Painting Hack for Bottle Cap Magnet

I like to make giveaways - something small and on topic. The last few years I have been providing items to auction to raise money for leader dog for the blind. At the auction, I am working on my main painting project to submit to the auctioneer. When someone comes up and shows an interest in what I am doing (especially kids) I like to give them something. So I came up with bottle caps (I also do poker chips and buttons).

This Instructables is about the painting of bottle caps. This hack is to help keep somewhat efficient but mostly to keep paint off my fingers BY USING MAGNETS

Bottle caps

Craft magnet ¾ inch diameter by ¼ inch height/thick

Craft scissors

Blue painters tape

Bar magnet 18 inches long by 1 inch wide

Cookie sheet metal

Paper towel

Paint - I used one-shot lettering enamel

           Basecoat white

           Miscellaneous colors for design

Cleaner and Degreaser

I put my cookie sheet down and then I put the bar magnet across it with strongest part of bar facing up. the cookie sheet is steel and will stick to magnet. this gives me a nice secure elevated surface to work.

I put paper towels over the top to contain some over paint.

Degrease and clean the bottlecaps and stick them to bar magnet.

Now I no longer hold each cap in my hand and put them up and down to paint.

I painted the tops of the caps with one shot lettering enamel. this paint is great (I did not do any other surface prep to the caps other than clean.

I let them dry - I did overnight but depending on the conditions you could start almost right away.

Using one shot lettering enamel - I started with one color and randomly painted on different caps. I do not wait for drying of each color to paint the design. Then once done with all colors I let them dry over night.

Using what I call a raw craft magnet ( I found the Craft magnet ¾ inch diameter by ¼ inch height/thick to work well) I put blue painters tape over just one side. trim the excess tape away.

Pop the magnet raw side into the bottle cap.

I have given away most of the bottle caps either just as a cap or as a magnet. I like putting magnets on my rolling tool cabinets.