Make a Soda Can Ring

After seeing how much useful material was put into aluminum cans, I was inspired to make something out of them, instead of trashing them.

These are fairly easy to make, can be made quite quickly with repetition, and make for interesting gifts. With some practice, you can even determine what parts of the can will show on the ring.

And what isn't to be loved about recycling?

Step 1 Tools and Materials

You need the following:

• Empty aluminum can
• Pen (with smooth sides)
• Clipboard
• An assortment of pliers
• Scissors
• Electrical tape (used in optional step)

Comments

[weibbed]

It is the bends in the aluminum that make it sharp, if you have a clean edge it is relatively dull. I have cut up literally hundreds of aluminum cans (I make earrings and necklaces from them) and I have never cut myself. The secret is to never close the scissors completely to the tip when you cut, the same as it is when you cut paper. If you have 4" blade scissors, make a three inch cut, and slide the scissors down to continue. I use a pair of $2 Ikea kitchen scissors. It also helps to use the Ikea $2 sidecutting can opener to take the top off the can.
Also, after you have cut your straight lines to a finished edge, use a regular emery board to lightly sand them.

Great instructable, thanks for the inspiration!

[YOUgNeek]

You can cover it with clear helicopter tape for a UV proof finish. Tape it on before folding in thirds and tuck one side in the other. If you make it good and tight, your ring wont fade or discolor.

[Zankul]

I would like to add here, that when you use the pen to flatten the creases do not try and make the creases as flat as possible like I did. When you try to push 1 end into the other to finish the circle (as told in step 9) it won't fit right and you'll end up bending and mutilating the metal trying to get it in. I had to totally scrap it and start over.

[poofrabbit]

This is very cool! I'm going to give this a whirl tomorrow!

[nickodemus]

Awesome! Be sure to post some pictures! :D

[Raza Khan]

Isn't is supposed to be the circumference, instead of the diameter of the finger?
first line: "Mark the diameter of your finger...."

[nickodemus]

You're right, thanks for letting me know. It's fixed now.

[cornell556]

You can also make card board circles from
the card board in which the soda cans come in

The soda cans bottoms make weight ring like impressions
while they lay in the card board

[paqrat]

Brilliant use of a clip board. Very good instructable.

[nickodemus]

Thanks, my original idea was to use a ruler and C-clamp, but I ended up using the clipboard instead.

[KJS]

Great instructable and great idea!
I always safe cans to use for earrings, necklaces, bowls etc., and I'm always looking for new ways to reuse them.
Now I can use them to make rings as well :)

[nickodemus]

Thank you! :D

[ak08820]

Rinsing out the can as the first step may be better than after first cutting it. Just rinse a couple of times and leave - in the sun if possible - for a day or 2 and it will dry out, too. No need to risk cuts when drying with napkins.

[jbeidle]

Careful of those ragged, sharp edges!

[MiltReynolds]

Well done instructable! I appreciate the many photographs, all of them well-framed and clear. Good written explanations. Thanks for sharing this!

[nickodemus]

Thanks for the encouraging words! :D

[Stubaby]

Nice instructable! Finally, something to use those empty soda cans for :P

[Llama Nerds]

Cool idea!

Editing tip: it would be a little clearer if you noted that the first paragraph on step 6 is measuring the circumference of the ring, and the second paragraph was the width of the ring.

[nickodemus]

Thanks for catching that (It was a little jumbled up), I added some bold titles to the beginning of each paragraph to clarify.

Cheers

[funkypam]

I have worked with aluminum/ painted tin a lot and it is extremely thin, and therefore VERY SHARP. Like getting a paper cut, but with metal!! ouch. You can wear gardening gloves to keep from getting cut while making the ring.

As the creator shows in the instructable, he cuts the ring wide enough to fold over the edges. So when you're wearing it, there is no sharp metal exposed. You could make a tiny fold at the edge before doing that to be extra careful.

Filing the edges does help a bit, but better safe than sorry since this is something that is meant to be worn!

[plasticpopcorn4]

to save yourself from sharp edges you could probably fold/roll the edges

[butterbean]

Good solution. I would cut the ring wide enough to fold the outer edges, then fold it in again to the middle. You could even fold the sides short, make that part face outward and slip another strip of can into it.

I really like this project. I'm thinking of all the cut out stuff I could make this with...

[sniper69jr]

srry i am lost can you make a video on how to make these

[redrok]

To cut the top off aluminum cans use a conventional can opener.
But use it in an unconventional way. Rotate it 90 degrees so the cutter is on the outside of the can.
Works great.
Duane

[saehn]

Just use some standard sandpaper to dull the edges, that will remove the sharpness.

[~Aeronous~]

LOL. I like this, but wouldn't that cut your finger?

[St Jimmy]

I imagine not, so long as you smooth off all the jagged bits. Nice instructable btw. I am definitely doing this with my next coke

[~Aeronous~]

How do I smooth them off, and also the jagged bits are not the problem. Once you cut the thin sheet metal it becomes insanely razor sharp.

[St Jimmy]

What are you cutting the metal with? Your scissors may be blunt or something like that, or you may not be cutting evenly

[~Aeronous~]

I'm cutting it with a metal guillotine, that would be WAY more accurate than any other thing you could use to cut it.

[nickodemus]

From my experience, if you just use a sturdy pair of scissors to cut evenly across, it isn't very sharp at all.

Take a look at pictures 3 & 4 on step 5. At those points it wasn't sharp at all.

And if you're worried about cutting yourself, then do step ten.

[~Aeronous~]

I'll take your word for it, and if it is sharp, I'm sure I'll come up with something to fix it.

[srw724]

Another alternative would be a couple of coats of clear nail polish on the inside of the ring.

[red-king]

or you could take a file to the sharp edge.

[jtobako]

My hands are warm enough that electrical tape adhesive starts melting and slides all over, leaving a sticky mess.

Nice work finding the improvised bending brake : ) Any problems with the aluminum cracking?

[nickodemus]

Not at all, I've had one for about two weeks with no cracking at all.

And I agree with the electrical tape, I like it better without. :D