5 Unusual Uses for a Coke Can

I had consumed many Cokes while working on my projects.So lot of empty cans are lying around my room.During the weekend I thought to make something by upcycling them.So I searched through the internet to get some ideas.These are the ideas which inspired to roll my sleeves up.

They are really fun and simple ways to upcycle empty coke cans.These projects are very easy to make, and they're perfect for the summer. By spending few minutes, you can make amazing and useful things.

Out of the 5 projects , first four are very useful during the camping / survival.The last one is useful for home.

If you don't have time to read the entire Instructable, take a look at the video below

[ Play Video ]

Safety Warning : Sometimes the sharp edges of the can give rise to injury, so wear Cut Resistant Gloves during the working.

Step 1: Tools and Materials Required

Materials :

1. Empty Coke / Soda Cans

2. Tealight Candle ( Amazon )

3. Tissue Paper/Paper Towel/Toilet Paper ( Amazon )

4. Tiki Torch Fuel / Cooking Oil ( Amazon )

5. Adhesive / Sugru ( Amazon )

Tools :

1. Leatherman Juice S2 ( Amazon )

2. Nipper ( Amazon )

3.Scissors ( Amazon)

4. File ( Amazon )

Step 2: 1. Fishing Hook

Remove the pull-tab from the top of the can.

Cut out with a section of tab, so that it looks like a fish hook.Make sure that you cut in at a slant.

Cut away as much metal as you can around the hook.

Now you can use a file to give extra sharpness.

Step 3: 2. Vegetable Peeler

Cut away the lid of the can from the inside of the side-walls.

Remove the pull-tab.

Smooth out the edges to prevent injury.Use a scissors to do it.

Bend down the outer edge of the hole at about a 60 degree angle.It will work as a blade.

Then bend the lid to make handle.See the above picture.

Now hold the vegetables and peel by pulling in a smooth downward motion.

Step 4: 3. Survival Lamp

Mark a capital “I” on the surface of the can.

Cut out the marked lines with a sharp knife.

Open up the cut out portion. Flatten the projected portion at the bottom.

Put a tealight candle inside and lit it up.

Tie a string/thread in to the pulling- tab.Use the thread as a hanger.

You can hang it inside your camping tent.

Step 5: 4. Survival Torch

Mark circular line around the can. The height is about 4cm from the bottom.

Cut along the marked lines.You have to prepare two of such can.

Trim the uneven edges by a scissors.

[ Play Video ]

Step 6: Mating the Cans

Force the two cans together by inserting one into the other.

Apply glue to the mating rim to seal.You can use Gorilla glue for sealing.

Punch a slit at the centre of one can bottom.

Then punch holes around the slit for air venting. It is necessary for filling the oil.

Step 7: Preparing the Wick

For making the wick I used tissue paper /paper towels /napkins.

Roll up the paper towels from one corner.Cut the wick as per the required length.

Pour some vegetable oil / tiki torch fuel into the can (about halfway).

Then thoroughly dip the wick in the oil.

Insert the wick in to the silt and light it up.

Step 8: 5. WiFi Booster

First test your internet speed on http://www.speedtest.net/

Remove the pull-tab from the can.

Cut out the bottom portion.

Cut the top end of the can where there's no opening.

Cut along the middle of the can in a straight line, opposite to the piece of metal attaching the base.

Open up the middle portion of can by bending it .

Step 9:

Prepare the adhesive.You can use sugru also.

Stick the prepared adhesive around the pull-tab hole.

Place the completed Wi-Fi booster on your router antenna.

Now It's time to test how much your Wi-Fi signal is boosted. Again check the speed on http://www.speedtest.net/

In my case the download speed boosted to 9.86Mbps from 7.50Mbps and upload speed boosted to 4.95Mbps from 2.30Mbps.

I hope it will work for you also. Have a try !

Follow me for more DIY projects and ideas.
Thank you !!!

Comments

[UNSEPARABLE TECHSCIENTIFICS]

NICE WORKS!!!!

: D

[meanblackbike]

I wonder when somebody will combine alcohol burner/stove and stirling engine both made from beer or coke cans and make a burner that gets more air/power because the propeller rotated by the stirling engine under the can burner.

http://tomsbiketrip.com/how-to-turn-a-beer-can-int...

https://www.instructables.com/id/Tin-Can-Stirling-E...

http://www.scraptopower.co.uk/can-stirling

http://www.scraptopower.co.uk/can-stirling

So the stirling engine has to move the propeller (which is under the can burner) so more air buns more alcohol and the burner provides more heat power. So it will be more useful when camping - for example to boil water faster. Or to boil 1-2 liters of water in a pot, this cannot be done fast enough using one alcohol burner/stove.

Also a candle made from wax and cotton and a coke/beer can can be turbinized the same way :)

Cool instructable dude.

[FunLife3315]

there is a popcorn maker from coke cans....

I wonder about engine possibilities.... a steam engine, but made out of coke cans!

Great idea, mate. especially the wifi

[opengreenenergy]

I have written an ible on Popcorn Maker also.You can go through it

https://www.instructables.com/id/Recycled-Coke-Can-...

Thanks friend !

Cheers :)

[FunLife3315]

Would a rocket work?

[KimberlyD61]

Nice! I've used empty beverage cans as candle molds too! Inspired by a storm which knocked our power out for 4 days. I recycled the already burnt candle wax from the day before and I just happened to have some wick.

[Moodle2]

How much did that cutting dull your knife? i want to make some of these, but not damage my knife. Awesome ideas. I would never have thought as a can being used to boost wifi.

[doo da do]

a knife sharpner will make it like new

[opengreenenergy]

My leatherman is almost perfect after lot of cutting.

[websitedeli]

Where did you find the 2-arrow reuse/recycle (but not reduce) symbol? I can't find it anywhere.

[opengreenenergy]

Google search :)

[DylanD581]

I've never thought of using a soda can as anything but a can! :) I like the emergency torch and lantern.

[lovethebackwoods]

I've made the survival lamps pretty much like this since I was a kid and they had not yet invented flashlights. We lived way out in the sticks in the Catskills and would just go out and hike or walk or go fishing at night, so the light was a big help. Not too good to use even a safe open flame inside of a tent, though. It uses up the oxygen inside, even with the vented windows open, and people have had bad problems with the carbon monoxide build-up - like even to the point of death. But even just a nasty headache can sure ruin your day when you're way backpacking through the backwoods and a storm is coming on. Aside from this reminder, I like your 'ible. Thanks for the great photos and clear explanations. I go fishing a lot and have never tried making this kind of hook, so that's a project for this week-end. I'll let you know if it works well for me!

[opengreenenergy]

Glad you like my ible. I am really happy to know that my ible reminded your old days :)

Thanks for the valuable suggestions.

[DIYAMIR]

For the wifi booster; How do i place it if my router has no antennas (but still has bad wifi)? Would this still boost my wifi?

[KarenW50]

We have computers at both ends of the house and the wifi router is in the middle. Can we point one antenna in one direction and the other in the other direction?

[Arnold Ziphle]

You will be better off using something like this on each of the computer antenna, like a satellite dish, to collect & intensify the wifi signal. You will want your reflector to have half a parabolic shape, like they do here. The closer you place the wifi antenna to the parabola's focal point the more signal gain you will have, just like a satellite dish's LNB. placement to the dish.

[William L.D]

It sounds like what you need is a wifi extender that uses the electrical wiring in your home.

Example: https://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-Extender-Powerline-...

[opengreenenergy]

Yeah you can try it.

[William L.D]

Step 5: 4. Survival Torch

> I think I would modify the design to hold the can in something like a rubber cup --otherwise you end up burning your fingers and/or hand because the can will heat up very quickly.