Taking apart your tin , the simple tin jewelry tutorial part 1

Ok so you want to try making recycled tin jewelry right ? Where to start ? taking the tins apart of course !

Here's what you'll need          

Tins ! I get mine at thrift stores from friends and flea markets . Some times ou can even get gorgeous imagery from spice tins !

heavy duty tin snips . The ones that are straight ! the curved ones are for cutting curves and thats not what we want .

detail tin snips . I'm pretty sure these are just rose shears but you can find them Here  .

a hammer for beating the tin flat

and not pictured a box . You will want a safe secure place to put all those clippings . these things are razor sharp !

So why is the can opener in the picture ? to remind me to mention that while you can use it to open round tins it will not work for oval or square and it will leave a strange scratch all along the bottom. yuck !

 Big Giant Note of caution !!!!!  I don't use gloves . As these bits are razor sharp ,it'll cut through them. Be aware of where  your hands are in relation to sharp bits !  

That bit said lets get started .

The first thing we're going to take apart is the lid . Pull it off ,sometimes there hinge ,I find bending it back and forth will cause this to snap off .  take your heavy duty shears and cut a wedge in the lip of the lid like so. 

put the wedge in your sharp bits box and then go around the entire lid with your snips. Your cutting away the lip of the piece . Periodically cut off the sharp bit and throw it away.

 

this is what your left with   

We could stop here but let's take apart the rest of the tin.

This parts a little harder to explain. Flip your tin over and holding the snips at a slight angle begin to cut off the ridge . This does require hand strength. Just like the lid your going to cut the lip off all the way around the tin.

 

As the part your cutting away get longer snip it off and toss it in the box. Nothing hurts like having that piece cut the back of your hand .

So after cutting off lip this is what your left with  

Now look for the seam . on tins with corners that usually where it is . We're going to cut just along one side of the seam to open up the tin . 

Once thats done this is what your left with . but we're not done yet . With your hands carefully straighten the piece out .Now your going to want to cut off the seam

Take your detail shears and cut off the inner rim . If you cut continuously and not let the blade fully close you'll be left with a much neater edge .  

Your going to do the same to the other side . this neatens the piece of metal up and cuts off any stray burs  that could cut you later .

Ok tomorrow I'll show you what to do with your  tin !

Comments

[kamagra online]

That is so awesome. I would like one .

[Jody Pearl]

Fascinating - I'm looking forward to part two!