Tins .... Lots of little .... Tins???

[Coffinmaker]

Ok, here is the problem.  Cap Gun shooters use lots of Caps.  Caps come in little round Tins.  I have a small drawer full.  Now that I have a good supply of caps, I'll shoot more.  More lil empty tins.
Anybody have a good use for lots of empty lil tins??  I swear, they've been multiplying at night.  I do tote one around full of grease for the Arbor, but I really don't use that much grease.
Sort of like .......... Tribbles :-)

Coffinmaker

[Blair]

Coffinmaker,

Over the many years I have used percussion caps, I have had at times, large numbers of empty tins on hand. Both in the small pistol size tins and the larger Musket cap size tins.

I often have cleaned these off of modern stickers and painted them black to look like the older tins from the time period. Precussion types as well as center fire type primers. Often adding a more correct label to the tin and either sold them or traded them to those that wanted something a bit more authentic.

Just a thought on my part.
My best,
Blair

[Dick Dastardly]

If you are a fisherman, those little tins can come in handy for lots of tackle stuff.  Also, your bride may be able to use them for bobbin storage for her sewing machine.

DD-MDA

[Blair]

DD,

I very much agree. There are many uses for these containers.
My best,
Blair

[Noz]

When you find a use for the cap tins then look for a use for the primer holders and the empty cans of black powder.

[Angel_Eyes]

If you volunteer to take all your shooting buddies tins, wait until you have a bucketful and weigh them in as scrap metal, metal being at a premium price just now, (or is that only in the UK?)

[cheatin charlie]

When you find a use for the cap tins then look for a use for the primer holders and the empty cans of black powder.

IF you cast small dia bullets 209 shotgun primer trays make great bullet holders after the bullets are lubed.

[jimbobborg]

When you find a use for the cap tins then look for a use for the primer holders and the empty cans of black powder.

Use the empty cans of black powder to hold more black powder when you buy a bag full of it.  At least that's what I'm going to do.

[john boy]

Being a pack rat for types of containers to put 'stuff' into - have found no practical use for these little tins except storage of different specific small screws for different firearms in my spare parts boxes

[St. George]

Give them to the Scouts.

The ones in the Order of the Arrow can put them to use in building their regalia.

Scouts Out!

[Coffinmaker]

Boy Scouts ....... Cool idea.  As a "retired Gun Plumber" I have well organized parts bins and trays.  Durn.

Coffinmaker

[Pettifogger]

When you have a whole lot of something you aren't using throw them away.  I have been forcing myself to go threw tons of junk I have collected over the years thinking I might need it down the road.  Well, I'm down the road and have never used the stuff.  So, give it away, throw it away or put it on Craig's list.

[hellgate]

"I have been forcing myself to go threw tons of junk I have collected over the years thinking I might need it down the road.  Well, I'm down the road and have never used the stuff.  So, give it away, throw it away or put it on Craig's list."
Geeze, Pettifogger, you're sounding like my wife!! She keeps on my case to get rid of stuff I might need some day.

[RattlesnakeJack]

In my experience, you can keep such stuff as long as you want without needing it .... but the need for it will almost invariably arise shortly after you get rid of it!   

[Grenadier]

The small cap tins make great little period looking medicine boxes. I line them with cotton to prevent the capsules from breaking.

[Cliff Fendley]

In my experience, you can keep such stuff as long as you want without needing it .... but the need for it will almost invariably arise shortly after you get rid of it!   

It's funny how that works isn't it.

[Forty Rod]

I have a peck of little "tin" boxes: Sucrets, aspirin, Altoids (before they started embossing the name on the lid), salve, candy, sewing machine needles, etc.  Long oval ones, round, square and rectangular ones, deep and shallow ones, hinged lids and friction fit and one or two with screw tops.

I strip the paint, carefully burn the finish and oil off to blacken them (You'll want to do this outside and you may have to re-solder some), then lightly steel wool them before adding a light coat of oil.  Small dents and mismatched color variations will give them character.

I keep spare parts, percussion nipples, spare gun flints, flint and steel fire kits, little tools, fish hooks, sewing needles and thread, sinew, matches, tinder and, patches,  a little burning glass / magnifier, tow, small bits of leather lacing, steel wool or sandpaper, medicines, Band Aids, and a whole raft of things in them.  Started using them forty years ago when I was still trying to be a mountain man and just keep on with it.

You can mark the contents with pasted on paper labels or paint before you oil them or scratch it through the blackening with a dull needle. 

I find that a rifle patch or two in some of the boxes will prevent rattling, too.

I also have a few old wooden boxes made for needles and pins and the like are useful, too.  Some have friction lids, one has a screw lid, and a bunch of the round ones have corks.

[Dick Dastardly]

40 Rod,

Yer a man of the times.  Good use for them lil tins.  I'm puttin' some lip balm in one.  Hope I kin remember which one it is. . . .

DD-MDA

[Forty Rod]

I'll give you a hint:  I smells just like Preparation H.   

Never thought of lip balm.  Maybe more of a bitters bottle sort of thing.  Glue a period looking label on it.  

I've seen sun screen in little glass bottles but never done that myself.

[litl rooster]

The last onesi bought were in  plastic cans. See how i avoided the word tin?

You may need an intervention if you have horded ao many you want suggestions pn repurposing them. Just saying...



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