_{1+ 2+ 3} Tin Can Copper Tan _{By Andrew Lewis}

Copper-coat a tin can, turning it into an aesthetically pleasing, reusable container.

You will need: A tin can (tin-plated steel, not aluminum), muriatic acid (sold in hardware stores as a brick cleaner), hydrogen peroxide (from a drugstore), scraps of copper, splash-proof goggles, rubber gloves, waterproof apron, plastic container, soap, hot water

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1. Wearing protective clothing in a ventilated area, mix 9 parts of muriatic acid to 1 part hydrogen peroxide in a plastic container. Slowly add scraps of copper, which will react with the acid solution and turn it a blue-green color. When the reaction slows and the copper stops dissolving, remove the remaining pieces of copper. The blue-green component is cupric chloride, which reacts with tin and leaves a shiny new layer of copper in its place.

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2. Thoroughly wash a tin can, removing all traces of glue and grease from the inside and outside. An abrasive plastic dishcloth might be useful for this. Dry the can and gently place it into the acid solution. The can need not be completely submerged, but keep it turning to expose all parts to an equal amount of the solution. After a few seconds, the can will start to change color, and you should see a pale copper tan appearing within minutes.

3. Remove the can from the acid bath and rinse with water. Leave the can to dry naturally. Then you can finish it with clear acrylic spray, coat it with wax, or just let it oxidize to create a dark, neglected, antique look.

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Andrew Lewis is a keen artificer and computer scientist with special interests in 3D scanning, algorithmics, and open source software.

Photography by Andrew Lewis

58 Make: Volume 13