Aluminum can crusher

[n3480h]

Yes, you "CAN", Jim.

Quite a few guys have build their own furnace and cast aluminum. U Toob has a bunch of videos, and here's a link to a hobby machinist's site:
http://www.hobby-machinist.com/showthread.php/24916-Casting-Aluminum?highlight=casting+aluminum

And a site dedicated to DIY casting: http://www.backyardmetalcasting.com/

Be VERY careful about what goes into the smelter - some parts, like transfer cases, transmission bell housings, wheel rims, and VW cases may contain a high percentage of magnesium.

 

[firemanjim]

And you don't want a magnesium fire in your garage........ TRUST me.....

 

[itsid]

I was kidding.. I do not think cans are a good alloy source to make wheels myself to be honest
On the other hand: I haven't tried.. so who knows *shrugs*
And at least in germany they're AlMg1Mn1 AW-3104 which isn't all that bad

it'll still be great for steering wheels and decorative bits though

'sid

 

[n3480h]

Sid is correct. Usually, 3004 is the alloy is used for beverage cans, with 5182 alloy for the ends. 3004 is alloyed with 1.2% manganese and 1% magnesium, with the balance being aluminum.5182 includes 5% magnesium, .7% manganese and .1% chrome. 3xxx series aluminum is relatively soft, allowing easier workability in the draw die process to form cans. As it is drawn, the aluminum work hardens. I suppose one could cast wheels with pop can aluminum, but it would at least need to be forged to harden and strengthen it. 2024 or 7075 might be a better choice. But, we'd have to be rich lunatics to do this since commercially available kart wheels are reasonably priced and come in a good variety of styles and sizes.

 

[itsid]

5182 would be nice though... but AFAIK it's nothing but the 'stay-on-tab' that's made of 5182..

I wonder if it'd be possible to makeshift a 'useable' alloy by mixing in another like duraluminium or soemthing.. *shrugs*

and even if a full custom wheel is out of reach.. custom hubcaps for steel rims are still possible.

But to get back to the honest half of my suggestion:
Doug I really think you can make some nice things with a small furnace and soda cans,
and.. it's not too expensive to make a small one to give it a try..
a bit of sand you should have laying around, a bit of styrofoam for the lost casting;
And in the end you may earn a dollar or two

see this kid for example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfI7oA1VY78

'sid

 

[ML-TOYS]

Theres could always be a poboy way of doin it. throw them cans in driveway, drive over, sweep up, dump in bin

 

[java230]

Theres could always be a poboy way of doin it. throw them cans in driveway, drive over, sweep up, dump in bin

Probably cost more in gas than the cans are worth! Last I priced them, it was just about .01 per can.

 

[Poboy kartman]

Probably cost more in gas than the cans are worth! Last I priced them, it was just about .01 per can.

I actually did think about that. ...like long ramps with side rails and a center board......where you could load 100 cans at a time. ...
.have to make it in sections. ....have a place to store that crap... .it's very feasible. ....for someone with the right circumstances. ...but that's not me...

The ideal situation would be someone with a long stretch of driveway to set it up. ....set it all up after work. ....in the morning. ...either drive over it before going to work. ...or when you get home. ....pennies of gas....

Right now I'm still stuck on the compactor.....I'm thinking along these lines. ..a 3×3' box of double laminated 3/4" plywood.....A triple laminated insert...x-braced on top.....with tracking corners....and a solid boom across the top... (elevated) .....(think hydraulic press)....with 2. 20 ton hydraulic jacks supplying the crushing force.....slow....but should work. ....

I'm also thinking "H" handle. ...to pump both jacks simultaneously.....

I have the jacks and most of the material. ...

 

[OzFab]

car wipers motor ... or any other motor with reductor ...

Clever idea but, will it have enough torque to crush a can?

 

[shakey0818]

Maybe something like a 55 gal drum with a lid slightly smaller than the opening.Have a threaded rod in the middle and a motor powering it or make it into a compactor.That way u can do many at a time.

Turn a used log splitter into a can crusher.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/WEN-56206-6-Ton-Electric-Log-Splitter-106524-DD-/390943010781

Collecting cans can be profitable if you have a bar or somewhere that saves them for you.I prefer the old work for a living method.Too much work for little pay collecting cans.

 

[Badot]

Well you already said you have a truck so... make two wooden troughs the width of your tires, load them up with cans, and drive over them?

 

[Poboy kartman]

Rather than quote the last two posts and pick them apart. .....

I gotta ask.....what thread are you guys reading???????

I not only described the drive by sled in some detail. ...but also included why it was not a good option for me.....

A 55 gal drum is just a round version of what I described as a compactor.....

But have you considered that 55 gal drums have ribs????? Once you crush cans in one.....how can you get them out????

So with a wooden box....I can make the opening slightly bigger. ...so the brickof cans slides right out......

But thanks anyway. ...

 

[Poboy kartman]

Clever idea but, will it have enough torque to crush a can?

NO.....They can't even bust slightly frozen wiper blades loose......and garage door motors....again. ...not that torquey....garage doors are balanced by springs. ...not hard to push up by hand....much easier than pushing a can from a dead start to even start to crush it....and they aren't that slow....they are moving a chain with a small sprocket and gearing....

 

[Poboy kartman]

Before this gets too far sidtracked...... (you guys know what a stickler I am for staying on topic)....

I didn't think it would be that confusing to ask two questions at once. ...but maybe I was wrong. .... (is that even possible)...?

So....let's review. ..question #1....Originally. ..I planned to build a manual can crusher.....but wanted to know if I could buy one instead....that would crush 24/25 oz. cans.....I guess not. ...but if so...I would still like to know. ....

The second question was for ideas to further reduce the volume of crushed cans.....think crushed cars here.....

So. ..neither question has actually been adressed directly and separately....

I'm not complaining....but. ..although I have gotten some awesome replies. ...it would be nice to know as much as possible before pulling the trigger. ..as right now. ...I'm still looking at building 2 machines.....

 

[BirdFanatic]

Maybe a break away steering wheel?

Could we really do that? Wouldn't you need to add other chems to make it an alloy, stronger? If I can melt down cans and pour my own wheels, well, that might be a nifty winter project..... Cast wheel halves, then mate them by weight, then balance them......

 

[ML-TOYS]

Ok heres some you can buy
https://www.google.com/webhp?rls=ig&gws_rd=ssl#rls=ig&q=32+oz+can+crusher

 

[itsid]

Okay.. so let's see...
the MasterCrush Aluminum Can Crusher Recycler
can take up to 32oz cans but it's $50 at amazon.
But I think, it isn't too big of a problem to allow taller cans into any 16oz crusher at all;

all you need is extend the u-channel (wait that's a C channel isn't it?) and reposition the bolts on the handle to move the slider upwards.
well buy/bend a new one and mount the plates to that instead.

it'll loose a bit of force-reduction due to the shorter lever;
but that's not too important I guess

further compacting...
If you make one of the hopper fed log splitter conversions, then
feed in full cans, that way they can interlock more easily and your block will not desintegrate as easily.

smaller than that means you'll have to melt them so we're back at the furnace again

'sid

PS jeez I should reload a page before I send a post ...

 

[Poboy kartman]

First off. ..modifying one of those $8 can crushers is just stupid. ...I'll probably have this one wore out soon enough. ....

And thanks for the info on the manual crusher.....if not for the YouTube link. ...that would have been right at the edge of whether it was worth building or not. ...and I probably would have bought one....

Yeah....on the other. ...if I had a log splitter....I'd make money on firewood. ...not cans.....

It's definitely not that I don't think. "Outside the box"....I could build a log splitter and power it off a modified rim for my pick-up...heck....I could even fab up something that hooks to the exsiting rim in seconds.....

So I'm just really looking for that .....Hmmmmmm....that's just crazy enough to wotk post. ....that kickstarts my creativity in a different direction. ...

 

[B.M.800]

see this kid for example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfI7oA1VY78

'sid

Wow.... thats pretty cool.
Kid got some patience there.




As for compacting cans... you mentioned crushed cars.... which immediately made me think of a shredder...

 

[firemanjim]

Go back to that scrap yard and look for......
You know what, just call me tonight. I got a few good ideas for you. Some cheap, some that would pay for themselves in short time.... I've built a couple presses, in my youth......