What to do with a leftover #10 can (Part 1)

Feb 17, 2012 · 6 Comments »

After you’ve eaten through your food storage, you’re left with a number of empty cans. Now what? We collect a few ideas on what to do with that #10 can.

Lantern
With a simple can opener and candles, you can create an effective lantern. Be sure to wash out the can first. You can use the pointed edge of the can opener to puncture holes in the sides of the can. Place the candle inside the can and it becomes a lantern with direction-light. You can also add handles or sidebars to take the light on the go.

Some people have even used a small nail to create designs on the sides of their lanterns

Candles
This advice comes from CountryLiving.com.

Supplies:
Four 6-inch-length wire-core wicks, primed
4 wick holders
4 tin cans, approximately 4 inches deep and 2 inches wide
2.5 ounces stearin
1 disk wax dye, if desired
1.5 pounds paraffin wax

Directions:
1. Insert a length of primed wick into each wick holder and place a wick in the center of each tin.
2. In the top of a double boiler over medium heat, melt the stearin and wax dye, if using.
3. Add the wax. Melt and mix thoroughly. Heat to 190 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Anchor the wicks in the tins by pouring enough wax into each tin to cover about 1/2 inch of each wick. Allow the wax to cool for about 30 minutes.
5. Wrap the end of the wicks around tie rods and rest the rods on the tops of the containers. Take up any slack in the wicks and center them within the tins. Be careful not to dislodge the anchors.
6. Reheat the wax to 190 degrees Fahrenheit and fill the tins to within 1/2 inch of the top. Allow to cool for one hour.
7. If the wax settles, reheat the remaining wax to 190 degrees Fahrenheit and top off the candles as necessary.
8. Cool for several hours or overnight. Remove the tie rods, trim the wicks to 1/4 inch, and the candles are ready to light.

Pin Cushion
DesignSponge.com has a great tutorial on how to create a pincushion out of a smaller can – like a tuna or cat food can.

Supplies:
1 Small tin can
1 Piece of fabric, approx. 8” x 8”
Handful of poly-fil
Small piece of gift wrap or other decorative paper
Double-stick tape
Hot glue
Blade and straight edge for cutting paper

Directions:
1. Carefully remove label from outside of can.
2. Trace label onto your piece of decorative paper, adding 1/2″ to the length for overlap.
3. Attach to can with one small strip of double-stick tape, and overlap ends with a second piece of tape.
4. Place a handful of poly-fil in the center of your fabric square, gathering the ends to create a loose ball shape.
5. Line the inside rim of the can with hot glue and insert the fabric/poly-fil ball, with raw edges going into the bottom of the can.
6. Tuck in fabric until it is taut. insert pins.

Be sure to read our part 2 of “What to do with a leftover #10 can.”

 

6 Responses to “What to do with a leftover #10 can (Part 1)”

  1. Ruth S wrote:

    I LOVE the idea of making them into lanterns! What a great idea to use them for lighting along a path or driveway.

     February 18th, 2012 at 1:00 pm
  2. Vicki D wrote:

    Wow – great ideas – I love these!
    I was planning to make candles this year – thanks for the directions!
    And those pin cushions – my whole family has “tuna” can pin cushions from years back…maybe it’s time to make more!
    Thank you for all you do and for helping us learn what we need.

     February 21st, 2012 at 7:30 am
  3. Elizabeth wrote:

    Tie a string thru two holes on opposite sides, an inch from the bottom, of two clean #10 cans, string loop being mid thigh of intended pre-schooler. Upside down the cans become stilts for kids, who then hang onto the string and strut about learning to balance and coordinate.

     February 21st, 2012 at 9:44 pm
  4. Wendy Mechis wrote:

    PIERCE TWO HOLES IN OPPOSITE SIDES OF CAN ABOUT AN INCH FROM THE TOP RIM. TIE EACH END OF A LENGTH OF CORD OR THICK TWINE THROUGH EACH HOLE. VIOLA! A HANDY BUCKET TO WEAR AROUND YOUR NECK AS YOU GATHER BERRIES, STRING BEANS, OR SMALL FRUIT SUCH AS FIGS.

     August 7th, 2012 at 1:39 pm
  5. wolfsong4u wrote:

    Small cans can also serve as stoves. Roll up cardboard that has been cut to just short of the cans height as tightly as possible. Stuff the cardboard into the can and add melted wax. Allow wax to dry and there you have a small stove that you can just light whenever you need to. Tuna cans are particularly great for this but any can will do. This stove can last indefinitely as long as more wax is added to the can. Old candles found at your thrift store or garage/yard sales are perfect for this. You can also make fire starters from cotton balls or makeup remover pads saturated in wax, allow to dry and than store in your can with a lid. I even use cans to bake banana bread, zucchini bread, pumpkin bread, or any sweet bread. After washing out the cans I oil the insides and pour the batter into them, and bake the breads in the cans. Once the breads are finished baking I allow them to cool, take the bottom of the can off with my can opener and run a knife around the inside to push the bread out. This gives you a sweet little round loaf that can be sliced in circles, or half circles. I also bake regular bread in the large cans, if they are well greased and floured they will come right out of the can, if they stick , no big deal you can take the bottom out of the can, run a knife around the inside and have a nice round loaf of bread. Fun to eat round slices of bread for kids and adults alike.

     December 23rd, 2012 at 8:35 pm
  6. roxanne wrote:

    The lantern can be done with a nail and hammer also and if the can wantes to bend you can always put some water in and freeze it to make it stiffer

     March 14th, 2013 at 9:55 am

Leave a Reply