How to make a magnetic bottle opener

This step-by-step guide will show you how to make a magnetic bottle opener. This fun project can be completed by most amateur woodworkers in an afternoon. It requires some general woodworking knowledge & tools (tablesaw, planer, drill press, & belt sander). You will also need a durable piece of hardwood and a strong magnet. The wood should be hard enough to withstand a regular barrage of bottle caps. I would recommend using a magnet with at least 60lbs of pull-force. This should amount of pull-force should give you consistent 'cap catching' results for around 20-30 caps at a time.

Woodworking can be very dangerous and you should always take proper safety precautions – safety glasses, earplugs, respirator, etc. These safety practice are not covered directly by this guide. Please research the best safety practices for woodworking if you are uncertain.

We hope you find our guide on how to make a magnetic bottle opener guide useful! Check out our CapCollectors page for further inspiration.

Materials needed to make magnetic bottle opener

Step 1:

Collect all of the necessary items. Some general woodworking equipment is also needed (tablesaw, planer, drill press, & belt sander).

Important note: Magnet works best with a pull-force of at least 60lbs. This is very powerful and requires extreme care.

Plane wood that will be used for magnetic opener

Step 2:

Plane your wood to your desired thickness. It's important to use a dense hardwood for durability.
The wood should have a moisture content ~10% – measure if uncertain. This will help to minimize any twisting or bowing after the the wood is finished.

Step 3:

Rip your board to the desired width.

Step 4:

Crosscut your board to your desired length.

Round opener's edges with router or sander

Step 5:

Round your edges with a router if available. This will remove any sharp edges and make it more comfortable when removing bottle caps.

Step 6:

Rough sand with a benchtop sander if available. We will do fine sanding by hand later in the project.

Mark holes where you will mount opener to the wood

Step 7:

Mark your holes for drilling. Make sure to center it properly.

Step 8:

Drill pilot holes where the opener will mount to the wood.

Drill hole for magnet in the back of the opener. Leave about 3/32" of wood to hide magnet.

Step 9:

Drill the hole where you will mount your magnet. Leave about 3/32″ at the bottom of the hole. Be careful not to drill all of the way through! This will be difficult to achieve without a drill press.

Glue powerful magnet into the back of the wood. This will allow the wood opener to catch caps.

Step 10:

Glue the magnet into the board. Make sure your glue bonds well to both metal and wood.

Step 11:

Get out your fine grit sandpaper and hand sand – and sand – and sand. When you are finished sanding – sand some more.

Coat magnetic wood opener with your choice of finish. We use beeswax on ours.

Step 12:

Coat your opener with a protectant of your choice (lacquer, poly, etc). We like to keep our openers simple and organic. We coat them with some local beeswax.

Step 13:

If you choose to use beeswax, you will need to melt it before applying. This will leave a beautiful warm glow on the wood.

Step 14:

Now we're ready to mount the opener.

Your magnetic bottle opener is ready to use. Grab a beer and celebrate!

Step 15:

Here is our finished CapCollector. This one was made from a piece of oak that was reclaimed from a tree that fell in a 2004 hurricane.

Step 16:

Grab a beer and reward yourself for all of your hard work!

Step 17:

Never worry about stray caps again!

We hope your found our guide on 'How to make a magnetic bottle opener' useful!
Check out our CapCollectors for more inspiration.