10 replies to this topic

[Naturalsteel]

An art group I belong to is having a fundraiser where we are selling altoid tins. I guess it's a fad right now. This is what I came up with. I don't do much repousse on this scale so I just used modeling clay for pitch and some quickly made tools from 1/4 in mild steel bar stock.

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[PTsideshow]

They turned out very nice, Its to bad that they had to start raising the brand name on the tins. Puts another step in the process, the border is a nice touch to have as a frame for the art work.

[Willway Forge]

Hmmm, can you tell me more about the modeling clay?? From the looks of your results, modeling clay must work great!

[AvishaiW]

Very nice looking tins, especially when done on modeling clay.

[Tony Mertens]

Nice work. I've tried the modeling clay with mixed results. Like you said , If you're not going to do a lot of it or just want to try repousse it's a good way to go.

[Naturalsteel]

Hey thanks guys. Matt, the clay is a fairly standard oil based modeling clay I got from a freind who worked at a foundry suply place a few years back. It might have helped that it's been chilly here(highs 40-50 F, frost at night)and I hadn't had the heat on in my shop for several days before. I did try to not work the clay too much so it didn't warm up in my hands.

[Willway Forge]

Hmm, well I will have to give it (clay) a try. My neighbor is an Altoid fanatic so the tins are easily acquired. I got one from him yesterday and began the process. Getting the raised lettering out is not as easy as I thought. Thanks for the info.

[PTsideshow]

Here is one source for square, oblong and round tin plated steel seamless cans Freund container wholesale case quantities only. I have used them in the past most larger cities have a bottle and can dealer. At least two of the local ones in the Detroit area were distributors for the Freund container lines.
US plastics clearance on the metal tins They sell in less than case numbers but the smaller the capacity the smaller size of the cans.

These are some that US plastic sold and now they are getting rid of them

The dia is the a little larger than a DVD disc matter a fact they were sold as CD/DVD archive containers

These are 1½" tall and about 2" dia

The standard Altoids with the larger of the oblong tins 1 ounce if I remember.

If you haven't thought of it, you can bend the hinge tabs a little and remove the lids of the tins Altoids or other. Makes them easier to work or fill with your choice of backing material. as for the clay to use. Check Micheal's big box craft stores, look for Roma Plastilina They have soft, medium hard, and extra hard mixes, and of course chilled they will be stiffer.
Roma Plastilina Blicks

[AvishaiW]

I must admit that it took me a while to look what kind of metal is Altoid. Never heard of it until googled

[PTsideshow]

Product in the tins

[Square]

Looks great!
Altoid tins have been used very often in the curcuit world for mini projects.
I have a USB power pack built in an Altoid tin.