Reuse an Empty Altoids Tin

Altoids candy comes in a variety of small, sturdy metal tins that invite creative reuse. If you have one (or a giant stack) left over, try one of these projects to put it to good use.

Steps

  1. Remove and discard the paper.
  2. Remove the candy smell from inside by washing the tin with dish soap and rinsing well. Make sure to dry the tin thoroughly so that it does not rust.

Hacks

  1. Make a guitar out of it.[1] Yes, you can actually play it!
  2. Make a pintoid camera--a pinhole camera with the Altoids tin as the casing.
  3. Build an external battery pack for your iPod.[2]
  4. Make an iPod shuffle case from a chewing gum tin. A hole can be made for the headphone cord.[3]
  5. Use Altoid Tins As Cases for Electronics. House any small electronic projects that fit.
  6. Build a Computer Power Supply Tester according to the instructions Build a Computer Power Supply Tester.
  7. Make a crystal radio inside the tin.
  8. Convert it into a USB drive.[4]
  9. Make a vibrobot. With a recycled motor, a hanger, some wire and a bit of hot glue, you can make a little vibrating robot that wiggles and moves on the floor.
  10. Make your own mp3 player[5]. It's an ambitious project, but if you're handy with electronics, give it a try.
  11. Make your own Headphone Amp.

Art

  1. Decorate the tin. Depending on your purpose and project, you may wish to paint over the graphics, or remove the existing paint with paint remover or sandpaper. If you would like a design and you don't feel talented enough to paint one, remember that you can use stamps, stickers, and stencils to achieve various effects, too.
    • Paint the tin open and be careful around the hinges.
  2. You can use polymer clay to embellish the tin, such as giving it legs so it looks like a little table, or a handle so it looks like a little luggage.[6]
  3. Create miniature works of art. You can attach magnets to the tin and display them on any metal surface.
  4. Make a pocket craft kit with just enough of your preferred supplies to keep you busy if you find yourself waiting.
  5. Try copper plating and etching the tin. You can use magazine pages as cheap toner transfer media, etch the tins with salt water solution, and/or copper plate the tin with an electric current.[7]
  6. Make a travel sewing kit. Collect a miniature pair of scissors, a couple of spare buttons, safety pins, needles, and thread in the colors you wear regularly (black, white, tan, dark blue, and red are common colors). Carry it with you in your purse, car, or travel kit, or leave it in a desk drawer or locker at work.
  7. Make a pocket sized drawing kit. Never be without a pencil and notebook.
  8. Make a pocket sized paint box. Put clay in the tin and make several indentations and bake to harden the clay. Put paint (watercolor, tempera) in each indentation. Pack a mini paintbrush and you're all set to go.[8]
  9. Make a small travel version of TIC TAC TOE checkers (using buttons with small magnets glued on the backs, and paint the outside as the board) inside paint a chalkboard and store chalk, or add small notepad and pencil for hangman or score keeping. Even make up a game to keep youngsters amused on long car trips.

Survival & Emergencies

  1. Make a survival kit.[9]
  2. Store your bicycle tire patch kit in an Altoids tin. The tire levers may have to live outside the tin, but it's about the right size for a few patches, a tube of adhesive, a rasp or bit of sandpaper, and a bit of chalk (good for marking a puncture once you find it). Also keeping a dollar in it is a great way to fix if the outer rim is punctured.
  3. Make a fire starting kit.
  4. Make a mini first aid kit. Add band-aids, alcohol pads, anti-bacterial ointment, and tweezers (in case of splinters).
  5. Turn it into a portable eye care kit if you wear contact lenses. Put a little bottle of eye drops in there, along with a contact lens case filled with solution in case your eyes become irritated and you need to take your contacts out. Pack a hand wipe in there, too, so you can clean your hands before touching your eyes.
  6. Create a stomach ache kit. Add some stomach soothing medication in the form of chewable tablets, antacid tablets, anti-diarrhea tablets, motion sickness medication, ginger candy, and a little bit of loose tea.

Miscellaneous

  1. Store spare change while using cardboard to create compartments
  2. Use Altoids tins to organize screws, beads, small change, your bottle-cap collection, or any other small items.
  3. Glue flat pieces of foam to the tin and lid and use it to keep your fly fishing flies organized. Using thicker closed-cell foam helps it to float, in case of accident on the river! You can also use magnetic strips (from your favorite craft store)hot glued inside the tin for hassle free fly storage.
  4. Use it to keep gum from getting smashed in your backpack.
  5. Carry and collect business cards or mini cards.
  6. Use it as a carrying case for your Nintendo DS cartridges, the gum tins fit 8 perfectly!
  7. Place a scented wax tart in the tin and place on a candle warmer, keeping the lid open. The tart will melt and fit perfectly into the tin, which can be closed when cool and neatly stored.
  8. Glue a bit of wick to the inside bottom of a tin and fill with plain or scented melted wax. The wax will cool, leaving a candle inside the convenient tin candle holder.
  9. Create a geocache or mini time capsule using the tin as a container.
  10. Turn it into a personal postage assistant. With two tins, you can make a kit that includes a scale, lets you know how much postage you'll need, and dispenses stamps.[10]
  11. Use the tin as your wallet.
  12. Use the tin as a crush resistant cigarette case. -This really depends on what kind of cigarettes you smoke though, as most don't fit well.
  13. Make an eyeshadow and/or lipstick kit, using the same instructions as with making a watercolor paint kit.
  14. Make a pocket sized religious or spiritual shrine. Fill it with little tokens that represent your beliefs, like pictures or miniature statues of a religious leader or deity.
  15. Use it as a place to store your Bluetooth headset.
  16. Make it a sturdy camera holder. Glue thin pieces of felt to prevent scratches on the camera. Make sure your camera is small enough. A Pentax Optio is the perfect size.
  17. Put photos of loved ones inside and pack in your suitcase. Decorate the outside of the box and you have a travel photo frame.
  18. Use it to store your guitar or banjo picks.
  19. Keep bobby pins and other small hair items in it.
  20. Store earrings or other small jewelry while traveling or in the locker room.
  21. Use it as an ashtray in your Jeep. It doesn't spill when it's closed, and creates a tight enough seal to snuff out the butts. This way you don't litter OR create a fire.
  22. Use it as a place to put your clips and Rolling Papers.
  23. Decorate (or not) and use as a pillbox.
  24. Put tissues in it and use it to store bassoon or oboe reeds. Works really well.
  25. Put foam in the sides to hold arrowheads.
  26. Place a portion of the ashes of a deceased pet into a decorated tin and keep it on display for the memories. You may wish to glue the lid shut in this case, since people are naturally curious about what is in closed boxes.
  27. Teachers put small manipulative, sight words or ABC's in them for students to use at centers and for games.
  28. Keep secret items in it... No one will suspect them in an Altoids tin.
  29. Make it a memory box. Keep small items that remind you of special times in it (ticket stubs, the pencil you used mini golfing, your hotel door card, etc.)
  30. Store extra batteries for your digital camera. Just fill and slip into your camera bag, purse, or pocket.
  31. Put 1-2 pairs of foam earplugs in a small Altoid tin. Keep in your hand luggage for airplane and other travel.
  32. Turn it into a baby rattle by putting some uncooked rice (or other small objects) in it.
  33. Use it to store Cheerios in a diaper bag without them getting crushed.
  34. Use them as extra storage for card collections.
  35. Hold snacks in them.
  36. Altoids Smalls tins are just the right size for holding earbuds or in-ear headphones. Put them in the tin to prevent them from getting tangled or scratching the screen on your MP3 player or phone, and to keep them from turning into a tangled mess in your pockets.

Tips

  • These are not the only things you can do with an empty Altoids tin. Dream up your own ideas and add them to this list!
  • Glue a magnet to the back of the tin and use it to hide a key on your car when you go tubing and don't want to lose your key in the river.
  • They don't work well as geocaches unless they are placed somewhere there is no chance of them getting wet or are in a zip-lock bag, since the tins are not waterproof and will rust.
  • Many of these ideas could make a good gift for a self-proclaimed nerd or geek.
  • Milton's Black & Mild Fast Break mini-cigars (4+lighter or 5 of the 6 cigars) fit perfectly in a rectangle Altoids tin.

Warnings

  • If you cut or sand the tin during the course of your project, be careful of sharp edges and slivers of metal. Use goggles and gloves if necessary.
  • If you use an Altoids tin to house electronics, don't try to carry it on a plane unless you are prepared to have it confiscated by security.
  • Do not store batteries in a metal container unless they are protected from shorting out and leakage.
  • Make sure to have competent parental supervision when you attempt some of these projects!

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ Altoids tin guitar how-to
  2. ↑ Altoids tin as external battery pack
  3. ↑ iPod shuffle case
  4. ↑ Instructions on how to make a combo USB drive
  5. ↑ http://www.ladyada.net/make/minty/index.html
  6. ↑ Decorating tins with polymer clay
  7. ↑ Copper plating and etching
  8. ↑ How to make a watercolor kit
  9. ↑ 3-day Altoids tin survival kit
  10. ↑ Altoids tin personal postage assistant tutorial
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