The Better Beer Bottle Opener

joeybealis · Jan 8, 2012

Nice work!

DiamondWW · Jan 8, 2012

I like this idea. Nice work.

hasbeen · Jan 8, 2012

Greetings from the socialist capital of America - California.
Why do you think they call it the 'left coast'?

I don't drink either. Great work. So how did you make them?

Lee
Moreno Valley's local has-been.
Servant of the Living God.

a1Jim · Jan 8, 2012

pretty darn cool design.

Transition · Jan 9, 2012

@Lee - I took a relatively small hunk of wood, and shaped it on my lathe. But I guess you could just cut a circle out of a thick piece of hard wood and sand it to shape. They are about the size and feel of a large door handle.

I used a skew and parting chisel to cut a groove for the caps. On the bottom I scribed a circle equal to the diameter of a cap, drew a straight line through the circle such that the two points where the line intersected the circle were 3/4" apart, and drilled holes for the screws at those points. The holes were slightly smaller than the screws so that the screws would have some purchase. I had to adjust the screws so that they were at the right height (tested on an unopened bottle). Then I backed the screws out a quarter turn, applied some CA glue, and returned them to their adjusted position.

pauljp · Jan 9, 2012

Thanks for the honorable mention.
Great design.
It is interesting to see how these have progressed from the first generation until now.
I know your neighbor will love them.

ed220 · Jan 9, 2012

Interesting. Great finishes. Very unique.

peteg · Jan 9, 2012

Can see these selling like hot cakes at the local market, another great idea Andrew
well done
Pete

Transition · Jan 9, 2012

@Paul - thank YOU for posting the original!

@Pete - no patent pending on these, so go for it! You could probably mount a 12" long block of wood an turn 4 at a time.

doncutlip · Jan 9, 2012

Need idea, great execution

LukieB · Jan 9, 2012

Very cool… Great, now I want a lathe too. LOL

scottb · Jan 9, 2012

NICE! - everything in the kitchen should be re-made out of wood, and when possible, done on the lathe.

PaBull · Jan 9, 2012

Very nice!, I like the personal touch of the favorite beer cap!
This is a nice inexpensive gift.
Thanks for showing this off.
Pb.

BigTiny · Jan 10, 2012

I can see a version using a glue-up blank of contrasting woods to give a checkerboard pattern on the top.

Consider this idea "stolen". It's going in my favorites file.

Paul

bues0022 · Jan 10, 2012

I had no idea I had started a following of these. I like all the variations that everyone has come up with. It's cool to see how things can snowball when people put their own spin on it.

My wife has put the task on me to try to find something a bit more aesthetic than screws to use to remove the cap (but still using the same idea). I tell her screws are good looking, but she has other ideas for the kitchen. Thoughts?

Keep the ideas flowing! Good work!

Finn · Jan 10, 2012

My wife has put the task on me to try to find something a bit more aesthetic than screws to use to remove the cap (but still using the same idea). I tell her screws are good looking, but she has other ideas for the kitchen. Thoughts?

...................................What comes to mind is a way to embed an old piece of band saw blade with the teeth cut off into the wood to serve as a hook to lift the bottle cap. I have not made any of these yet but plan to try. Neat idea !

Transition · Jan 10, 2012

@LukieB - Don't get a lathe. It will suck up all your free time. But if you do, I want you to know that I'm starting a "Lathes Anonymous 12 step program".

@BigTiny Paul - I look forward to seeing your version. Might be cool for those NASCAR fans!

@Ryan - Apologies. Yours was the original post that got things started. I wish we could track down the creator in Cameroon. He would probably laugh at us! I bet he creates these things for tourists, and probably uses a rusty old metal bottle opener…

@Finn - I had thought about using more decorative Brass Cap Nuts. But the brass machine screws looked fine, and if they are oriented properly, they won't scratch surfaces. Ideally, I think a little pedestal is the way to go. Hmmm, got me thinking…

The Better Beer Bottle Opener

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joeybealis

DiamondWW

hasbeen

a1Jim

Transition

pauljp

ed220

peteg

Transition

doncutlip

LukieB

scottb

PaBull

BigTiny

bues0022

Finn

Transition

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