Stories about DIY projects are among my favorite topics. Each year, at the Superior Public Library book sale, I look for “How to Books.”
Monday I came across a story about how to repurpose tuna cans. When the newspaper bought 35mm film in 100 foot rolls, I repurposed all the metal cans which held the rolls of film. I found they were good for storing small quantities of fasteners like bolts, screws and nails for the cans fit inside the drawers we once used to store metal plates. Each can was 3.75 inches in diameter and just more than 1.5 inches deep with smooth sides and removeable lids.
Before converting our mailing lists into computer files, The Express probably had in use more than 100,000 of the metals plates. Our biggest publication used more than 50,000 and the next in line required about 25,000.
When computer files were stored on 3.5 inch plastic discs, we devoted one of the address plate storage cabinets to storing those discs. I’ve kept all the cabinets of various sizes and found new uses for them.
While I saved many of the cans, I’m sorry I threw some away but we got so many I never considered the day when we wouldn’t be getting more. Now that our pictures are all taken and stored digitally we no longer buy film in 100-foot rolls and our source of cans has dried up.
I have three of the film cans in my office desk. I keep rubber bands in one, another is filled with paper clips and a third holds larger clips.
I previously tried tuna cans but the lips make it hard to extract the desired small part. However, I thought perhaps the author of the article had found uses I had never thought of. I couldn’t resist reading the article about ways to recycle tuna cans. I didn’t find any that I want to try, However, I will share the suggestions in case a reader might find one useful.
1. One of the easiest ways to repurpose tuna cans is by transforming them into candle holders. Simply clear the can, fill it with wax and insert a wick. Customize the appearance by painting the outside or wrapping it with decorative twine or fabric.
2 Tuna cans can serve as mini planters for herbs or small plants. Make sure to punch a few holes in the bottom for drainage, then fill the can with potting soil and your favorite seeds or seedlings.
3. Tuna cans may be used for organizing small items, like office supplies and craft materials. They can be stacked to create a multitiered organizer or attach to a piece of wood to a make a wall-mounted storage solution.
4. Get creative by using for craft projects. Supposedly they can be turned into musical instruments or piggy banks although the article didn’t explain how. Decorate the can with paint, markers or glue on colorful papers.
5. Transform empty tuna cans into pet food or water bowls for your furry friends. If you need the bowls cleaned, the neighborhood cat will lick away every trace of tuna.
6. Tuna cans can be transformed into festive holiday decorations. With a bit of paint, glitter and creativity they can be made into ornaments, wreaths or festive table decorations.
If you want to start on one of these projects and don’t have any empty tuna cans, I know a cat that is willing to help you empty a few.
Random Comments
I’m not sure of the event but I suspect it was during Superior’s Diamond Jubilee celebration, I was given a cheese sandwich to eat and a bottle of orange soda pop bottled in Superior. I though that was a super good combination and begged my mother to serve it at home.
I didn’t have much success as mother was opposed to serving soft drinks with meals. We had our own cow and we drank milk with our meals.
This week while reading a newspaper published on Nov. 4, 1954, I came across the following item: Mrs. D. D. Eckles gave a Halloween masquerade party for her daughter, Barbara, and eight of her young friends including Brenda Chapman, Cindy Larson, Debra Whitely, Dayle Ann Kruse, Valdean Worley, John Doggett and Elsie and Dickie Ruhga. Following games, the children were served hamburgers and orange pop.
Seventy years ago it must have been common to serve orange soda pop with sandwiches. Why? Today it would be more common to serve Pepsi or Coke. Apparently, our tastes have changed. Or is it the ingredients used to make the drinks. Seventy years ago my mother wouldn’t allow me to drink either coffee or any of the cola drinks. Said those were reservered for when I became an adult.
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Thursday the youngsters had lots of opportunties to get their “sugar fixes.” One Superior family I’ve learned about prepared for the holiday by laying in a supply of more than 200 candy bars. When they turned off their porch light Thursday night, they had only one candy bar left.
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