Cutting Aluminum Cans

Plain old pair of scissors.

rodwha said:

Seems the top would be rather difficult to chop through. I do have tin snips, guess I should see how challenging it is. I have plenty of caps right now but this occasional shortage that pops up now and again makes it seem prudent. And I like tinkering with things and making my own.

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Don't cut the cap. Cut around it and pitch. Cans have been used for shims since the steel ones came out. Or the old Falstaff cans

You can cut through the top/down into the side right at the pop top hole.
Then just turn 90 degrees and cut the top off.
No problemmo.


(or just stab through the side -- and finish cutting the top off with the scissors)

Wear gloves. Don't ask how I know.

I use a can opener to remove the top, then cut down with scissors.

I have used my pocket knife to separate the top from the good parts.

Scissors? Please...

I have done a couple of thousand cans for this. With a thin sharp knife stab in just above the bottom .About 1/8" to 3/16" above the bottom where it is full size. Any lower and it's too thick. Work the knife around the bottom and cut it off. With a scissors cut up the can to the top. Use the scissors again to cut around the top. Once again about 1/8" down from where it's full size.

I use a pair of "scissors" called Zhears that are heavy duty and serrated.
They will cut through some stuff

I don't know what zhears are but a pair of medical utility scissors don't cost much and will cut anything from paper to coins and 1/4 inch thick leather.

hawg said:

I don't know what zhears are but a pair of medical utility scissors don't cost much and will cut anything from paper to coins and 1/4 inch thick leather.

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Those look just like my "Zhears"

They are pretty handy, whatever they are.

I just push the point of the scissors through the side of the can below the top. Then begin cutting the caps off. Once both ends are off I cut down the side to lay them out flat. Takes just a few seconds to cut them up to use as shims.

rodwha said:

Are caps once again hard to find? If so how long has it been going on? And is there a light anywhere to be seen?

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PowderInc has them others do as well. Prices are higher than you are used to but welcome to Bidens world…