You don’t need special punches. I use a regular nail just big enough to punch holes in the bottom from inside the can (I do this so the lanterns I make can hang outside even when it rains). The point of the nail is square so the hole becomes a perfect little square. Not that this really matters – one doesn’t really look that close, as it’s the combination of several holes that makes up the pretty pattern.

So. A hammer and a nail is really all you need. And a bit of a plank or board to do the hammering on so you don’t ruin your furniture.

Another tip for making tin can lanterns: Fill the can 1/4 with fine gravel to weigh it down before putting in the candle. Gravel size must be bigger than the drainage holes you’ve made, of course.

Yet another tip: When filling the can with water for freezing, fill it with sand to the brim first, *then* add water. It takes a lot less water, and therefore a lot less time to freeze this way. Let melt in a bowl so you can reuse the sand.

Thanks for any help tips or pointers!!

Maria XXX

Other tins are used for tools in the shed, and the other day somebody told me I could put a couple into planting holes if my soil is short of iron.

get some more ideas here

There is a form of can-opener, marketed Stateside at least, that cuts the can’s crimped rim from the *side* instead of punching through the can’s end from above and utterly ignoring that nearby outer rim in so doing. Having one or more of those Superior Devices handy at all times sure makes all the difference in my own little Inner City eco-hovel, anyway.

Cutting the can open from the side and *through* the rim instead of dagging down from the top in the ordinary manner, y’see, makes for a fine *re-closeable* can of food, while the food lasts. Then one gets a fine standardized re-closeable tin-coated steel container for just about anything else that’ll fit inside, once the food is gone.

Need a hermetic seal from that side-cut second-cycle can? Easily done! Duct tape, cyanoacrylate instant-bond and/or five-minute epoxy all are potentially suitable re-sealants, just depending.

In these parts, many fine retail kitchen specialty shoppes sell these handy side-cutting can openers at full fine-specialty-shoppe retail. Wal-Mart carries a decent one too for half the price. (Occasionally, quality just breaks right on out.)

Po’ folk such as myself just plain LIKE these fine Chinese container-makin’ hand-tools, yessirree. I think such a tool as this is well worth the trouble of finding; others may find a similar happy result for themselves as well.

Reusable sure is better than disposable – all over again. Never could “go along” with a “Type A” media-driven hyper-disinformed culture and ethos that treats 25% of the world’s prisoners just like emptied-out tin cans, anyhow.

Because it is not entirely genuinely human, is why. If only GWB could just once entirely grok why he got boo’d so *unanimously* at the ol’ ball game the other day…

Let’s just keep on humanizing the beast, hm? Even greedy monsters die off, sooner or later… I’d much rather have impeached the bugger and his handler Darth Chain-o’-death, mese’f. Oh, Miz Nancy…

http://www.hometalkentertainment.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24176

Keeping labels on, either clean out a used can and create a plug for the top with some polystyrene, or open a can from the bottom, clean it out and create a plug for the bottom. Put something you want to hide inside and store plug-side down with your other cans.

I’ve also used them, with both ends cut off, as plant supports – and to keep slugs away (using the old vaseline trick on the top for any really dertermined slugs).

If you have a little time try this:

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_metal_wire/article/0,,HGTV_3257_4021144,00.html

You can also use a sharp tin punch to make patterns of holes in the sides of them, pop a tealight in the bottom and use them to create a fairylit walkway round your garden or outside your door on a summers evening. (Always place them on stone or heat resistant surface)

Have Fun
Jo