Crafts from coins. Epoxy resin for countertops. How to make a do-it-yourself countertop Do-it-yourself countertop from coins

If you've ever wanted to purchase inlaid furniture in the form of a cheap coffee table, then this Instructable is for you! I was about to throw away the old cheap glass table when I came up with the idea to inlay it with coins. Since I really hate throwing everything away, naturally this turned out to be a good idea. By the way, this is not the first piece of coins I have proposed. Look - very curious too!

Step 1. Pick up furniture according to your capabilities

I only needed a few things for this project. First, there was an old, ugly little table, with glass top. Secondly, I used an adhesive that works on non-porous surfaces (I used Goop, but there are other similar adhesives). Thirdly, it cost me a lot cheap- I probably used a penny worth about $ 4. Finally, I used a solution. I first had to check the various compositions of the solution before choosing the color range of the solution for myself.

Step 2. Start gluing

We started gluing pennies from the outside edge table... In our particular case, we decided to make two rows of heads, two rows of tails, and so on. After gluing all the coins, we leave the product to dry the glue according to the manufacturer's recommendation.

Step 3. Add solution

Once the glue was dry, we applied a filling solution between the coins. I mixed a very small batch of the solution, mixing it with a rather thick consistency. After mixing, I let it sit for 20 minutes and stir again to make sure all dry ingredients are well mixed. Since I was doing this part myself, I was unable to photograph the process, but it was quite simple. I put some of the mortar on the table and covered every crevice with it with a plastic spatula. After going through all the voids, I left it for another 20 minutes. Next, I took a damp sponge and started wiping the solution off the coins, cleaning the sponge frequently. After cleaning all the seams, I wiped them off with a dry paper towel. All that is left is to let the solution dry overnight.

Step 4. In conclusion

It turned out to be a fairly simple and inexpensive way to turn a cheap, ugly table into inlaid furniture- a real work of art. And this is the most cheap coffee table which I had.
By the way, it doesn't make sense to tell me that I violated federal laws by spoiling the coins. The coins were not damaged in any way (no cutting, drilling, or anything else had to be done). All coins remain intact. None of the coins were harmed in the creation of this table ....

If your strength is not enough (and this is really not a very easy process) and you are not able to bend the coins, feel free to discard the pliers and glue the edges with flat coins. You will not spoil the composition with this in any case.
With the rest of the space on the table, everything is much easier, just each coin needs to be glued carefully and thoroughly to ensure strength.

This process is not difficult, but long (the size of the table, of course, also plays a big role).

What will give you more of a hassle is the epoxy resin coating of the tabletop. You will need to place the table in a small, isolated and dust-free room and cover the floor under the table with strong plastic wrap, otherwise you can say goodbye to the parquet / carpet with a new carpet. We will cover the entire table with this mixture, with the edges, so dripping of resin on the floor cannot be avoided. The resin will give our fantastic idea even more golden shine.

When the currency depreciates, the treasured piggy banks with coins become almost useless. However, if you wish, you can find an excellent use for little things - to decorate furniture with it. This is exactly what one of the users of the Reddit website, registered under the nickname, did. Callofthegame.

On the site Kulturologiya.RF, we have repeatedly written about the trend towards. For example, American designer Johnny Swing has already made a name for himself by assembling a sofa, couch, chair and armchair from thousands of nickel coins. But Callofthegame decorated the tabletop with pennies - it turned out bright and original. In total, he needed 5,218p, and the work took about 40 hours as the artist carefully sorted the coins by color from golden shiny to dark chocolate. So he not only filled the space with small things, but also decorated the table with a zigzag pattern.

Each coin is glued to the top of the table, the finished art object turned out to be weighty - more than 100 kg. All coins are lined with an obverse, however, in order to provoke perfectionists, the designer fixed one of them with a reverse. So the search for this cherished coin can turn into a fascinating puzzle for anyone who wants to take a closer look at the coin miracle.

The coins should shine. To do this, they need to be sanded.
Fill the bowl about a quarter full with water, add a little Tarn-X, and then swirl the bowl over the sink (in case of splashes) to evenly moisten the coins in the liquid. It only takes a few seconds. When they are evenly shiny, discard them in a colander in the sink and rinse thoroughly with water. Place coins on a towel and pat dry


We made the top of the desired shape out of plywood and then painted it. Since the front end was rounded, we started with it.
The husband pressed a long metal ruler to the end of the table so that the coins would not slide out until they were completely fixed with glue.

So how did you bent the coins? - you ask. Here's how: My husband found an old titanium ring and wound some electrical tape so that the inner size of the ring would fit the size of the coin inside. After some trial and error, he found that by pinching the coin inside with a pair of pliers, he could make the correct fold to match the fold of the table edge .. However, keep in mind, this is DIFFICULT. I tried my best and couldn't bend a dime. Even the husband wore gloves to protect his palms while he was working.

NOTE: If you don't want (or can't) bend the coins, don't get stuck on the radial end, make a right angle. In the end, this is a feature that can be completely dispensed with.
After the first line of bent coins was glued, the job was just to cover the entire table with coins ....

We used the same size coins, but the denomination is different, there are even Canadian and Bahamas. Glued with an offset relative to each other. The husband later cut off the coins hanging on the edge with the help of a dremel. Using heavy metal scissors, he also cut small "patches" from coins to fill in empty spaces and joints.

All this took him about two nights. By that time the table was completely covered with coins, we worked on it for 6 nights.
Next comes the scariest part: coating our piece with epoxy. We install our countertop in a small room, the floor of which is covered with a thick layer of plastic wrap. Epoxy dries for several days and during this time you need to protect the drying place from dust, hair, animal hair, etc. (close the room, ventilation hole, if you can)

You can see that our epoxy is tinted with the "golden orange" color, this is not on purpose - it was lying around for a very long time, and since it is expensive (about $ 100), we decided to use it anyway. Also, this shade just makes the coins a little more golden and it looks pretty cute.

After everything is poured with epoxy, you need to level it so that the ends are also covered with the composition. Its excess will drain onto the film. They can be collected with a spatula and applied to non-smeared areas at the ends.

Then take an autogen

Torch to get rid of bubbles in the epoxy. And believe me, there will be many, many bubbles. Without bringing the flame closer than 6 inches from the surface, drive it and watch the bubbles magically rise up and away, leaving a beautiful glass-smooth surface.
We are waiting for two more days and ... Voila! A bright work surface in the wall is ready!

Based on materials from epbot.com

And here's a floor made of coins. Made using the same technology.

Is your piggy bank about to burst from coins? And nowhere to add, and it's a pity to throw it away? Well, it's time to put your coins into action and make beautiful crafts out of them. We've put together a selection of great ideas and step-by-step master classes for you. Today you will understand that it was not in vain that you have been saving up coins all this time.

For crafts, you can use both actual coins and those that have long been out of use. Most often, craftsmen use 1, 5 or 10 kopecks. For jewelry (bracelets, necklaces, brooches, etc.), it is better to choose foreign coins, if you have them - they look more solid in accessories.

How to drill a hole in a coin?

We will answer this question at the very beginning, because it will come in handy for many crafts. To make everything clear, we have found two short tutorial videos for you.

If you have a drill, make a hole in the coin according to this instruction.

If you do not have a drill, we will make a hole in the coin using a regular sewing needle.

Holes may not always be needed, but some of you will need it.

How do I connect coins?

There are two options here. If you have holes in your coins, you will need wire or special rings for jewelry. All this can be easily found in the departments for creativity.

If you want to make a voluminous craft out of coins or paste over any object with them, you need to glue them. The best way to do this is to use a glue gun. It is convenient and reliable. If you don't have one, go for a superglue that's capable of fixing metals.

Now let's get down to the fun part. Use the master classes and get to work!

A bowl

Wash coins in soapy water. It is best to soak them in liquid for several hours. The coins are quite dirty and this craft will be used a lot. Then dry the coins well.

We need:

• plastic bowl;
• polyethylene;
• glue;
• coins.

Instead of a plate, you can take a balloon. True, in this case, the craft may come out a little oblique and not completely stable. The plate will most likely have to be thrown away, so take the unwanted one. However, if you are very careful, it will survive.

Wrap the plate with plastic wrap. For reliability, you can fix it with tape. Start sticking coins. An important point is to glue them on the side edges. Don't worry if the glue leaks a little; we will sand it later.

Leave the structure to dry for 4-5 hours. Then carefully peel it free of the bowl and plastic. Take a fine sandpaper and gently wipe off any excess glue. Cover the top of the coins with ornamental varnish - for reliability.

Volumetric star

You can place any other shape. The main thing is to have a stencil or draw the outline yourself. If you are making a star, you can lay out the number 23 in coins and use the panel as a gift for Defender of the Fatherland Day. In the same way, you can make a gift for Valentine's Day - just select a heart as a stencil.

We need:

• Photo frame;
• velvet paper;
• stencil.

Insert velvet paper into the photo frame. Remove the glass - we won't need it. Draw a star. Lay out her outline in one layer. Then add another layer of coins. Gradually reduce their number, increase the volume.

In the same way, you can lay out a flower or, for example, a herringbone. Imagine!

Mirror or frame

Coins can be used to decorate a mirror or make a photo frame. This will add zest to the interior.

We need:

• wooden or cardboard frame;
• ornamental varnish;
• sandpaper;
• acrylic (optional).

If you are making a frame from scratch, you need to make a solid backing. Use plywood for this. If you are decorating a ready-made one, then it may be worth sanding and painting it so that the gaps between the coins look beautiful.

Just lay the entire surface of the frame in an even layer or pattern. You can add a second layer to hide any gaps that appeared when stacking the first "batch" of coins.

If you wish, you can decorate the coins with spray metallic paint.

Trough

Worried about the birds? This means your coins can be used to decorate the bird feeder. It will turn out to be a beautiful and useful craft.

We need:

• finished house;
• plywood.

If you do not have a ready-made house, you will have to build it from scratch. You can take a cardboard box and cover it with plywood. The most important thing is that the roof is strong enough, otherwise it will not withstand the load of coins. We glue the coins in rows from bottom to top. It is better to lay the last row additionally.

We would not advise you to paint the roof with ornamental varnish, as this can harm the birds. Do this only if you have a special non-toxic varnish.

A bracelet

If you have interesting coins from different countries that you brought for good luck, it's time to get them. Why keep such beauty in a piggy bank where no one sees it? And carrying them in your wallet is somehow boring. If you really want to attract luck and money, always keep coins with you - make a bracelet with your own hands.

We need:

• metal rings;
• bracelet accessories.

Drill two holes on each side of the coin. If the rings are thin, use a needle to do so. Fasten the rings, connect them to each other. Add a clip.

Now your lucky coins will always be with you!

Vase

Coins are a great way to transform old home furnishings. Take a look at the vase decorating workshop. Perhaps he will inspire you to redo something else.

We need:

• vase;
• acrylic paints;
• ornamental varnish.

The vase is best painted in one tone. Acrylic adheres perfectly to glass, so it is better to choose it. Next, we glue the entire surface of the product with coins. Spaces won't look ugly if you've painted the craft beforehand.

Many people like to give money trees from coins to friends. Why not give a vase in which you can put beautiful twigs or flowers? The same money tree, only more interesting.

Letters

Usually teenagers like the decor in the form of large letters. So if you have a school-age child, suggest this idea. Or decorate your hallway. Coin letters can also be a good gift.

We need:

• stencils of letters;
• cardboard or plywood;
• paints.

If you want to make letters on cardboard, choose the thickest one (the one usually used for boxes). The letters can also be cut out of plywood, if you can.

You can take stencils of letters from our selection - this way you will save your time. Next, just paint the cut-out letters to hide the gaps between the coins. Fix the coins in one layer. If the material allows, you can lay out the second and third layers.

You can use this workshop to DIY an anniversary gift. Lay out the numbers from the coins, present the hero of the occasion with such a "medal" - let it attract wealth.

Tray

Not sure how to decorate a homemade tray? Or do you need to hide a shabby surface? Coins will come to the rescue again.

We need:

• ready-made tray;
• coins;
• glass;
• dye.

If you are making a tray from scratch, you will need to sand and paint it. If this is a rework of a finished item, you can skip this step. Glue the coins to the bottom in random order. Or lay out the pattern.

Then cover the surface with glass that matches the size of the craft. If you don't have glass, cover the craft with varnish in several layers. Do not leave coins just like that - contact with food will be too close, and this should not be allowed.

Necklace

Here's another great way to keep your luck and wealth coins with you. A little effort - and you will make a beautiful fashionable necklace. Massive accessories are in trend now, so it makes sense to master this craft.

We need:

• necklace accessories;
• hammer;
• rings.

With a hammer, all the coins need to be flattened a little. This will help remove the drawing from them, polish and refine them. Still, it's not very nice to wear ten-kopeck coins around your neck, right?

Now make small holes in each coin. Insert metal rings and attach them to the hardware.

If you work well with a hammer, no one will even guess that you have made your jewelry from ordinary coins.

Table

Coins are used to spread ceilings, floors and a wide variety of furniture. If you have a few thousand extra coins, you can go for it. If your stocks are more modest, make a decorative table for the country.

We need:

• table;
• glass;
• coins.

We glue the coins on superglue or a glue gun. To make the process go faster, you can apply it not to coins, but to the very surface of the table. Move in small areas so that it does not have time to dry out.