DIY Network

Tin Can Signage Make your message last with metal. From "B. Original" episode DBOR-410

Say it with metal.

Michele Beschen loves working with lettering and signage – and what makes better signage than colorful, durable metal? The B. Original host shows how to use flattened metal cans to create signage for around the home or even outdoors.

Scroll down to see how tin cans can become one-of-a kind signage. Check out Michele Beschen's "Tin Cans 101" for the best way to prepare cans for this project.

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	Figure A
	Figure B

Stamped Metal Signage

Materials:

flattened tin cans
metal stamping kit
hammer
anvil or similar hard surface

• Instead of stamping on sign material with ink, you can stamp in the material (figure A). Look for metal stamping sets at hobby shops, home improvement stores or online.

• Play around with the stamps to create embossed or relief messages right in the tin. Stamp from the front of the metal to emboss the letters so that they go down into the metal; stamp from the back for relief letters that stick up from the surface of the metal (figure B). Stamp the metal against an anvil or similar hard surface.

Cut Metal Letters

Materials:

flattened tin cans
simple letter and/or number stencils
grease pencil
tin snips
heavy gloves
drill
drill bit for metals
heavy-duty shears
file

	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E

• Michele Beschen uses stencils to help her cut out metal letters for signage. Keep stencils simple – block letter stencils that aren’t too small or complicated – for easier cutting.

• Trace the letter on the tin with a grease pencil or china marker (figure C).

• Cut out roughly around the letter with a pair of tin snips (figure D), then make another pass to clean up the edges.

  Safety Alert: Wear heavy gloves when cutting cans or working with cut cans. The edges will be extremely sharp.

• To cut out the center part of a letter, drill a couple of holes with a metal drill bit, then use a pair of heavy-duty shears to cut out the inside shape (figure E). Shears will give much better control over detailed cuts than tin snips. A rotary tool also works well for cutting out the inside parts of letters.

• Smooth the cut edges with a small file.

• Choose a surface on which to mount the lettering. Michele Beschen likes to use wood as her background because she likes the look of wood and tin together.

• There’s no need to drill pilot holes if mounting the letters with nails; the nail points are sharp enough to poke through the tin. If using decorative tacks, punch a hole with n awl and hammer before starting the tack.

• Short tacks and nails can be a little tricky to hold and hammer. Use a pair of needle-nose pliers to hold the tack or nail and without mashing your fingers with the hammer.

• Tack or nail around the perimeter of the letter so that it lays nice and flat.