Posted on 11/25/2012 8:29:12 PM PST by Kartographer
The Many Uses of a Coffee Can
That’s how a 1-pound coffee can can earn its way into your 72-hour pack. Consider the following uses for this light-weight and versatile survival instrument.
(Excerpt) Read more at daily-survival.blogspot.com ...
Pour your hot bacon grease or lard in them.
Use as scoops for graining/feeding small animals
Store nuts and bolts, nails. screws, spent brass etc. Write on the lid with permanent markers or on tape on the lids because too many storage containers like white buckets or coffee cans or plastic totes look alike after awhile.
I used some once when a poured a shop floor to create a circular void around some 1” grade 8 bolts I welded in and footed so I could chain down vehicles and straighten bent frames or compress springs, etc. with various attachments. I cut plates to put over the holes so you could still roll stuff around when not needed (which is most of the time).
We have never thrown away a coffee can. I store all sorts of stuff in them. Plastic OR metal. (and we drink a lot of coffee!)
Now I’m not sure it was his book where I learned about the candle, and chair idea.
Not that it matters much, the concept is something to remember.
You can also squeeze a roll of toilet paper minus the core in the can and drench it with alcohol and make a burner for warmth. They are demonstrated on youtube. If you use one in the car, keep a window cracked for oxygen.
That’s a good idea. A couple of trash bags should fit down in the bottom of the can. Trash bags can be a handy item to have with you also.
Coffee has always been in my bug out pack and long term list of items to store. However I hadn’t thought about all the uses for the Can. Thanks.!
CD
Not sure what part of Texas you are in but Safeway owns all the Randall’s all over the Houston and suburban areas now although they still carry the Randall’s name. Most things I used to buy from Randall’s have now unfortunately been replaced by Safeway brands so might try there if you’re close. Think one time I also saw a Safeway on the northwest part of the loop in San Antonio.
How about empty paint cans that you can purchase at home centers.They are clean and better than coffee cans.
The article fails to mention using the can to make a hobo stove. A hobo stove is a very efficient and fast heat source to cook over and the only fuel needed are any small combustible scraps you can pick up.
A few miles north, Safeway owns Tom Thumb supermarkets.
Agreed, but which size - 1/2, 303, 2-1/2 or 10? If I remember my stoichiometry class, the 2-1/2 can = 1.
Excellent suggestion! As many have pointed out metal coffee cans are getting hard to find!
And your suggestion brings up another useful diy project:
Rubbing Alcohol Heater
http://modernsurvivalonline.com/rubbing-alcohol-heater/
Also don’t forget, but most of your long term dehydrated and freeze dried foods come in #10 cans, which are pretty much the same thing.
I use the plastic coffee cans to store rock salt and sand. The handle on the cans make it so much easier to spread the salt in the winter.
Although coffee cans are useful for storing certain items, I prefer paint cans because their lids are mouse proof. They also have a neat handle for hanging. A small coffee can could be stored in a gallon paint pail.
When stuff in a can would be enticing to a mouse, I store the can upside down. I found that mice are less apt to chew through the cover when it’s on the bottom.
When I have extra coffee can lids, I place them on the bottom of the can to prevent damage to a surface in case of rust.
Our CountryMart/Alps store brands Always Save and Best Choice are still in metal cans. I noticed that name brands such as Folgers and Maxwell House are in plastic.
With the cardboard cans, I have poked holes in bottom, and made planters to use indoors for herbs. If you use aluminum foil or Florist Paper to dress them up they look pretty too.
My MIL used to use the 1 lb cans for baking bread. The recipe was a no-knead yeast bread. She put the dough in the cans and let it rise. Then put it in the oven(you have to take the top rack out of the oven or move it to the bottom)to make coffee can bread.
When we were kids we used them to make short stilts. Punched some holes in the sides, and put shoe laces through and tied them on our feet/long rope to hold with our hands.
Granny kept the toilet paper in the coffee can in the out house. Kept it clean and kept the critters out.
Wal-Mart’s Great Value coffee still comes in metal cans, as does Food Lion’s My Essentials brand.
A large coffee can and a fat candle make a nice little heater.
I make a point of keeping a few glass-encased votive candles in the house. You occasionally see them cheap in dollar stores. They burn for up to 6 days. 
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.