It's surprising that many home shop forging projects can be done in a tiny forge made out or a #10 can. Projects like repairing small tools or knifemaking don't require a large fire, but they still need an oven that will produce the heat you need to work metal.
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A #10 can is usually packed with food, like vegetables or fruits and it's the size that commercial kitchens use for everyday recipes. So, you can get these cans for free just by asking your local restaurant to save a few for you.
Making A Forge From A #10 Can
With a little trimming and drilling you can get a can ready to provide the framework for your new forge. It's lined with perlite mixed with plaster of paris to handle the heat, as shown in this video.
You'll also need a heat source, but since this oven is small you won't need a huge fire. With a few fittings and a propane burner you'll get all the heat needed for small projects.
The advantage of this type of forge is that it's very portable. If you are planning to do some knife making at the local Rendezvous, this little forge is just the ticket. But if you want something bigger and more permanent just check out this article and video.
Make A Cooking Oven From A #10 Can
You can also use a can to make a nice little cooking oven for the top of your wood stove. I found some really simple instructions, and I'll sum it up for your real quick right here.
Save both the can and the lid that has been cut out, then trim the ridge from the can where the lid was removed. That will allow the can to be lowered right over the lid without catching. Now select a smaller can, like a salmon or tuna can with the lid removed.
Sit the tuna can on top of the wood stove with a little water in it. Sit the #10 can lid on top of the tuna can and put your bread loaf dough on top of the lid. Now lower the #10 can over it all and you have a neat little oven that will bake bread while you enjoy the fire on a cold night.
You can also use a Dutch oven to cook your beans, stews and bake in on top of your wood stove. I cover all that in my book “Dutch Oven Cooking For The Holidays“.
The #10 can lid oven is explained real well in this article on the Survivalist Blog.
Camping And Using # 10 Cans
A large tin can will fit nicely in the bottom of most hiking backpacks and are very useful around camp. You can drill a couple of holes in the top of a can and put on a bail to carry it with. Now it's great to haul water into camp. By saving smaller cans that fit into each other you can nest several useful cans in your pack.
Save And Reuse Like Our Grandparents Did
Using #10 cans for various jobs around the homestead is exactly what our ancestors did when times were tough. They couldn't go out and buy any little thing they needed, so they reused what they could. For many of us those ways are now lost, but interesting none the less.
If you would like to learn more about the old ways and how people lived well even when times were tough, I have a video you really should watch. It could change your life, and maybe even save your family.
