Drink Can Tinwork

How to transform an aluminium drink can into a charming little embossed metal box.

Here's the video version of the instructions:

Step 1: Clean off the paint

Using abrasive paper and/or steel wool, rub off the paint/printing on the outside the can.  This doesn't have to be perfect, as tthis will be the inner surface of the finished box.

However, skipping this step altogether makes it quite hard to see what you're doing in subsequent steps.

By far the easiest time to do this is when the can is still full and sealed, because the liquid inside will support the walls as you press on them with the abrasive.

Comments

[marcellahella]

wow! really really cool!

[kep625]

Hi- I love your work! I have tried my first drink can box and found out the hard way that you cannot use a fine tip pen to do the scoring. It falls apart when folding. So, I have two cans that are sanded and ready to go for a second go at it. I am REALLY intrigued with the star shaped box and hope that you will be uploading those instructions soon!!! What will it be called? (star-shaped box?) thanks so much for uploading this!! Kelly

[dinoflorida]

Dear Friend, there is a easy way to cut this soda can neatly.
Just fill it with water and put into freezer for a couple of hours
and you get a rock solid can to cut. Use a utility knife around
shoulders...

[flammaefata]

Thanks for the tip - I tried it but it doesn't seem to work. If the top of the can is not cut off before you fill it with water then the can bursts a seam (probably because ice clogs up the drinking opening before the rest of the water is frozen). Also it took a lot more effort to cut the can with the carpet knife in this way compared to cutting it with normal scissors. So I'll keep going the can opener+scissors route.

[Schmidty16]

i wish i could make a sluce box out that stuff

[sherrycayheyhey]

This is awesome!

[god1066]

Good tutorial though :)

[god1066]

Tried this twice and both times loads of the folds split making it impossible to fold it into a box. I got much better results using sheets of metal from a local craft shop. Cost about 50p more than a can, they are flat sheets and they don't have a design on that you have to sand off. I seriously suggest using sheets instead because I got seriously wound up after spending loads of time embossing 2 cans only for them to snap when folding into the box shape.

[hiddenartist]

Great idea! Well explained and demonstrated! Thank you.

[Ray from RI]

You use a pen that has run out of ink!

[rocco]

In the USA, the biggest usable sheet I can get from a 12oz (355mL) soda can is about 3-inches by 7.75-inches.

[mr2monster]

Try getting a 24 oz beer can, or one of the larger Monster Energy Drink type cans... Also, Arizona Iced Tea, and a few other cans like that should yield a larger chunk of aluminum..

They're pretty available at most any convenient store/gas station.

[rocco]

Yep, those are good suggestions, but I don't drink those normally... I don't know how much a sheet of aluminum costs, but it might be cheaper than buying drinks I don't drink! :)

[jediwhiz3]

WOW! THAT IS SOOO COOL!!!! (aka have to make my own)

[Hewer]

You should check out some of the many aluminum can alcohol penny stove instructables- lots of them demonstrate a much better way of quickly and accurately cutting pop cans.
Basically you can put a razor blade in the pages of a thick book with one sharp corner sticking out. You turn the can against the blade which scores the can. You then use the blade to punch all the way through the score in one spot, then gently push along the score line and the aluminum rips cleanly along the line.
Score along the top, along the bottom, then take them off and that leaves you with a clean cylinder and you can use the scissors to cut up the side to lay it flat. The edges will still be pretty sharp, but not jagged at all.

Great instructable by the way- the gears in my head are clicking away with this- steampunk, anyone?

[licjames]

Hey great work!!! I am thinking about it... what about using this technic for papercraft proyects?? wouldn't be great?? well just thinking at loud... :P

[nerd12]

i would work... i actually had a similar idea. you would have to print out and cut the paper then lay it out on the metal then cut it out. the alternative would be to attempt to get a roll of tin into the printers feed B-)

[nerd12]

this will be very vulnerable to crush damage. if you take some wood and make a box out of that (around a few mm thick only then put the tin around it after embossing and screw it together, it will look much better and won't bend. also if you put red velvet in the center of the box it will be like a very beautiful gift box or a storage for for something precious.

[TwistedJack]

I've made like 8 full boxes so far, this is amazing and fun, one thing is that the cans are fragile when bending

[xavec]

this is incredible. I've been looking for things to do with pop cans for ages. Thanks!

[msutch]

This technique works great and comes out great. I have never made the full box, but have made flat square pieces that I have attached to my mixed media art. I will have to try and make the full box, I'm sure it will be great also.

[mattthomas992003]

@rocco he prolly used either rubbing alcohol or hair spray but if that dont work bug and tar remover should

[rocco]

I see that you were using a pen with ink still in it in this example, but the finished product does not have any ink on it... how did you remove the ink?

[red-king]

would it be easier to cut with an exacto knife or utility knife than with scissors?

[rocco]

I've had success using a box cutter. Once you are most of the way through, you have to start cutting in smaller sections, because the can looses it's support. JUST REMEMBER TO KEEP YOUR THUMB OUT OF THE WAY!

[Atomic Shrimp]

Possibly. Or a dremel with a wheel, but as long as the scissors are sharp, it's not too bad - the main problem is just that the way the scissor blades cross makes the cut tend to swerve down the can when cutting off the top - actually, if I cut in the other direction (holding the lid in my left hand) the cut isn't quite so jagged.

[alexinstruct]

Awesome upcycling! It's great when something so throwaway as a tin can can be upcycled into something so attractive and useful. I like how you made it so no soldering or pinning was needed.

[nickmccullough]

great video and instructable ill be sure to give this a try

[DucttapeNinja]

This project is made of win.
...also aluminum.

[PRockGirlScout]

Haha, indeed. So awesome. I can't wait to try this on all sorts of things. I'm thinking little pieces embossed with patterns, then incorporated into wristbands or other accessories would be very cool.

[Atomic Shrimp]

I'm thinking of doing home made Christmas cards with a card-framed embossed metal front face.

[PRockGirlScout]

Ooh, and ornaments!

[Atomic Shrimp]

I'm working on a prototype for a star-shaped box - the interesting thing is that the geometry of the internal corner on the lid causes the points to be pulled downwards, giving the thing a sort of domed shape.

[naty23bb]

Hi, I love it, nice work

[Eye Poker]

Elder Sign!

[555mst555]

Hi, i i'm gonna do this for my brother's birthday coz he likes boxes. In fact, I have already made one side of the box already ( the top part ). and the main square on it is 2 1/4". what do you think should the other side of the box be?

[sikamikan]

great work man!

[Monidaris]

Hi.
This is a wonsderfull tutorial.Thank you so much!
Monica

[agis68]

Great Idea, beautiful result. 5/5 and more. My wife loves tiny tin boxes and makes also collection... now she collect mine unique models....thnx Mangetout for this instructable

[boudewijnchill]

awesome project! just made my own and it turned out beautify