Flattening tins

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Flattening tins
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sgt.colon

Joined: 27 Jul 2009
Posts: 7380
Location: Just south of north.

Posted: Tue Mar 05, 19 10:29 am Post subject: Flattening tins
I'm doing a craft project where I need to flatten out the ridges in some tins (beans, tomato tin etc). Please could someone left me know what would be the best surface to flatten them out on? Thanks.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Tue Mar 05, 19 10:42 am Post subject:
Are you turning them into sheets? Or leaving as whole tins? The latter might be nigh on impossible. The former is screaming out for something like an industrial pasta machine steel roller type thing.

sgt.colon

Joined: 27 Jul 2009
Posts: 7380
Location: Just south of north.

Posted: Tue Mar 05, 19 10:56 am Post subject:
I'm making Mrs C a tin rose for our 10th wedding anniversary and I'm doing it from recycled tins, so they don't need to be flat flat.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Tue Mar 05, 19 11:55 am Post subject:
Big hammer. Kitchen work surface. Nothing can go wrong.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45669
Location: Essex

Posted: Tue Mar 05, 19 12:02 pm Post subject:
Good advice as always Nick

sgt.colon

Joined: 27 Jul 2009
Posts: 7380
Location: Just south of north.

Posted: Tue Mar 05, 19 12:41 pm Post subject:
Thanks Nick. I've got some spare worktop kicking around so I'll go with that.

buzzy

Joined: 04 Jan 2011
Posts: 3708
Location: In a small wood on the edge of the Huntingdonshire Wolds

Posted: Tue Mar 05, 19 2:15 pm Post subject:
Goggles, thick gloves. Ear defenders for Mrs C when hammer goes awry. Henry

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46211
Location: yes

Posted: Tue Mar 05, 19 2:37 pm Post subject:

rubber hammer

if you need to make the cut out petals curved a small ball pein hammer and a "anvil" of some description are the tools.
have a look at sheet working techniques, steel or ali can is a bit trickier than silver or copper but the basic hit it against that, it changes shape to match principles apply

a dapping block and punches can be handy for tiny bits but petals should be ok with basic tools.
for cans dapping can be done with improvised hardwood tools

if you do not intend to use the printing on the can as part of the design i would blowtorch a steel can to anneal it as much as poss for cold working.
you can pickle and treat or paint it later

a decent pair of tin snips and a box of plasters are very handy when working with cans.

thinking of plasters a diamond block or whetstone is ideal for rubbing edges smooth. fix the abrasive and work the piece in the hands

gregotyn

Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area

Posted: Tue Mar 05, 19 3:39 pm Post subject:
I just stamp on my empty tins with my boots on, seems to work, and not as hard work as using a hammer, and they come out flat-my 14 stone sees to that at this time of the year!

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15967

Posted: Wed Mar 06, 19 6:52 am Post subject:
I have a similar problem as I wanted to use tins to cut the binding for 'gipsy' clothes pegs. The solution is to see if your local chippy uses liquid oil which comes in tins. The tin isn't rippled and so is already 'flat' as far as that is concerned. Just bigger and oilier.

Shan

Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 9075
Location: South Wales

Posted: Wed Mar 06, 19 8:26 am Post subject:
If you know anyone with a tractor they should have empty Diesel engine oil tins. Normally 20l and smooth sides.

sgt.colon

Joined: 27 Jul 2009
Posts: 7380
Location: Just south of north.

Posted: Wed Mar 06, 19 10:19 am Post subject:
Thank you for all the replies.

buzzy

Joined: 04 Jan 2011
Posts: 3708
Location: In a small wood on the edge of the Huntingdonshire Wolds

Posted: Wed Mar 06, 19 11:06 am Post subject:
Perhaps you could put them on a hard surface and drive over them? Seems to work with the tins that litter louts leave on the roads round here! Henry

gregotyn

Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area

Posted: Thu Mar 07, 19 2:45 pm Post subject:
All our oils come in 20litre plastic drums now, Shan. I am making a stand to collect the left overs as in the 20 or 30 engine oil drums the fitters use weekly, there is a lot left over-and I can't cope with waste.

Shan

Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 9075
Location: South Wales

Posted: Tue Mar 12, 19 8:12 pm Post subject:
We have a few empty metal ones lying about here. PS Sgt. Colon - if you have no luck let me know.

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