DIY Vinyl LP Coasters

By Chrisjob

These are by no means an original idea. I saw them on all sorts of websites when shopping for unique Christmas gifts. However, $20-45 for six or eight coasters seems like a bit much. For the same investment [for the hole saw], you can make these guys by the thousands, and by picking out your own LPs, you can select from the choicest of colors and label designs.

And while you're feeling LP-tastic, check this out!

Supplies:

12” vinyl albums (raid the 25¢ bin!)
Electric drill or drill press
Bi-Metal Hole Saw (I already had a 4 1/4” saw, but if you’re buying new, go for a 4 1/2”)
Scrap wood: a large flat piece (I used an old fiberboard shelf) and two thinner strips (1x2”)
C-clamps, or short bar clamps
150-220 grit sandpaper
Spray Polyurethane or Acrylic finish
Stable work surface
Safety glasses, work gloves, and dust mask (this stuff HAS to be bad for you)

1. Select your albums. Listen first, if you please, to make sure they’re worth destroying

2. If using a smaller drill press, cut the top third of the album.

3. FIRMLY secure the larger piece of scrap wood to a stable work surface, or the drill press table.
4. Place record on scrap wood, and firmly secure the album with the 1x2”s, clamping them as close as possible to the label.

5. Using the spindle hole as a guide, insert the starter bit of the hole saw, and using a SLOW RPM (set your drill press low, or pull slightly on your trigger), drill out the label of the LP. If the album jumps around, or you can see the teeth marks, secure the record more firmly to the work surface, and try to clamp closer to the label.

6. Peel away extra vinyl, and sand the edges to smoothness, staying clear of the paper label.

7. Apply a coat of clear spray finish to both sides of the LP, letting dry between coats.

8. Apply a delicious, natural beverage, and enjoy.

Tagged:
diy kitchen entertaining LP party Music recycle recycling recycled records

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March 02, 2007

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DesigningMom

June 06, 2007

Count me in with those that think this is a very sad idea! How about you just scan the labels print them off and glue them on the free internet CDs you can get wherever you go?

Aleksie

March 27, 2007

Wow what a great idea for all those cruddy scratched up old records out there!

MnkyMama

March 05, 2007

This is great...but it is much easier to just use old CD's....we burn our own all the time and after they great scratched it is an easy way to still use them. :)

balubalu

March 04, 2007

Don't you dare destroying those LPs. Damn you modern times of digital music. (Uhm, no - I'm only 32 years old yet - why? :-)

Chrisjob

March 03, 2007

"Pretty damn cool....BUT what clever thing are you gonna do with the rest of the scrap vinyl, huh, mister smarty pants???!!! ;)"

Make vinyl bowls with holes in them... Duh.

jasimar

March 02, 2007

It's clever but... I think my dad would cry the bitterest of tears if I stole back my old 45's and trimmed them up. He would definitely need a drink, but hey! at least he'd have a coaster to place it on.

DIY Maven

March 02, 2007

Pretty damn cool....BUT what clever thing are you gonna do with the rest of the scrap vinyl, huh, mister smarty pants???!!! ;)

lilybee

March 02, 2007

Very cool. These would be great a hostess gift for guys, (um host gift?), loads more interesting than wine...