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Treacodactyl
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Posted: Sun Nov 21, 04 9:37 am Post subject: Big tins
We've have started to use the 2.5kg tins of tomatoes and will have a supply of empty tins. They seem a little too useful to simply sent to the recycling. I have thought about plant pots if I can make the edge less sharp or I could try and make a Floyd style garded stove type thingy. Anyone else have any ideas?

jema
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Posted: Sun Nov 21, 04 9:39 am Post subject:
How long do the contents last in the fridge. I have looked at those big tins to. jema

Mrs Fiddlesticks

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 10460

Posted: Sun Nov 21, 04 10:06 am Post subject:
there was a lovely picture in a gardening book once of tins all strung together, toppped with a metal funnel to make a scarecrow. Always wanted to make one meself! I'm sure there's something arty you could do like punch holes in them, paint them and make them in to plant pots or candle holders.

Treacodactyl
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Posted: Sun Nov 21, 04 10:31 am Post subject:

Quote:

How long do the contents last in the fridge. I have looked at those big tins to.

They tend to get used to make a large batch of pasta source (which can be used as a base for a chilli) which is then frozen in small bags. Very handy when we're both out at work during the day.

Treacodactyl
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Posted: Sun Nov 21, 04 10:32 am Post subject:

Quote:

I'm sure there's something arty you could do like punch holes in them, paint them and make them in to plant pots or candle holders.

A bit like the canal boats?

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Sun Nov 21, 04 11:29 am Post subject:

The tins make about 5-6 meals worth of pasta sauce for two people, so if you're a family, I should imagine you'd easily use it up in a couple of meals.

There's no notice on these to say how long you should keep them, just that you put it in another container. Imagine it's a week max.

I'm sure using freezer bags is not the most environmentally friendly thing I could do. I was au pair for a French family who kept the Bonne Maman jars (because of the wide necks) for freezing sauces, then put them straight in the microwave to defrost and heat up. But we don't have a microwave any more..I suppose I could easily put them in warm water.

Should I start this somewhere else? Alternatives to plastic wrappings?

jema
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Posted: Sun Nov 21, 04 11:34 am Post subject:
Could be a good topic jema

mrutty

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 1578

Posted: Sun Nov 21, 04 11:47 am Post subject:

Microban boxes from Sainsburys fill our house (Er was working for S at the time) as we used them to freeze home made sprog food. We now freeze all the left overs for when there's a rush and we can still feed the kids some thing that's not processed muck.

So far the boxes have lasted 6 years.

We also use Icecream tubs for veg and some freezer bags. Everything here gets used at least 5 times befoe it finally goes in the bin. BUT in a few weeks time Swindon will finally come out of the dark ages and we will have plastic recycling

alison
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Joined: 29 Oct 2004
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Location: North Devon

Posted: Sun Nov 21, 04 7:21 pm Post subject:
Can I just reming people not to reuse bags that have contained meat, as some of the organisms can remain on them, even after washing and this could make you ill. I know this sounds a bit nannyish, but better to be safe than sorry.

Sarah D

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 2584

Posted: Mon Nov 22, 04 3:08 pm Post subject:

I try and wash/re-use all the bags I can - no problems so far, though.
I use the large tins for planting out odd peppers, tomatoes and chillies in the garden. They will take a coat of emulsion if you want to paint them; although they will only last a year, at least you will get another round out of them. Remember to punch holes in the bottoms, though. If you use them for candles/lights, they can get very hot, so mind out for that.
If you cut out the bottom too, they can make a cheese mould, or tree guard.

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Mon Nov 22, 04 3:56 pm Post subject:
I'm seeing a smoker. I'm seeing a chimney made from cans bolted together to form a tube, with a grate of some sort to control the rate of smoke coming out. Maybe a couple of cheap metal boxes in the middle, with a rack for resting or hanging things, a wood fire at the bottom in a big tin, with a little hatch cut into the next tin up for adding more fuel or changing the aeration...

jema
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Posted: Mon Nov 22, 04 3:59 pm Post subject:
I'd figure the diameter would be a bit small. jema

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Mon Nov 22, 04 4:03 pm Post subject:
Yes, they're a bit narrow, which is why you need a baffle and a metal box in the middle somewhere. But then you might as well use a bigger metal box like, say, a filing cabinet or something

Gervase

Joined: 17 Nov 2004
Posts: 8655

Posted: Mon Nov 22, 04 5:32 pm Post subject:
We use 'em for window-sill herbs. They get a bit tatty after a while, but then there's the satisfaction of stamping on them and bunging them in the recycling bag.

Treacodactyl
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Posted: Mon Nov 22, 04 9:05 pm Post subject:

jema wrote:

I'd figure the diameter would be a bit small.

jema

It's 15cm (6 inches).

I might try a little charcoal making in one. Very small but it might work.

For pots is there any easy way of smoothing off the edges?

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