Recycling Tin Cans

[alwayscross]

I feel like in the SHTF there will be A LOT of left over tin cans, so I starting thinking of ways to use them. Feel free to leave comments on your ideas for them, here are a couple of mine.
1. Lanterns
2. Containers/storage
3. Furnace/Cooking (Good for stealthy fires)
4. Growing small thing (herbs, etc)
5. Collecting Water (Lots needed for that)
6. Patching things up
7. Make-shift weapon/Cutting tool
8. Traps/Alarms (Punch holes in the side and thread string through hole, fill cans with small noisy items. Can be used as a simple alarm system)
9. Signalling
10. Shower head (punch holes in the bottom, add water)
11. Water Filter
12. Battery (Not sure how but I was told you can turn tin cans into a batteries)

[HBP]

I remember my father telling me that as a child in the 30's and 40's he and my grandfather saved tin cans for the shed roof.

They cut the bottom off, cut them down the side, flattened them and used them as shingles.

[Arzosah]

Cut off the tops and bottoms, and join them together in lines to create a makeshift solar panel for a dehydrator etc. http://www.builditsolar.com/Experimenta ... Screen.htm

[featherstick]

Used one a few weeks ago to patch up a holed exhaust where a previous repair had failed.

Cut off top and bottom, flatten out, trim to fit around curve, bind with two pieces of light fencing wire.

Carry on.

[grenfell]

Begging bowls? Make a nice rattling noise with a lonesome coin in there.

[PreppingPingu]

Use a bunch of them to make a skittles game to keep the kids occupied! Or you can use some on a wall for target practice, be it sling shot, archery or air rifles.

[alwayscross]

Use a bunch of them to make a skittles game to keep the kids occupied! Or you can use some on a wall for target practice, be it sling shot, archery or air rifles.

I like that idea, if I ever need to teach someone to shoot.

[preparedsurrey]

I'm sure I read in a book that with the older (1940's) cans it was possible to remelt the solder used to seal them, then reuse it for casting.

I don't think this would work with modern cans as i've never noticed molten solder dripping when i've heated one directly but it may be worth further research

[ForgeCorvus]

Modern cans are induction welded up the side but the ends (or just the tops if its a 'drawn-up can) are still closed with a rolled seam.


I know a guy who made the chimney for his bush-stove out of several joined together

[jansman]

I remember Les Hiddens ( Bush Tucker Man) years ago making a Dolly Peg for clothes washing from a stick and tin can. Take a flat ended stick. A tin can with one end removed. Put 3 holes in the end of the can ( one in the centre) fix the can to the stick with a screw after you have bolted or screwed a rubber or plastic flap using one hole. This covers the third hole and creates a non return valve. Pump it up and down in your bucket of soapy water to create a manual washing machine.