Bottle opener material thickness

[motoguy]

What are you using for you bottle opener material, with mild steel? I was getting ready to cut some 14ga stuff, but I've run across some mentions that anything less than 1/8" (!) will bend. Just curious what you're having success with.

Also, if you cut stainless, are you leaving the edges "sugared", or cleaning them up? Seems like cleaning them up could add quite a bit of time to an already inexpensive part.

[KIDTech]

11 ga for carbon steel, use 3/16 for ss, either way throw them in a tumbler to clean them up or sit with a flapper wheel. I'd think that'd be a quick way to get yourself a bad rep leaving dross or oxides on the material. You could even throw the CS in muriatic acid to clean them up. It takes 20 years to build a good reputation and 5 minutes to destroy it.

[Marty]

Well you can buy here for $.90 made from stainless http://www.webstaurantstore.com/flat-bo ... HL552.html To buy just one though it it is $1.35 Hmmmm....is it worthwhile to design, cut and buff just a couple of them? Now we will hear all the "hold my beer" comments, come on guys

[ovrrdrive]

I was cutting them out of 11ga but was told by several people that 14ga works fine and won't bend. I opened a few bottles with a 14ga opener and it didn't explode. Since most of what I cut is 14 I'll probably start using that.

And using scrap steel to cut them is still cheaper than paying even a buck for them.

[KIDTech]

Well you can buy here for $.90 made from stainless http://www.webstaurantstore.com/flat-bo ... HL552.html To buy just one though it it is $1.35 Hmmmm....is it worthwhile to design, cut and buff just a couple of them? Now we will hear all the "hold my beer" comments, come on guys

That's a good find, make up a jig and put those in it the mill or if you have a laser to do the engraving. I get 4 dollars an operner, wouldn't be hurt at all going this route.

[KIDTech]

Just bought 50 of them for $44.

[michmetalman]

I've been using 14 gauge for years.

[Marty]

14 gauge works for many domestic and any light beer bottles....for a heavy ale and some lagers though I have had better results with 12 gauge openers