Fig. A: Bottle cap magnets. Fig. B: This charm bracelet
was worked with a jeweler’s precision. Fig. C: Bottle caps
3. Once the cap has dried and cured, insert a split
ring into the hole, clamp shut with needlenose
pliers, then run your desired length of ball chain
through the split ring.
4. Willing to bore a few more holes per cap? Janet
Cooper, of Sheffield, Mass., flattens vintage bottle
caps in a large press and then joins them to one
another in 4 spots to create a chain mail effect for
her bottle cap purses.
ROPES AND SNAKES
For more than a decade, Beck Underwood of New
York City has linked ordinary bottle caps to create
sundry snakes and skeletons. Underwood punches
a hole through the center of each cap with a large
nail and hammer, 20 or 30 at a time.
D
make up the chains around this mirror frame.
Fig. D: Another bottle cap chain comes to life.
1. To make a folk art-style snake that’s 2' long, drill or
punch a hole through the center of 120 bottle caps.
2. String the caps one by one, each facing the same
direction, onto heavy-gauge steel wire (aluminum
might break). Secure one end using the needlenose
pliers, an eye hook or other fastener, and a large
bead or block (the snake’s tail).
3. Once all the caps have been strung, again use the
needlenose pliers to close and attach the remaining
bottle cap rope end to a piece of scrap wood. This
will serve as your snake’s head.
4. Embellish the wooden head and tail parts with
acrylic paints, and seal with clear acrylic spray
finish. If it’s going outdoors, hit the bottle cap rope
portion with the spray finish, too.
