Reuse tin cans.
Antique tin toys. Metal chandeliers with candles. Metal work often brings to mind visions of colonial Americana. Making a metal candleholder is an excellent project for beginning this useful, decorative art form, and is an effective way to reuse or recycle aluminum cans.
Instructions
Draw a 'Doorway'
1. Create a 'doorway' for your metal candleholder. Set the metal can on your worktable, with the open end facing up. Draw a vertical line down the length of the can, using a straight-edge ruler if necessary. Make the other side of the doorway by drawing a second, parallel line, so that you have drawn a rectangle that is about 2 or 3 inches wide, depending on the size of the can.
2. Use tin cutters to make your 'doorway.'
Wear protective gloves while cutting the door opening. Using a tin clippers, cut along the lines drawn in Step 1. Cut down one side, down the second side, and cut across the bottom seam to completely remove a rectangular-shaped 'doorway'. Remove and toss out the cut piece, being careful of sharp edges (or save for another scrap-metal project).
3. Heavy pliers to bend sharp edges.
Smooth the sides of the 'doorway' by using a pliers to carefully bend back the sharp sides of the opening. Create a rounded, smooth seam on both sides by bending the sharp edges toward the inside of the can.
4. Smaller pliers to bend wire.
Set the can aside and begin making your 'wrought iron', decorative door. Using a round-nose pliers, bend a length of fine to medium wire into a rectangular-shaped 'door frame,' sized to fit over the opening you made in Step 2. Cut the wire once the frame is complete. Your finished door frame should be as tall, and just slightly wider than the opening in the can. Decorate and create a wrought iron effect by attaching lengths of wire across and down the length of your wire frame. To make small circles, or decorative flowers, bend the wire around a pencil.
5. Heat up your soldering iron and place your door frame on top of a soldering mat. Following manufacturer's instructions, solder the door frame for added stability. Wear a mask, goggles and follow all safety instructions while soldering. Secure your 'wrought iron' door by placing a small dot of solder wherever wires meet in your design, and along all connections along the frame edges.
6. When you are happy with your new door, set aside your soldering equipment (and unplug). Bend the frame (slightly rounding) so that it fits over the opening in the can. To hinge the door in place, use a hammer and nail (or bradawl) to make two to six evenly spaced holes along one side of the door opening in the can. Cut a three inch length of wire for each hole. Bend the wire into a 'u' shape. Insert the wire through the hole and around the wire door frame. Put a wire 'hinge' in each hole along the door, bending or twisting the wire on the inside of the can to hold the door in place.
Tags: door frame, pliers bend, sharp edges, wrought iron, your wrought iron
