It's the end of the world as we know it. For a shelter, you need a tool to cut some branches to the same length. You could scrape the branches over a sharp edge of a stone, then you waste too much of the top because you need a good grip for your hands. Right after that you also had to smoothen the wedge to a flat top. Not to forget you could fringe the branch or it could burst apart by the force of pushing it down. Or you have already settled down again and need to prune some branches on your planted trees for a higher crop. You need a saw, but all you have is a tin can and a can opener. And that is all you need.

Step 1: Tools:

You have a can opener, maybe a tool to pierce, but you absolutely do not have a saw.

Step 2: Equipment:

And you have a tin can. If you just found one and it is rusty, throw it away if your last tetanus shot was 8 years away (it lasts 10 years).

Step 3: Instructions:

Use the concentric circles as a measurement for your cut. First poke some holes right next to each other to get an easy entrance for your can opener. Then you use the front blade of the opener and step by step you cut a circle out of the floor plate. Be very carefully to not cut yourself. The last centimeter is tricky, bend the inner section back and forth. then cut it off.

Step 4:

The outer edge is probably bent inside, push it back to its original level. If you want to cut branches fresh from the tree or softwood, then you are already done and can go to subchapter usage.

Step 5:

If you want to cut hardwood or very dry thick branches, then use your can opener for little cuts to create saw teeth.

Step 6: Usage:

Twist it, stir it, rotate it. Hold the can on the ground or your leg, and with the other hand you move the branch inside at the wanted length along the saw teeth. This way you cut the branch on all sides at the same time. Soon the notch is deep enough to break the branch asunder.

Step 7:

If you have access to some other tools or a lot of patience with your can opener, you can even improve the saw teeth.

Step 8: Alternative Usage:

Peeler. You can peel almost anything with the thin ridge of the original opening. Potatoes, ginger, zucchini, asparagus and kiwifruits. Yes, as a survivalist you should consider eating every fruit with its peel, but its also good to be vigilant and cautious. And the disc we had cut out can be used to cut the potatoes.

Step 9:

Wind chime. If you kept the inside of the bottom and have some cord, you can create a wind chime for orientation to find your camp. It should also keep bears away, but I can not speak from experience. If you have a long cord you could also make an alarm device with a trip wire.

Step 10:

Tinder. Scratch off some chips from the wood for a good campfire starter. After that you can straightaway use the tin can as a chimney starter or even stove.