Nowadays, we throw a very wide variety of packaging products into the trash every day, but some products can be a good source for doing various kinds of crafts with your own hands.

So, as an example, you can take an empty tin can of lemonade or beer. For the most part, crafts made from tin cans serve as decoration, but if you use your imagination and imagination, you can build something useful and usable for your home.

DIY lighting fixtures from cans

Almost any jar can be used usefully, for example, it is possible to make a very stylish and original lampshade for a lamp. Therefore, the first step is to remove the upper part of the bottom of the can, using ordinary scissors or a stationery knife.

If you have a penchant for drawing, then you can paint the jar colorfully or simply paint it on the inside and outside. After that, you need to install a socket with a light bulb into the jar. That's it, the bright and unique lamp is ready for use.

You can also make an interesting and beautiful table lamp from beer cans, which can decorate the room with its unusual appearance.

So, to make a lampshade, you only need to use pull tabs from cans, but for the lamp stand, you can use the tin can itself. To connect all the tongues from the cans into a solid and unified structure, a small cut must be made on each tongue, after which all the tongues must be connected to each other, and then the cut site must be connected again.

Country interior decoration

A very interesting use for tin cans can also be found for country house use. So, for example, they can be used in the manufacture of garden furniture; a chair and table are a very good idea to use empty aluminum cans.

So, in order to make a chair, you need to connect all the cans together using very powerful and reliable glue. For a more stable position of the chair, and so that it does not deform from the weight of the person sitting on it, it is advisable to fill each jar with sand after gluing.

Alcohol burner made from tin cans

Also, for many amateur travelers, it is very important to provide everything they need on hikes, especially when it comes to a burner. Therefore, many tourists make their own alcohol lamps from aluminum cans, which are quite capable of replacing a conventional gas burner.

It is worth noting that the weight of a homemade alcohol lamp hardly exceeds 50 grams, while a gas burner weighs about 3.5 kg.

Candle lantern made from a beer can

So, to perform such a craft, you will have to make deep vertical cuts on the jar itself at a distance of 3-4 cm from each other. This process is performed with a sharp knife; cutting must be done carefully and slowly; if necessary, you can use a ruler for a more even cut.

After the jar is cut, you need to gently press it down a little on top, which will result in an interesting lantern design. If you don’t like the color design of the candlestick, you can paint it yourself with a special spray in the color you want.

Beer can butterflies and other figures

To make a craft of this type you will need a lot of patience. So, you need to remove two bottoms from an empty tin can. The result will be a rectangular sheet of tin.

Note!

Carefully cut out the finished shape with scissors along the contour of a design, such as a butterfly.

When the shape of the butterfly is already ready, you can give it a more natural look, slightly give the wings a lively look and slightly decorate the butterfly in a bright color.

Thus, before you throw away an empty aluminum can of beer or drink, think that if you only turn on your fantasy and imagination, you can make useful crafts from tin cans, many beautiful and useful things that your loved ones will be able to appreciate.

Photos of crafts made from jars

Note!

Note!

More and more people are trying to optimize their space heating costs, as prices for all types of coolants are constantly rising. Many people install various systems on their sites that operate from free natural sources: sun, wind, etc. Surprisingly, fully functional units can be made even from waste, useless materials, such as aluminum drink cans.

Using such systems is promising from absolutely all points of view; everyone benefits: both you and society. You independently (and most importantly usefully) process waste, which means you don’t need to spend money on its further disposal, and you also significantly reduce the consumption of “purchased” fuel (gas, coal or electricity). At the same time, no harmful emissions occur, you do not pollute the environment - beauty.

The good news is that after spending a little time, you get a constant source of renewable energy, created with your own hands, essentially from recycled materials. Interested?

The main thing is an idea and a clear plan

Solar panels made from cans are an ideal option for home owners. By installing such a simple structure on a wall or roof, you can completely provide heat to one of the rooms. Such a collector will help you partially unload the boiler.
The main operation of the entire system is ensured by the principle of convection. The air in the can panels heats up in the sun during the day and, moving, effectively heats the nearby room. And most importantly, no one you know will guess what this “high-tech” solar battery is actually made of.

It is also important that the entire structure is very light, and this greatly simplifies its installation and dismantling at height. In addition, it does not increase the overall load on the roof, walls and ceilings.
It is logical that the finished block should be installed on the sunniest side, and best at an angle of 35 degrees. Thanks to this placement, more sunlight will fall on the receiver, which means the house will be warmer.
Do you want to make your own eco-friendly solar collector from beer cans? Let's figure it out.

Preparation

The main materials that will be needed for work: boards (or plywood, 1 - 1.5 cm thick), organic glass (colorless monolithic polycarbonate is also suitable), sealant, any thermal insulation, corner and metal scraps.

Preparing the jar

So, first you need to collect the required amount of material. We will need aluminum cans from beer (energy drinks, cola, etc.) To create a manifold measuring 240 × 126.5 cm you will need 234 standard size aluminum cans. Yes, quite a lot - so let’s involve all our friends in the gathering process. You can, of course, not bother and use steel pipes, but their reduced thermal conductivity will significantly reduce the final temperature emanating from the collector. Well, of course, you will have to spend a lot on pipes.
We take an empty jar, use metal scissors to expand the hole from the “neck” side - using arbitrary cuts. You can also use a roller can opener and run along the edge, this will also help roll the sharp edges.

Holes in a jar

Use a chisel to create several through holes on the bottom of the cans. Effective air circulation will occur through them.
You can design the holes like this:

Please note that unsightly nicks must be present. Air jets colliding with them create a turbulence effect, which means they accelerate and heat up even more. This is exactly what we need.
After completing the preparatory work, you should thoroughly rinse the resulting workpieces, since the finished structure, when heated, will emit unpleasant odors. Additionally, degrease the gluing areas (neck and bottom), dry the jars thoroughly.

Can holder

Before gluing the cans into long tubes, it is advisable to make a holder mold ahead of time. It will allow you to fix a string of cans in level until the sealant is thoroughly strengthened. To do this, it is enough to connect two boards, 2.2 meters long, at a right angle.

Now we coat each jar one by one with heat-resistant sealant, connecting the bottom to the next neck. You can also solder the connection, but this work is very painstaking. We glue a tube consisting of 13 cans and place it in the “mold”. Gently press the structure with something on top for greater grip. We will need to make 18 such “pipes” in total.
Tie the structure in several places with plastic ties, for safety, and leave it to dry thoroughly. This usually takes at least a day.

Box

While the tubes are drying, let's start making a wooden box in which, in fact, they will be placed. As a frame we will use boards and plywood 1-1.5 cm thick.
Cut the material, taking into account the following dimensions of the frame: 240 × 126.5 cm. It is better to make the upper and lower parts of the box of the future collector slightly rounded - on the front side, where the polycarbonate will be attached. At the edges the height should be 12 cm, closer to the center - up to 16 cm.

Box end

Thus, arc-shaped plexiglass or polycarbonate will also serve as a focusing lens, increasing the light flux, and therefore increasing the temperature generated by the collector. To ensure maximum fit of the glass, make a slight bevel in the side walls of the box. Then the gaps, and therefore heat loss, will be minimal.

Collector box

Secure the parts of the box with metal corners, and install a support bar in the center. Apply sealant along all seams to prevent heat from escaping outside.
Now let's proceed directly to creating a frame for a solar receiver from cans. We make holes in plywood measuring 126.5 × 12 cm - this will be the air intake holder. To create perfectly straight holes you will need a special wood bit with a diameter of 54 mm.
Place two cans in a row next to each other, trace the “necks” of each on a piece of plywood, and drill at the appropriate pitch. 18 such holes need to be drilled.

Plywood for holder

For greater heat transfer, you can duplicate this strip with thin sheet aluminum. This is how the top and bottom strips are formed. Don’t forget to provide through holes in the box through which air will be exchanged between the room in the house and the solar receiver.

Aluminum layer

Before stacking the cans, line the bottom with foil-lined insulation. Carefully install the tubes from the cans, treat the joints with the wooden plank with sealant and let them dry thoroughly again.

Preparing for installation

To ensure structural strength, install a mounting support in the middle. Screw two flat-headed screws to it - sheets of plexiglass or polycarbonate will rest on them in the center. Their height should correspond to the height of the rounded side strips of the box.

Mounting support

Convenient bolts

Since condensation often forms with constant heating and cooling, it is necessary to provide small holes on the sides for ventilation. After all, not only does moisture destroy the frame, it also darkens the glass with fumes. As a result, less light reaches the cans, and heating occurs inefficiently. There may also be fungus growing inside; we don’t think you’ll want to breathe air full of spores.
Provide the holes with bolts with a large plastic head so that you can unscrew and tighten them as necessary.

To increase the degree of light absorption of the panel, we recommend painting the rows of cans black. This can be quickly done using a spray can. Use matte paint because glossy paint will reflect some of the heat it receives from the sun. Choose only heat-resistant paint, since even in winter cold the heating of the cans will be significant.
This is what should happen.

Painting cans

Leave to dry again.
Finally the turn has come to attach the polycarbonate sheets. We advise you to mark the locations of the screws on them and drill holes on a flat surface ahead of time. Because if you immediately screw them into the structure, bending them in an arc at the same time, the glass may burst. It's better not to rush. When covering glass, do not tighten the screws too tightly, again, due to the risk of damage.
Then you need to equip the incoming and outgoing air vent in the panel with an adapter. It should be as long as the thickness of the house wall. You can make it yourself from a metal-plastic pipe of suitable diameter. Press the adapter firmly to the manifold with the bolt plate.

Blower hole

To hang on the wall, screw the mounting hooks to the back of the panel. You can also make them yourself from scrap sheet iron.

Fastening hooks

Construction device

Cover all external elements of the box with a primer with an antiseptic and enamel paint so that the wood does not decompose under the influence of microorganisms, water, light and temperatures.
Before hanging the finished panel on the wall (or roof) of the house, you should drill through holes in it. Through them, heat exchange will occur between the panel and the interior of the house. Schematically the whole structure looks like this:

To ensure intensive circulation inside the panel, you need to install a fan at the inlet. This way the air will move faster through the system and, heating up, rise upward - towards the room. To properly speed up air injection, you must use a powerful fan with a capacity of at least 200 m3/h.

When creating structures of a much smaller size, it is quite possible to get by with a cooler from a broken computer. True, the heat transfer of such a mini-installation will be small.

How is she at work?

According to measurements from people who have tested such panels in operation - on sunny days in winter, the temperature inside the collector reaches 60 - 70 ° C (even with a slight minus outside). Taking into account the insignificant heat loss and temperature drop when distributing heated air indoors, such a panel can easily provide a comfortable 20˚C in the room. It is clear that heating is limited to the boundaries of the room next to which it is installed.

Heating system

Such a panel can be used for autonomous heating of any outbuildings on the site, remote from the main building and communications. Just install it at a slight angle next to the building, connect the connecting hose and heat up completely free of charge

The only drawback of this installation is its dependence on the degree of insolation in the region. In winter it is naturally lower, so this system can only be used for heating during the daytime. And in the evening you still have to start the boiler. But as an additional source of heat, it is quite effective.

Also, such a collector does not provide for heat accumulation, so in order to maintain the temperature longer, it is advisable to install plugs on the air intakes and close them at night. In the summer, when there is no need for heating, you need to shade the panel and keep the plugs constantly closed.
By the way, with the help of such “honeycombs” you can heat water, do you want to know how?

Heating the water

A water heater can be made using a similar principle. It can also only be used during the daytime, because... the water will be heated by the sun to a temperature comfortable enough for washing. This will allow you to unload the boiler or boiler at least a little. Such systems can also be successfully used in places where it is not possible to supply gas or provide heaters with other fuel.
To do this you will have to make a whole separate installation. Schematically, the design will look like this:

Heating the water

The figure shows a structure with a total area of ​​up to 5 m2. Its frame is made of wooden beams covered with plywood sheets. The collector panel is made up of 600 aluminum cans, assembled using the method described above. It is tilted 35 degrees from the vertical axis.
The lower part of the structure is located in a pit, 1.5 meters deep, measuring 2.7 by 1.2 m. It is lined with hollow foam blocks and carefully insulated with a layer of polystyrene foam. A water tank with a capacity of 300 liters is placed inside. Around it, as a heat storage and heat distributor, a layer of small boulders is provided. Through the ventilation duct on the left, the air heated by the panel flows down and transfers heat to the stones. This movement is intensified thanks to the built-in fan with a power of at least 125 W.

Aluminum cans from beer or other drinks are an excellent material for creating a solar collector. Firstly, it is a thin metal that heats up very quickly and, as a result, quickly heats the air. Secondly, such cans are made of aluminum, and this metal conducts heat well. This is perhaps the best material for a solar collector that can be obtained for free.

To make the collector body, the author used 15 mm thick plywood. And as glass you can use plexiglass, polycarbonate or ordinary glass 3 mm thick. In order to insulate the collector, glass wool or polystyrene foam 20 mm thick is used. The design is assembled quite quickly and simply. This device can heat any room, be it a barn, garage or even an apartment.

Materials and tools for manufacturing:
- empty aluminum cans;
- matte paint (heat-resistant);
- silicone or heat-resistant glue;
- a drill with an attachment for cutting large holes;
- plywood;
- board for creating a box (case);
- "ear" type fasteners for attaching the collector to the wall;
- glass or polycarbonate;
- a small fan (can be from a computer power supply);
- differential thermostat;
- punch.

Manifold manufacturing process:

Step one. Preparing the jars
First of all, the jars need to be thoroughly washed and dried, otherwise all this “aroma” will go into the room when the collector is working. It is best to use aluminum cans, they absorb heat better. You can check what the jar is made of using a magnet; a magnet will not stick to aluminum.

Next, you need to make holes in the jars; for this you need to follow the diagram proposed by the author. First, using a nail or other suitable object, you need to punch three small holes in the marked places. Next, take a large Phillips screwdriver or a special punch and use it to make holes, as in the photo. With this scheme, maximum collector efficiency will be ensured.
The top of the can must be cut and bent so that a “fin” is formed. Thanks to it, air turbulence will form inside the collector, which will allow the air to warm up better.

Step two. Gluing the cans
To glue cans, you need to use glue that can withstand temperatures of at least 200 degrees Celsius. The jars are glued together bottom to neck; they fit perfectly together in diameter. The glue must be applied evenly over the entire circle; if the seal in the collector is broken, its performance will be greatly reduced. How the cans are connected can be seen in the cross-sectional photo.

Thus, you need to form pipes of the required length from the cans. To ensure that the pipe is level, you need to make a template from the boards in which the structure will remain until the glue dries completely.

Step three. Assembling the frame for the collector
To create the inlet and outlet parts of the box, a board was used, in which holes were drilled using a drill and a special attachment. You can also use a sheet of aluminum for these purposes.

The box itself is also made of boards, and plywood was used to create the bottom.

After the body is assembled, it needs to be insulated. Fiberglass or foam is suitable for this. The insulation is covered on top with a thin sheet of plywood so that the cans do not have direct contact with the insulator.

Step four. Installing jars
Now the cans can be placed in the housing. They are fixed at both ends with two boards in which holes are cut along the diameter of the cans. The boards are attached with glue. To make the structure stronger, you can make an internal wall.

Step five. Collector mounting

To make the collector easy to install and remove, you need to install a special bracket.

Step six. Final stage of assembly
At the final stage, the collector needs to be painted. The absorber (cans) must be painted with heat-resistant matte black paint. This is necessary for maximum heating of the absorber. The body also needs to be painted to protect it from moisture. Now all that remains is to glaze the structure, but it is important to remember that everything must be airtight. When using polycarbonate, the sheet should be installed so that it is slightly curved, this will increase its strength.

The word “crafts” is perceived as something frivolous: so, pampering. Skepticism increases if waste material is used for them. Let's debunk this myth. You can make some really wonderful things for your garden out of tin cans. They can truly become a real decoration for your site. Especially if you use all your creativity and some tips.

Many foods are better preserved in tins. So the industry started producing them. Disposal of this container is still poor, and cans have begun to accumulate.

Tin is an excellent craft material. It cuts well with simple tools, bends well, and can be painted. There are no problems when connecting parts from it. Therefore, the craftsmen could not ignore such a find and came up with many ways to reuse this container.

Ways to Use Empty Tin Cans for Decoration

In landscape design, the use of cans is practiced in two directions:

• Production of decor for external decoration (garden sculpture and artistic garden elements);
• Construction of practical things (fences, garden furniture and buildings).

It is not always possible to clearly differentiate them: decorative things can have a utilitarian purpose, while functional things can have an aesthetic meaning.

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What you can do with your own hands for your dacha

Tea, coffee, flour, cookies, canned food and liquids are packaged in metal containers. There are several general rules when working with this material:

• You need to work with gloves (sharp edges can hurt your hands);
• Only use clean jars (remember to wash the material and remove the labels).

If you have collected a certain number of cans, then you can start making decor.

Decorative flowerpots for the garden

This is the most common and favorite way for all summer residents to use tin containers. It is better to take larger containers. It's good if you find containers from restaurants.

Manufacturing stages:

1. File the top edges. They are quite sharp and easy to cut. You can bend them using tongs or other tools. A sealant applied to the cut will help cope with the task.
2. Make drainage holes in the bottom of the jar. To do this, you can use a drill or pierce them with a sharp nail and hammer.
3. Paint the jar a suitable color. For better contact of paint with metal, the walls need to be rubbed with a metal brush and a primer applied.
4. Decorate the pots taking into account the style of the site.

Such flower pots can be installed on a fence; they will perfectly decorate a blank wall and look good on flower beds and lawns. Practical owners will love the idea of ​​making a vertical vegetable garden from such hanging structures.

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The technology for making hanging outdoor flower pots with your own hands is outlined.

Iron lanterns

With romantic garlands of tin lanterns, your garden will turn into a fairy tale. They can be used for decorative lighting in a sitting area or hung on trees.

Manufacturing stages DIY lanterns:

1. Fill suitable jars to the top with water and place them in the refrigerator. Remove only when the water has completely turned into ice. A frozen jar is easier to work with.
2. Draw a design onto the outside of the jar using a marker.
3. Make holes along the marked lines. To do this, use a hammer and nail.
4. Wait for the water to defrost and erase the marker.
5. The lamp can be painted or even painted.

If you plan to hang the product, then you need to make a handle. To do this, make two additional holes near the top edge and pull the wire through them. You can place a decorative candle inside the lantern.

Crafts from cans

There are more and more canned foods on our tables, and the number of cans from them is increasing. They cannot be brought to some standard. They are all different sizes, colors and shapes. This makes it possible to be creative in their use.

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Aluminum bird feeders and birdhouses

Crafts can benefit your garden. Make a feeder or birdhouse out of a jar. There is nothing complicated about it, and the birds will be grateful.

Manufacturing stages:

1. Mark the hole in the tin can with a marker. Cut it out with a knife.
2. Treat the sections with silicone or cover them with tape or tape.
3. Decorate the product.

Garden metal sculpture

Figurines made from empty iron cans can add zest to your garden decor. In sculptures, it is better to use jars of different sizes and shapes. Canisters, metal buckets, and spray cans are also suitable.

The angular material suggests the use of prototypes with the same character. Robots, aliens and lumberjacks made from cans look good. Let's look at the woodcutter manufacturing technology in more detail.

Materials:

• 1 large can or canister for the body;
• 2 pairs of cans for arms and legs;
• 1 jar for the head;
• 2 rectangular cans for boots;
• Jar for a hat (you can use a watering can).

Manufacturing stages:

1. Select the required amount of material.
2. Coat all cans with primer.
3. Paint the parts light silver with automotive spray paint. You will need 1-2 cans. It all depends on the size of the woodcutter.
4. Connect the parts with bolts and nuts. The holes for them must be pre-drilled in the designated locations.

Sometimes holes are made using nails. To prevent the jar from becoming wrinkled, you need to put it on a wooden block, and only then punch holes with a hammer.

You can make a friend for a woodcutter, build a dog out of cans. Children can be involved in decorating the sculpture. They will better tell you what else your creation is missing.

Crafts from beer cans

Beer cans come in aluminum and tin. This is the common name for not only beer cans, but also water and other drinks. Such containers appeared in the West, and accordingly, the first crafts from it were made there.

So in Houston, John Milkovich's beer can house was officially recognized as a landmark. The walls of the building are made entirely of beer cans. For cladding, the author used cut cans, which he made flat. All buildings near the house, including the fence and dog kennel, are also made from cans. The house is suitable for habitation. Few people will undertake such a construction project, but the details can be introduced when decorating a garden plot.

How to make a swan from a tire is described.

Beer cans are used for:

• Framing devices for sandboxes and flower beds;
• Construction of fences;
• Installation of a collector for heating water;
• Covering the roofs of gazebos, sheds and other garden buildings;
• Production of garden sculptures and decorative elements.

Beer can flower

Such flowers will decorate the garden even in the cold season. Manufacturing will not take much time. You will need super glue, scissors and flower patterns.

Manufacturing stages:

1. Cut the can lengthwise.
2. Cut off their bottom and roof. The canvas is ready for use.
3. Draw the petals of the future flower on the canvas.
4. Cut out the parts with scissors. You need to work carefully.
5. Press lines on the petals in the form of veins.
6. Paint the petals and leaves the desired color. You can use acrylic or oil paint; car paint is also suitable.
7. Assemble the flower and glue the parts.

Using the same technology, you can make a wide variety of garden decor.

Roof tiles

The cans cut so well that they are cut into strips and woven into various products. You can also make silver tiles from can fabric. To do this, you need to make a press to give the sheets the desired shape. A form in the form of two-piece strips is suitable. They must be joined together so that the sheet located between them takes the shape of a tile. Make impressions on all blanks. These tiles are fastened using a stapler.

The beer cans fit together well. If you connect several pieces in a row, you can get a pipe. Whole walls are made from such pipes, and buildings are made from them.

Some more ideas for reusing jars

• Plant tags. Gardeners are resourceful people. Thin tin can be easily pressed with a pointed stick. You can write the name of the variety on strips of beer cans and attach them to the plant. No amount of rain will harm them.
• Brazier. Tourists love to make various mini-barbecues out of cans. With this device you can quickly heat up tea or fry a sausage.
• Stilts for children. Two large tin cans turn into stilts when you attach strings to them.
• Drums and other toys. If different cans are connected to each other in the same plane, you get a drum. Children will appreciate such a musical instrument.
• Skittles or cubes. Cans painted in interesting colors can be used for games.
• Organizers. A jar is a container, and it is convenient to store tools and all sorts of small things in it.

Using bottles

Our industry pleases with a variety of packaging. Glass containers are also popular in garden design:

• Baby food jars;
• Mayonnaise jars;
• Medicine jars.

Candlesticks made from mayonnaise jars

Glass is a good building material. Greenhouses are built from it and houses are erected. While jars are not enough for serious projects, you can make candlesticks.

Manufacturing stages:

1. Tie a wire to the neck of the jar and make a handle out of it.
2. Paint the jar with waterproof paints. You can turn jars into bees, ladybugs or other insects.
3. Place a candle inside. Light a fire and place a candlestick in the garden. Such lamps are especially good for romantic holidays.

Video: how to make homemade products

In the video - DIY crafts from tin cans:

There are more and more jars and jars every year. Inventive summer residents are coming up with new ways to recycle this packaging. They prolong the life of things that have become unnecessary and make the site more interesting and comfortable. This kind of hobby is welcomed by environmentalists and craftsmen. They agree that good crafts combine aesthetics and functionality. Only in this case will a creation made from jars delight you and your family for a long time.