools to Experiment!
WARNING:
YOU WILL BE SANDING THE PVC - PLEASE, WEAR A DUST MASK AND EYE PROTECTION A.K.A 'PPE' (Personal Protective Equipment).
TOOLS
Dust Mask
Drill & drillbits
Pull Saw
Dremel
(Any tool that can make a mark, scratch or dent.... my hammer didn't produce what I hoped for, lol).
Step 3: PVC Prep
1 Begin prepping the surface of the PVC to take the spray paint by locating the following:
1A. The manufacturing defect (on coupling exterior)
1B. The manufacturing markings (ink bar-code on coupling exterior)
1C. The manufacturing markings (embossed text on one rim)
2 PUT ON YOUR PPE (DUST MASK AND EYE PROTECTION)!
3 Begin sanding away the defects, markings, and any blemishes you find. Your goal is to take the entire surface gloss away to a uniform matte finish. (Image 3A)
TIP
If you have an electrical hand sander, use it carefully or make a jig to hold the piece and protect you. This helps speed up the process if you have one.
Step 4: CREATE & EXPERIMENT!
Now that you've prepped the surface all the way around - switch to the tools and start making your unique design(s).
NOTE
KEEP YOUR PPE ON!
TIP
Hover over images for detailed information; and remember, you can use different tools and methods to achieve similar looks!
Step 5: Prep for Spray Paint
KEEP YOUR PPE ON (Because we appreciate you)
1 After achieving the desired aesthetics, go back to sanding the marks you've made to smooth out any non sanded rough areas from drilling, and other processes (This includes the inside where your napkins will slide - you don't want the fabric to snag on an overlooked area).
WARNING
REMEMBER TO APPLY SPRAY PAINT IN WELL VENTILATED AREA WITH PROPER PPE.
2 After sanding to your satisfaction, spray paint the surfaces in your desired color/colors.
TIP
You can use acrylic paints instead of spray paint and then seal your design with the clear coat!
Step 6: Detailed Views & Glam Shots
Thanks for coming along this project/journey! Enjoy the various shots of the different results in use. I hope you are inspired to create a few of these for your home and share this holiday season!
Cheers!