This morning, Hubby pulled an unused, uncrimped bottle cap out of his pocket, and asked if I knew of any use for them. Seems his brother took him to a car-truck auction yesterday, and there are several boxes of the things in back of a wrecked semi trailer. They are brand new, in the box. The boxes are about 18inchesx12inches by 12 inches deep, and they are full of the caps. There is a red bulldog on them--maybe that means something to someone.

If someone out there makes their own home-brew soda or root beer or beer, they might come in real handy. Let me know--just pitching them (as the auction is apt to do) galls our scrounging souls....!!!!! Is there a craft project...?

-- Leann Banta (thelionandlamb@hotmail.com), November 30, 2000

Answers

If you end up not finding a better use, you can nail them rough side up to a piece of wood and make a shoe scraper. Just don't step on it with bare feet. My Grandpa made one years ago.

-- Cindy (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), November 30, 2000.

REd Dog beer! Reminds of a handsome guy I knew. There must be crafts that can be made from them, too small for the tree ornament idea. But that's alot of caps to use up!

-- Epona (crystalepona2000@yahoo.com), November 30, 2000.

Personnally they should put Red Dog beer back into the dog it came out of.

Try selling them in lots of 100 on eBay. Start them at say $10 and see if there is any interest. However, if they do sell, don't flood the market. Offer one batch say every two weeks.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), November 30, 2000.

Anyone that has a bottle capper would probably like some.I do, and I would!

Also,Check with the school or library to donate, for craft projects for the kids.I know there were things they could make out of them but my brain just doesn't remember as well as it used to.

-- sharon wt (wildflower@ekyol.com), November 30, 2000.

I would like to have them - I use them to seal bottles of bath salts - the caps are hard to come by sometimes. I would be glad to pay you for them - just let me know a price with shipping. It would be nice to have a good supply on hand. Thanks

-- Linda Al-Sangar (alsangal@brentwood-tn.org), November 30, 2000.

I saw something similar to what you describe clear back in the '70s. They are used to hold tar paper, i.e. building felt in place. A nail head is small, but the nail added through the metal keeps it from tearing out of the felt.

You might also use them for coasters for very small beers. lol

-- Notforprint (Not@thekeyboard.com), November 30, 2000.

I just saw in a library book, Better Homes and Gardens "Flea Market Decorating" on pages 91 and 93, the most fascinating piece of recycling I believe I have ever seen. It is a piece of chain make from bottle caps strung together on wire and fastened into loops which once fenced an Amish farm. You just have to see it to believe it! The next time you are in a bookstore or the library, you just HAVE to look at it. It will be worth your time!

-- Sandy Davis (smd2@netzero.net), November 30, 2000.

Oh man! I remember those door mats from Girl Scouts in the (gulp) 50's...Our troop collected zillions of bottle caps, of course they were all metal then, like the beer bottle caps are now. We turned them upside down on a board and wailed away with hammers and little tiny nails until the entire surface was covered with the sharp caps. We then sold them, as I recall, for $1 each. I would never recommend anybody step on one of those puppies without boots on! I'll bet they'd still make nice gifts for horse and cow people coming in from the barn. God bless.

-- Lesley (martchas@gateway.net), November 30, 2000.

You could use them to make sets of button covers for gifts. You buy the button covers at a crafts store-- very inexpensive and glue the bottle caps on.

-- connie in NM (karrelandconnie@juno.com), December 01, 2000.

I have seen hotpads made by croshing (spelling?) 10-12 of them together.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), December 02, 2000.

Good ideas, all...but I'll have to talk to Hubby about the shiping stuff, for those who want them. He has had two late nights (the post office is getting swamped with holiday mailings), and he has Nat'l Gaurd drill this weekend. I Will try to get back with you!

-- Leann Banta (thelionandlamb@hotmail.com), December 02, 2000.

Ken, it's spelled crocheting, good try. I've seen those too. The ones I saw were covered with crocheting done in purple and fastened together to look like a bunch of grapes. That was alot of years ago. I'd forgotten all about that. Good idea.

-- Clare Baldwin (clare_baldwin@hotmail.com), December 03, 2000.

Good Heavens! Get a homebrew kit and put them to their intended use! They aren't really worth very much, but they do have value. I'm sure there is a home-brewer in your area that would be happy to pick them up and pay a reasonable price. Alternatively, I can send you some info and sources on home brewing! GL!

-- Brad (homefixer@SacoRiver.net), December 04, 2000.

If they were pull tabs from the tops of aluminum cans, then here you can get 10 cents a peace for them , They make duck callers out of em'.

-- hillbilly (internethillbilly@hotmail.com), December 07, 2000.