How To Prepare And Flatten Bottle Caps For Crafting Projects

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  Step 1

  Bottle Cap with the liner. This is how I receive them.

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  Step 2

  Get a pot of water to a good boil and add the bottle caps.

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  Step 3

  The liners have begun to deform as they melt slightly. You can see the edges curling up on this one. You can spot them in the pot doing this and just fish out the ones that are ready. Only take out one or two at a time.

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  Step 4

  he aluminum will cool very fast after they are pulled them out of the water. I drop them quickly on a towel to remove most of the hot water water and then I just use my fingers to gently pull the liner out.

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  Step 5

  Be quick about it or it'll begin to cool again and you may be left with a small bit in the center that stays stuck.

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  Step 6

  n this case I pull out my Xacto knife and carefully remove this last little piece. If it is being very stubborn I will throw it back into the pot of boiling water.

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  Step 7

  The tool I use to flatten my bottlecaps is a tortilla press. Yep, nothing fancy. I've read of people using all sorts of equipment but this works great for me. I got it off of Amazon for ~$12. I couldn't find any in nearby stores.

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  Step 8

  Put the bottle cap in the press towards the middle and close.

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  Step 9

  Voila! A cleaned and flattened bottle cap ready for use.

Comments

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wkv2069 · Albion, Nebraska, US 9th March 2013

is your press an aluminum or cast iron one?

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Susan G. · Tampa, Florida, US · 1 project 2nd October 2011

Thank you all for the tips and comments, especially about other sources to buy the caps from. I know for some local brewery shops are just easy and they save on the shipping but they never carry unlined ones.

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Lizuh Lette · Amelia Court House, Virginia, US 2nd October 2011

Just letting you know...I get my bottle caps from the bottle cap company...50 bottle caps for 6 bucks...which are about 12 cent each...for a few cents more you wouldnt have to go through the process of boiling water and such. btw this is an awesome idea! i might just have to try it. you can buy them flattened from them too but i think thats a little more pricy.

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Penny F. · North Bay, Ontario, CA · 19 projects 30th September 2011

Don't have that tortilla press but this is something I have never thought of doing before now... I will have to start up a collection of bottle caps before I ever even get one of those.

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Kate A. · Manchester, England, GB · 10 projects 6th September 2011

I only ever do a couple at a time so I just use a block of wood and a hammer. even cheaper than the $12 tortilla press.

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Elaine S. · Prattville, Alabama, US · 2 projects 5th September 2011

Hmm...I'd never have thought of using boiling water. I've always used a heat gun but that can be tricky. Might have to give that a try!

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Stephanie M. · 1 project 4th September 2011

Thanks for sharing this!
I don't have a tortilla press but I would find
something that'l work.

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