Don't Toss Old Beer Bottles – Turn Them Into A One-Of-A-Kind Concrete Coffee Table

So you've had friends visit to christen the patio revamp idea you just completed or to watch the game, and you enjoyed a few beverages together. You could put the empty beer bottles out for recycling, but what if you could do something creative with them instead? Over on Facebook, Deep's CRAFT shows us how to turn them into a one-of-a-kind concrete and glass coffee table.

You will need an old cardboard box, a craft knife, painter's tape, a bag of concrete mix, some old beer bottles, and a trowel. The most important considerations are the size and number of beer bottles and the type of concrete. Standard 12-ounce long-neck bottles are around 9 inches tall and 2.4 inches in diameter. Allowing for a gap between them gives a table approximately 22 inches across. If you wanted a smaller side table, you could use 7-ounce ponys or, for something more imposing, go up to 22-ounce bombers. The creator uses 9 standard bottles, but that could also be varied depending on the size of table you want.

You can mix your own concrete, but it's easier to buy bags where you just add water. You'll want to avoid those with large pieces of aggregate (gravel) so that you can get a smooth finish. Quikrete Sand/Topping Mix is often suggested for craft projects, although the maximum recommended thickness is 2 inches. Quikrete Concrete Mix is stronger, and the aggregate size is still relatively small at just ⅜-inch.

First, you need to make a cardboard former, which is simply a round base and a strip with holes to fit your old beer bottles. Cut the holes carefully so the bottles are snug and the concrete doesn't leak out. Tape the ring closed, then tape it to the base.

Next, you need to mix your concrete (following the instructions on the bag) and add a base layer to the former. Make this as even as possible so the bottles are level and the top won't rock. You can see that the creator inserts the bottles while the concrete is still very soft, but you might want to wait a few minutes until it has started to harden a little.

Once the bottles are all in place, the gaps are filled with more concrete. If you're the patient type, you could mask the sides and ends of the bottles with painter's tape for tidier edges. At this point, you may want to measure and order the piece of glass that will finish the tabletop. It needs to be tempered glass, which is much stronger than standard glass, but it's not something you can cut yourself. Although it's very tough, there's still a chance your glass coffee table could explode, so it's worth taking a few simple precautions.

Once the concrete has fully hardened, you can remove the cardboard former and paint the tabletop. Outdoor water-based acrylic is recommended for durability. You may need a primer, so check the manufacturer's instructions. If you taped the bottles earlier, you should get nice sharp edges.

The creator sits the tabletop on what appears to be an empty 5-gallon paint bucket. Given the weight of the top, it could be a little unstable, so you might want to fill the bucket with a couple of inches of concrete to add weight. Before painting the bucket, you need to clean it with warm water and dish soap, allow it to dry, then scuff up the surface with sandpaper so that the acrylic paint will adhere properly. All that's left to do is to position the tempered glass top. If it's just laid on the bottles, there's a danger it could slide around. The solution is to buy some anti-slip pads. If you get the clear ones, you will hardly notice them.

So we've dealt with the old beer bottles by turning them into a one-of-a-kind concrete table, but what about the caps? They don't need to go to waste either. There's DIY there's an easy way to turn them into mini candles that could go right on top of your new table.