Soda Pop Tab Chain

In this Instructable I will be showing you how to make a chain from soda can tabs. I'm not sure if it has a whole lot of practical applications but it sure is fun. I AM NOT TAKING CREDIT FOR THE IDEA, I AM JUST SHOWING YOU HOW TO MAKE IT. Thank you for viewing this Instructable and if you have anything to say then please tell me in the comment section. Let's get started !!!

Step 1: Materials

1. Scissors (or nail clippers)

2. A ridiculous amount of soda can tabs

3. Paper clip (optional)

4. Pliers (optional)

5. Bowl (optional)

Step 2: Sanitation (optional)

If you got your tabs the way I did then you did not get them right after the cans were empty, so they were probably thrown away. Or you just want to wash your tabs. Either way just get the tabs in a bowl, and turn your sink faucet to the hottest temperature that is available and fill the tab bowl with the hot water. Unfortunately for me I did not think to put the tabs in a bowl so I kinda burned my hand, but at least I can pass that knowledge to you. If you don't use a bowl and you use your hand and you drop a tab into the drain, then take the paper clip and make a hook out of it and scoop it out.

Step 3: The Build

Take 5 of your soda tabs and put them on top of each other. Next cut small slits in the thinner side of the rest of your tabs with your scissors. Now pry the section where you cut the slit apart and work it in between the 5 tabs. Do this with 4 others until you have five tabs linked to five tabs. Now the area where you pried the tabs apart is most likely not closed so take your pliers and bend it to where the two ends meet. If you continue this pattern then you will have a soda tab chain, congrats !!! If you have anything to say then please tell me in the comment section. Thanks for viewing this Instructable !!!

Comments

[struno]

Our dishwasher has two compartments that you can close (in the silverware holder-basket-thing) where we put medicine cups, etc. Put the tabs in there for a hassle-free way to wash them. And you'll be using less water, too - the dishwasher needs to run anyways, and you won't be using more water to wash the tabs by hand.

I'm going to be spending the day getting the tabs off all our crushed soda cans (we have a 30-gallon drum about half full of them)... thanks for the instructable!!!

[Street-Wise Irish]

I don't believe my dishwasher has the same, but that would be very useful. And I if you have a 30-gallon drum full of these little buggers then you are gonna have one mighty long chain : ) ! Thanks for the comment, hope you enjoyed it !

[janelees]

I usually wash my soda tabs in a strainer, that way they won't accidentally fall into the drain. I let hot water wash over them and sometimes I'll spray an all-purpose cleaner on them and rinse again. Then I spread them out on a towel to dry.

[Street-Wise Irish]

That's a good way to do it. Clearly you have better problem solving than I do. Lol