There are just some things that are beg to be used and repurposed, and the altoid tin is one of those things. With its easy use pocket size and durable material, it makes sense that this is something that people would use for other things. With a myrid of things that these mint tins can be made in to, it's not surprising that there are a number of reuse options for the survivalist community.
The best part is, that if you don't have an altoid tin already, you can go out and by some for cheap, and then enjoy your mints as you put together one of these DIY survival projects! Here are our top ten survivalist altoid projects:
1. Char Cloth Creator
You've probebly realized by now that an altoid tin is perfect for this. Not only is an altoid tin perfect for a charcloth maker, but it is also really easy to make it one as well. All you have to do is put your fabric in the tin, make hole in the tin, and place it on a fire to let your cloth char!
Here is a good run down on how it works:
http://www.blackscoutsurvival.com/2012_05_01_archive.html
2. First Aid Kit
Who doesn't like a first aid kit? An altoid is perfect for this use. Small and compact, it can still hold a number of different first aid materials, and it is still easy to carry around or store in drawers and glove boxes.
It is up to every person the different things that can go in the first aid kit, but here are a couple examples that you can use to get started:
-http://www.instructables.com/id/Pocket-First-Aid-Kit/
-http://foodstorageandbeyond.com/2010/09/feature-friday-altoid-first-aid-kits/
-http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=275947.40
3. Pocket Games Chest
Don't underestimate the power of games. In a survival situation bordum can be a killer, literally. There are many stories out there about people in survival situations who just sit down and give up, because they just don't know what to do next. So having some games to pass that time is actually a really great survival item to have.
So how do you put this together? Start with some basic game elements, such as deck of cards and a set of five dice. From here you can add other elements such as winks, grid paper, and altoid sized paper game boards. You also will want to include a small pencil like the ones you see at minutere golf. Then the last thing you'll want is a set of rules so you can make sure you remember how to play your game!
Here some instructions that can get you started, and which have some paper boards for a games kit that you can use:-http://www.instructables.com/id/Altoids-Tin-Travels-Games-Pocket-Size-Fun/
4. Miniture Stove
A small camping stove is one of those things that is has been on my "to get" list for my bug out bag for a while. Some times it is just easier to use a small stove than to start a whole campfire. A few weeks ago however I came across a small stove made from an altoids tin! I think that this is great and I'm certainly going to be making one somewhere here in the near future.
Here are few types to get you started:-http://www.instructables.com/id/Altoid-Tin-Alcohol-Stove/
-http://www.instructables.com/id/Altoids-Tin-Alcohol-Stove/
(yes they are two different links)
5. Survival Kit
Yes I know, an altoid tin survival kit cannot stand up survival beauty that is your bug out bag. However what if you don't have your bug out bag? An altoid tin survival kit is the perfect form of every day carry that could save your life in sudden survival situation. Besides if you don't have your bug out bag, you will have to get to your bug out bag and this small kit could help you get there.
There are multiple different options for altoid survival tins. They can be focused on one aspect of survival, wilderness survival or urban survival. The best part is that because they are so small you can make a couple and carry more than one with you.
Here are some examples to help you get started:-http://teotwawkiblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/pocket-survival-kit-contest-entry-30.html
-http://ranger-pathfinder-notes.blogspot.com/2011/03/notes-on-sas-altoids-tin-survival-kits.html
-http://www.survivalcommonsense.com/how-to-make-an-altoids-tin-survival-kitfeed/
-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYl8lh_5EZY
-http://www.instructables.com/id/Urban-Altoids-Survival-Kit/
-http://www.instructables.com/id/Altoids-Survival-Kit_2/
-http://www.fieldandstream.com/photos/gallery/survival/food/2006/08/make-survival-kit-out-altoids-tin-and-two-more-life-saving-diy-
6. USB Charger
Who says there will be no electronics when the world ends? Electronics can still be possible in the event that shtf world wide. In other cases, just being lost in the wilderness or there being a natural disaster, some electronics may come in very handy. Which is why a USB charger is a good idea of something to have. You can charger anything from your cellphone to your ipod with it, and that can come in handy even if you aren't in a survival situation.
There are a couple different versions of these, so here are a few to get you started:-http://www.instructables.com/id/MintyBoost!---Small-battery-powered-USB-charger/
-http://www.instructables.com/id/Solar-Altoids-USB-Charger/
-http://www.instructables.com/id/Lithium-Battery-Solar-USB-iPhone-Arduino-Charger/
Don't Want to Make One? Buy One Here: -http://www.browndoggadgets.com/store/chargers/altoids-solar-usb-charger/
7. Emergency Candle
An emergency candle is a great use for your old altoid tins, especially because you can easily make and have more than one. Make multiple and place them around your house in case of a black out. Put one in your can in case you break down on the side of the road. If it is cold outside, it may be able to add some heat to your car. Put one in your bug out bag, and your camping bag. With store bought versions being so expensive, and there being so many potential uses for them, why wouldn't you make some of your own?
Start your DIY here: http://www.instructables.com/id/Altoids-Tin-Emergency-Candle/
8. Pocket Tackle Box
Again this is something else that can always benefit from a small container. You don't need tons and tons of equpiment to go fishing. You may like tons and tons of equipment, and it may work better with some peices of equipment. Are they neccessary though? No. Everything you need to go fishing can be placed in an altoid tin for emergency use. It will easily fit in your bug out bag, while still keeping all the peices together and in one spot.
Instructions: http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Pocket-Tacklebox/
Other Examples:
-http://minnesotahillbilly.wordpress.com/2009/09/12/my-pocket-fishing-kit-and-a-poor-mans-tenkara-have-nymph-will-travel/
-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giXYWwdQYJM
-http://www.wildsurvive.com/outdoor-camping-forum/index.php?topic=5002.0
9. Emergency Radio
I didn't know you could make a whole radio out of an altoids tin, but not too long ago I didn't know you could make a USB charger either. Now that I do know however I am gearing up to make my own. Not only is it simple to make, but it is also cheap, with a 3$ building cost. Sounds like something else to add to my 5 dollar preps list!
Here are the instructions to build your own:-http://www.instructables.com/id/3-Emergency-Solar-Radio/
10. Sewing Kit
A sewing kit may not seem like the most important thing to have in a survival situation, but the ability to fix rips and tears will help your equipment and clothes last longer. However one problem I have had with sewing kits in the past is that they always seem to come in these really cheap plastic containers that break the first time you use them. Therefore an altoid tin is the perfect solution. It is the right size to hold what you need for a sewing kit and it will last longer than it's flimsy plastic counterparts.
To make one you simply take the contents of a plastic sewing kit and place them an altoid tin or get the things to make one yourself.
Here are some examples:-http://theresastudio.blogspot.com/2012/10/altoid-tin-to-sewing-kit.html
-http://missrepurpose.blogspot.com/2012/08/repurpose-altoid-tin-into-sewing-box.html
So if you want a simple and satisfying DIY survival project for the weekend, give one of these altoid tin projects a try. If you do make one, go ahead and post it in the comments for everyone to see! I'm sure I'll be posting my DIY projects up here soon too!
~Sara
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