04-28-2019, 01:20 PM
I get prescription meds from my docs, and had been tossing the empty bottles away. They come with child proof caps and at my request they include the simple screw off NON-child proof caps as well when they fill them. I had been tossing the child proof caps, and writing the name of the meds on the smooth top of the ADULT caps when I got them. Then the extra clean caps would get tossed, so I didn't have to write the name of the med on them again. Seemed a shame, but how many caps do you need, Right?
Then it hit me. I had been tearing scraps of brown paper off to squirt dabs of glue on, mix two part epoxy on, and the rest. I started saving all the pill bottle caps, tossing them in a box to take to the shop. I also save the tops to the cottage cheese, sour cream, etc. Just need a bit of glue to dip screws in, or to coat a few corners. Squirt it in a cap, dip and spread as needed and toss the cap when you are done. Mix the epoxy on the cottage cheese lid, and use as needed; toss the lid. That smooth plastic works well and doesn't impart color or newsprint to the epoxy. I have a basket in the shop containing those lids and caps, and one beside it with all those fake credit cards and business cards that fill my mailbox. They make great throwaway spreaders for the glue and epoxy.
I have also saved a few of the larger pill bottles. I store various fine sawdust from the different wood species in them, mark the bottles with the contents and when I need to plug nail holes I mix a bit with the glue... boom. Done. Filling a knot hole with the superglue, layer it with the proper sawdust.. sand flush.. boom. Can also use the larger bottles to store the last small amount of stain or watco oil... when that top gets harder and harder to get off the metal can. label it and use it up on the next project. The pill bottles take up less space as well.
Then it hit me. I had been tearing scraps of brown paper off to squirt dabs of glue on, mix two part epoxy on, and the rest. I started saving all the pill bottle caps, tossing them in a box to take to the shop. I also save the tops to the cottage cheese, sour cream, etc. Just need a bit of glue to dip screws in, or to coat a few corners. Squirt it in a cap, dip and spread as needed and toss the cap when you are done. Mix the epoxy on the cottage cheese lid, and use as needed; toss the lid. That smooth plastic works well and doesn't impart color or newsprint to the epoxy. I have a basket in the shop containing those lids and caps, and one beside it with all those fake credit cards and business cards that fill my mailbox. They make great throwaway spreaders for the glue and epoxy.
I have also saved a few of the larger pill bottles. I store various fine sawdust from the different wood species in them, mark the bottles with the contents and when I need to plug nail holes I mix a bit with the glue... boom. Done. Filling a knot hole with the superglue, layer it with the proper sawdust.. sand flush.. boom. Can also use the larger bottles to store the last small amount of stain or watco oil... when that top gets harder and harder to get off the metal can. label it and use it up on the next project. The pill bottles take up less space as well.