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How to make a cap-catching bottle opener

27 Aug 2025

Crack open your drinks in style with this clever DIY cap catcher! Made from timber and stained in Resene Colorwood Bask to highlight the natural wood grain, this rustic wall-mounted bottle opener is both practical and good-looking.

Designed to catch caps as you go, it’s the perfect addition to your home bar, kitchen, or outdoor entertaining area. Whether you’re hosting a party or just enjoying a quiet drink, this handmade bottle opener hack is always ready for action.

You will need: 

  • Pine back panel: 450mm (h) x 140mm (w) x 18mm
  • Pine side panels x 2: 140mm (h) x 140mm (w) x 18mm
  • Pine base panel: 140mm (h) x 104mm x 18mm
  • Wood ‘gate’: 140mm (w) x 120mm (h) x 10mm
  • Metal grit: 110mm (w) x 90mm (h)
  • Bottle opener (we got ours from Moore Wilson’s)
  • Resene wood stain – we used Resene Colorwood Bask
  • Wood screws
  • PVA glue
  • Wood filler
  • Hinges x 2
  • Catch
  • Coping saw
  • Screwdriver
  • Sander
  • Sandpaper

A saw cutting a curve into a piece of wood

Step 1: Cut the pine to size. Round off the top and sides of the back panel and the front edge of both side panels with a coping saw.

Step 2: Sand these three pieces. Clean off any sanding dust.

Step 3: Make two holes with a drill and 3mm twist drill on the bottom of the side panels.

A piece of wood with a drill and 2 screws

Step 4: Drill two holes on the side panels and into the base panel. Counter sink the holes and add PVA glue on each part. Wipe off any glue with a wet cloth.

three sides of a wooden box

A screwdriver screwing a screw into wood

Step 5: Add two counter sunk holes on top and bottom and screw the base and side panels onto the back panel.

A wooden project

Step 6: Close the holes with wood filler.

A wooden project with a square front

Step 7: Cut a piece of wood to construct a small ‘gate’ and make a frame by removing the inside rectangular piece (15mm from the sides).

A square of wood with a wire interior

Step 8: Glue metal grate into the frame with hot glue.

A wooden bottle opener project with a gate on the front

Step 9: Attach the gate to the body with two small hinges and allow it to stay closed with a catch.

Step 10: Paint the bottle opener in Resene Colorwood Bask. Allow to dry.



Step 11: Fix your bottle opener to a wall, ready to use. 

Above: Bottle opener stain colour washed in Resene Colorwood Bask and wall in Resene Log Cabin. 

Top tip: If you’re planning to use your cap holder outdoors, use Resene Waterborne Woodsman wood stain or the Resene Woodsman Wash range instead of Resene Colorwood, to help give your cap holder extra protection against the weather.

project Ivan Moses
main image Bryce Carleton

Published: 27 Aug 2025