| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| Treacodactyl |
Big tinsWe've have started to use the 2.5kg tins of tomatoes and will have a supply of empty tins. They seem a little too useful to simply sent to the recycling.I have thought about plant pots if I can make the edge less sharp or I could try and make a Floyd style garded stove type thingy. Anyone else have any ideas? |
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| jema |
How long do the contents last in the fridge. I have looked at those big tins to.
jema |
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| Mrs Fiddlesticks |
there was a lovely picture in a gardening book once of tins all strung together, toppped with a metal funnel to make a scarecrow. Always wanted to make one meself! 
I'm sure there's something arty you could do like punch holes in them, paint them and make them in to plant pots or candle holders. |
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| Treacodactyl |
They tend to get used to make a large batch of pasta source (which can be used as a base for a chilli) which is then frozen in small bags. Very handy when we're both out at work during the day. |
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| Treacodactyl |
A bit like the canal boats? |
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| Bugs |
The tins make about 5-6 meals worth of pasta sauce for two people, so if you're a family, I should imagine you'd easily use it up in a couple of meals.
There's no notice on these to say how long you should keep them, just that you put it in another container. Imagine it's a week max. I'm sure using freezer bags is not the most environmentally friendly thing I could do. I was au pair for a French family who kept the Bonne Maman jars (because of the wide necks) for freezing sauces, then put them straight in the microwave to defrost and heat up. But we don't have a microwave any more..I suppose I could easily put them in warm water. Should I start this somewhere else? Alternatives to plastic wrappings? |
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| jema |
Could be a good topic 
jema |
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| mrutty |
Microban boxes from Sainsburys fill our house (Er was working for S at the time) as we used them to freeze home made sprog food. We now freeze all the left overs for when there's a rush and we can still feed the kids some thing that's not processed muck.
So far the boxes have lasted 6 years. We also use Icecream tubs for veg and some freezer bags. Everything here gets used at least 5 times befoe it finally goes in the bin. BUT in a few weeks time Swindon will finally come out of the dark ages and we will have plastic recycling
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| alison |
Can I just reming people not to reuse bags that have contained meat, as some of the organisms can remain on them, even after washing and this could make you ill.
I know this sounds a bit nannyish, but better to be safe than sorry. |
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| Sarah D |
I try and wash/re-use all the bags I can - no problems so far, though.
I use the large tins for planting out odd peppers, tomatoes and chillies in the garden. They will take a coat of emulsion if you want to paint them; although they will only last a year, at least you will get another round out of them. Remember to punch holes in the bottoms, though. If you use them for candles/lights, they can get very hot, so mind out for that. If you cut out the bottom too, they can make a cheese mould, or tree guard. |
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| cab |
I'm seeing a smoker. I'm seeing a chimney made from cans bolted together to form a tube, with a grate of some sort to control the rate of smoke coming out. Maybe a couple of cheap metal boxes in the middle, with a rack for resting or hanging things, a wood fire at the bottom in a big tin, with a little hatch cut into the next tin up for adding more fuel or changing the aeration... | ||||
| jema |
I'd figure the diameter would be a bit small.
jema |
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| cab |
Yes, they're a bit narrow, which is why you need a baffle and a metal box in the middle somewhere. But then you might as well use a bigger metal box like, say, a filing cabinet or something
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| Gervase |
We use 'em for window-sill herbs. They get a bit tatty after a while, but then there's the satisfaction of stamping on them and bunging them in the recycling bag. | ||||
| Treacodactyl |
It's 15cm (6 inches). I might try a little charcoal making in one. Very small but it might work. For pots is there any easy way of smoothing off the edges? |
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| Sarah D |
I don't get rough edges from opening the can - it must depend on what tin opener you use. | ||||
| culpepper |
neither do I, I use a butterfly style opener.
I have made biscuit cutters from tins before. You have to cut the rim off the tin and cut a strip long enough to make the shape and about 1cm wide.bend the strip to shape,punch a hole in the overlapped edge,I used a nail and fasten with a pop rivet . I used a coffee tin for this as it has no ridges in. You do have to be careful not to cut yourself as well as the tin though. We still have my homemade gingerbread man cutter . |
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| Treacodactyl |
Sorry, I must have missed Sarah's reply. The edges are smooth but just very sharp. A light tap with a piece of wood and the tin embeds itself.
I could fashion something to cover the edge. A strip of copper would be useful and it would also stop slugs climbing into the plants. I should be able to cut strips of copper from an old hot water cylinder. |
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| jema |
I assume you have one of these? One going not quite spare here  still figuring whether I can use it for indirect smoking.
jema |
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| Treacodactyl |
I resisted the temptation of mentioning that.  I do have one that I removed when we moved in. We had a leaking cold tank in the loft, above an old hot tank in the airing cupboard, which was above the electricity and all the fuses, which we next to the gas meter. 
All that's there now is the electricity. I cut the bottom off the old tank and made a large tub. It's had hostas in for a couple of years and they've been slug free. |
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| Bugs |
Someone here has been working out how to turn them in to a stove - put lots of effort in to the design too...
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/community/showthread.php?t=7022 |
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| Bernie66 |
Another one who worked for Sainsburys. I did 19 years until I could not stand it any longer and jumped ship 3 years ago. Company was changing too much-was no fun any more |
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| Lozzie |
I would either grow things in them or - ta-da! - make DRUMS out of them, of course!! 
http://www.rhythmweb.com/homemade/coffeecan.htm 
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| Bugs |
Have you had a bash (boom boom..geddit) at this yourself Lozzie? We could probably furnish a small orchestra from our day to day cooking!
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| Lozzie |
Yes Bugs I have - I "teach" percussion and multiculturalism in schools here in Dorset and am forever on the lookout for new ways to increase my supply of drums. Getting kids to make their own is a useful add-on to my lessons, needless to say! | ||||
| Bugs |
Ah, very cunning. Must be good fun too - I see it says using goat and fish skin, where on earth do you get hold of these or do you use something else? |