Tin Can Lantern - A good way to punch holes

Hey all Scouters out there!


Some cool tricks this time, couple of things for tin cans I picked up, hope you like.

First things first and where due is due, I wouldn't write this if i didn't pay attention and listen to the awesome "The Urban Bushcraft Podcast" folk! Podcast is available on iTunes and on their website at  http://urbanbushcraft.co.uk/, The hosts are scout leaders, they love their subject, which is bushcraft and survival oriented and I could not recommend a podcast more!

Listening to the Christmas podcast episode of Urban Bushcraft while re-arranging my wardrobe, they described a great way to use old tin cans!

If you check my previous entries, I described a way to make a tin can hob, a vagabond hob with a tin can and some tea light you can cook pancakes and get the young scouts excited in camps or evening activities.

Preparing the tin can was a bit of a hit and miss for me, you think punching a few holes are not a big deal, well it is! Here is a trick to try and I can't wait to try it myself too.

Fill the tin can with water, freeze it to ice and then using a big enough nail hammer punch holes to your hearts content without the tin can warping and bulking! This will give you a good finish to your tin can.

Don't just stop at making hobs, try making patterns and shapes, even messages, given time you should have a lovely tea candle lantern, decorated with anything you like! The episode was a Christmas one so fir trees and little angels were the designs of the time.

Now, Easter is also a celebration of light, I know in Greece it is for sure; everybody carrying the holly light from church to home in a progression. Small tins punched with shapes or spring flowers and Easter eggs or bunnies around it would look great when you light a tea light inside. Why not punch two holes on the top on opposite sides and fit a handle made of wire too!

Last, if you keep the holes up the top two thirds of the can and use the bottom third to melt some paraffin wax in it adding a wick you have an integrated candle in a tin as well!