Empty Tins...

[bphilli75]

Hi All - I'm relatively new to pipes and am working on building up my tobacco collection, buying a couple 50 g tins each month, always something new. Of course I always want to try the new blends, so I crack the tins. I only smoke about 7-10 bowls per week, so I got some great little wide mouth mason jars that are perfect for storing about 50 g of tobacco. Now I find I have a growing collection of empty tins. Maybe it is a newbie thing, but since each tin is new to me, I really like them and for now feel like holding on to them.
I'm just curious what some of you do with your empty tins? I could see this progressing from, "Wow, this is new and really cool," to "Ok, I have a lot of cool tins," to "Yes..y..y..yes honey I know. Yeah I just really...ok, ok I know. I will find something to do with them." I'm sure you get the picture. Sure they could be used to store whatever, but then I figure some of you may be more creative than I am. I even thought it might be fun to just collect the lids.
Anyway, I was just wondering...
Thanks,

Bill

 

[chubbster]

I've got a tin I keep in my truck, with a cork knocker on it so I can empty ash while driving. When it's full, I simply empty it out and avoid having it stay in my vehicle.

 

[bigboi]

I use mine for various loose items, change, screws, yadda yadda. I read on a thread where a guy was going to pound out some of his tins and make a top for a coffee table. Seemed pretty cool to me.

 

[eaglerico]

Try this
http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/empty-tins

 

[bphilli75]

Thanks folks. Sorry I missed the existing thread.
Bill

 

[ohin3]

Yeah you can use some here and there for what you would use any container for: hold a small amount of screws, some fishing tackle, other smokeable items...etc. But for the most part, I just keep them in a bucket and when it gets full I bring them to the steel yard. I do peel my labels off under heat and stick them on the mason jar that I am storing that tobacco in.

 

[kashmir]

My boys use them to store super rare Lego minifigure pieces ...

 

[papipeguy]

Lately I've been giving them to my daughter for her painting projects. They're a good size for mixing small amounts of paint and she can close them up to use them the next day if she needs to.

 

[bphilli75]

Thanks for the ideas. Funny, when I asked my boys if they would want them, they were eager to to take and started negotiating who got what. Then, they opened them and started comparing the smells.

 

[mso489]

Okay, here's a follow-up question: Is there any effective way to re-seal the tins to age that blend or other tobacco (relabeled)?

Duct tape, sealing wax, Scotch tape, medical tape?

 

[cortezattic]

If you have the pop-top tins with a plastic cap, rub some wax along the rim and press some aluminum foil in place

before snapping the plastic lid over it. That'll keep things sealed for a long time.
I don't think other kinds of tobacco tins can be sealed very well, but it might be interesting to experiment.

 

[cigrmaster]

I give all mine to my oldest son, I have no idea what he does with them, but he is an artist so he will eventually find a use for them.

 

[mso489]

No question they make great receptacles for small items and collectables, like buttons, coins, match books,

loose stamps, paper clips, screws, nuts, bolts, nails, small grooming items, etc. and ad nauseum.

 

[zonomo]

Might be kinda fun to make an art piece from them. I have started 3 tins but not done with any of them yet.

 

[bigdaddychester]

I made a clock out of a 1792 tin for my "secret santa" recipient on another forum...

 

[plateauguy]

When I was young, every woman in my family had a button box. My wife decided on 2 that she thought our granddaughters would like, and has started collecting buttons for their button boxes. The rest are in the basement, just can't seem to throw the round ones away.

 

[1fatbbqr]

I put an empty tin in each of my hiking bags so I have an ashtray when I head out on the trails. When I get back from the hike or trip, dump the ash, put em back in the backpack. Not very inventive, but I don't like the idea of dumping out ash while I'm out on the trail. I don't really have a problem with others doing this, just not something I like to do.

 

[crpntr1]

Ive been sending all mine to a fellow on another forum, he's making some kind of mural with them

 

[joshwolftree]

I've been taking the metal pop lid tin's out to the range to throw spent shells in, then I toss them on the to be worked pile for making tampers.
The plastic pull tab lid tin's get used for random and assorted too. one is full of spare stems for MM cobs, one has drill bits. I filled one up with dryer lint and took it out to the campsite to use as tinder when I can't find enough dry twigs and leaves to start a fire

 

[appointed]

I really like the clock idea. I'm gonna have to try that.