11 Genius DIYs That Call For Empty Fish Tins

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Squat metal cans that once held fish are instantly recognizable, even without the label. These containers are easy to recycle, but when you can reuse them in so many clever ways, why not save them from the bin? There are scores of ideas for reusing tuna, salmon, sardine, or even pet food cans. We've winnowed down the vast supply to a collection of pretty, practical, and mostly easy-to-accomplish projects.

There are so many ways to repurpose metal containers, and fish cans' distinctive shape can come in handy once the tuna salad's been made. Reuse them for organization as-is or build them into something amazing. Top them with paint or other accessories for aesthetically pleasing upgrades. Or, outfit them with hardware that takes their usefulness in a whole new direction.

Before launching into the upcycles, It's smart to make the cans as safe as possible before working with them. Cans, either with pull tabs or tops you remove with a can opener, are often left with sharp edges around the openings. Avoid injuries by filing or sanding down any raw edges or burs, or cover them with a thick stripe of hot glue or metal tape.

With the help of a clock kit like this TIKROUND Wall Clock Movement Mechanism, you can morph nearly anything into a timepiece. Add a lick of paint along with the clock hardware, and you can hang your creation directly on the wall. For a convenient tabletop version, make use of more potential trash by crafting "feet" for the can with wine corks or plastic bottle caps. Give the can-feet combo a unifying coat of paint, fit it with the clock mechanism, and place it on a surface within easy view.

One of the mistakes everyone makes when watering their lawn is misestimating the amount it needs. The catchy name "tuna can test" has gotten attention as a way to test your lawn irrigation. Mark inside several tuna cans at ½ inch up from the base. Set them in the middle of watering zones, and start your sprinklers and a timer. Measure how long it takes for the cans to collect ½ inch of water (the amount that most lawns need at a time) so you can avoid wasted water and a soggy lawn.

Enjoy a hot meal during a dreaded power outage with a tiny stove you can make in minutes. Remove the can's label first. Cut strips of corrugated cardboard into strips, and coil them tightly until you have a form that fits tightly inside the can. Cut four tines from a barbecue fork that are longer than the sides of the can. Insert them vertically between the cardboard and the can's side for a surface to set a pan on. Fill the container with rubbing alcohol, light it, and place your pot above the flames.

Homemade candles are easier to make than you'd expect. Fish cans are the perfect size to fill with wax and a wick for a compact candle. In fact, this is a practical way to use up wax from your almost empty candles. Melt the wax in a double-boiler and pour it into the can. Wrap a wick around a pencil, then sink the wick into the wax. Rest the pencil on the top of the can to hold the wick in place, and let the container cool before trimming. Decorate it with paint, washi tape, or paper.

Fitted with a string for hanging, turn a round or square can into a little niche for whimsical objects. Glue a few sticks and moss into a can as background for a plastic animal miniature. The word "ornament" might immediately send your mind to the winter holidays, but a sylvan scene perched in a dangling fish can definitely will have an appropriate place in your year-round decor.

Strangely enough, you can plant succulents in containers without drainage. Stocky, fleshy pads of succulents look darling overflowing from small, shallow containers like fish cans. If you're worried about overwatering, you can poke some drainage holes in the base, though. Trim the edges of a can with ribbon, decals, or a strip of fabric, and glue some "legs" to the can's base in the form of wooden beads. Or swap the beads for painted or colorful drink caps. Fill the can with succulent planting mix and your green things, and place the ensemble in a sunny spot.

Why buy kitchenware when you can reuse containers that are essentially free? Forget ramekins; swap them out for clean tuna cans. Fill several well-greased tuna cans partway with batter, place them on a baking sheet for easy handling, and bake these "molds" like you would other similar vessels. Also, like you'd use ramekins for mise en place for your recipe ingredients, trade them out for cans. They're a similar size, and the price is right!

Lining a shallow drawer with a series of fish cans is a quick way to wrangle the clutter of a junk drawer. Designate individual cans for small, loose items like paperclips, batteries, and rubber bands. Rectangular or square cans may be a better use of space than round ones, if you can find ones in a size that suits the drawer in question.

Gather up two sardine tins, one or two small hinges, aluminum pop rivets and a rivet gun, a case catch, and a hole punch or a drill to make a tiny storage case. Line up your two cans one on top of the other with their openings touching. Punch holes into the cans at the screw holes on the hinge(s), and attach with rivets. Do the same with the case catch, and you're done! If you want, make it pretty with a touch of paint, decoupage, or a cloth covering and lining.

A tuna can atop a thin post is a low-budget torch. The size of the can is just right for a votive candle or a safer battery-operated one. Set aside a can and an old broom handle. Consider cutting the handle in half for two torches. With a serious adhesive like E6000 glue or a screw, attach the can to one end of the broom handle. To sink them into the ground, outfit the bottom end of a hollow handle with a Pluxen Solar Light Replacement Stake. For wooden handles, grab a jackknife to whittle a point.

Four cans, a couple of flanges, a small bit of pipe, and some thick drinking straws come together brilliantly as a stacked, swing-open organizer consisting of cans. Straws act as the vertical support, pivot point, and spacers between each can, and the flanges and pipe serve as a sturdy base. If you have a tool like a hacksaw, you can use metal reusable straws in two different widths instead of plastic ones for a more durable vertical support.