# What can you do with Altoid tins?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-do-with-altoid-tins/717457
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [April 11, 2015, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-do-with-altoid-tins/717457 "2015-04-11T23:31:18Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)
#### Post date: [April 11, 2015, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-do-with-altoid-tins/717457/1 "2015-04-11T23:31:18Z")
I have a weakness for ‘cute little containers.’ As in, some people collect baseball cards or stuffed animals or flavored vinegars. I ‘collect’ little boxes/containers and especially Altoid tins.
They’re just so darn _cute._ Each time I empty one (got a serious cinnamon mint habit) I think “Such a nice little metal box, I should keep it. It would be perfect for… uh … something.”
But what? After years of thinking this way, I have accumulated several dozen of the things, the ‘big’ traditional ones and now the littler ‘mini’ ones. In all that time I have found exactly TWO good uses for them:
1. They’re a great size to carry a few bandaids in your purse or tote. (Likely more necessary for those caring for young children or terminal klutzes like me.)
2. They make a good carrycase for a couple of thumb drives. It makes the drives easier to find among the other clutter in my purse AND protects them from the smashed up cheerios and other such child-related detritus that some how accumulates.
Anyway, I was nagging my husband about all his boxes full of various hardware bits 'n pieces, and he pointed out I was just as bad, with the Altoid tins as Exhibit A.
So now I really need some good ideas for what Altoid tins are good for. 😉
Any one?
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### Author:  [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)
#### Post date: [April 11, 2015, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-do-with-altoid-tins/717457/2 "2015-04-11T23:34:09Z")
use them to make tiny portable zen sand gardens
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### Author:  [@tuesdayweld](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tuesdayweld)
#### Post date: [April 11, 2015, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-do-with-altoid-tins/717457/3 "2015-04-11T23:39:52Z")
You can put your weed in there.
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### Author:  [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)
#### Post date: [April 11, 2015, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-do-with-altoid-tins/717457/4 "2015-04-11T23:59:02Z")
I sold a couple dozen on eBay once.
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### Author:  [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2015, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-do-with-altoid-tins/717457/5 "2015-04-12T00:01:05Z")
> [@tuesdayweld](#):
>
> You can put your weed in there.
dammit, you were too fast…
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### Author:  [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2015, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-do-with-altoid-tins/717457/6 "2015-04-12T00:02:36Z")
[22 Manly Ways to Reuse an Altoids Tin](http://www.artofmanliness.com/2011/01/30/22-manly-ways-to-reuse-an-altoids-tin/)
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### Author:  [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2015, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-do-with-altoid-tins/717457/7 "2015-04-12T00:08:30Z")
[build yourself a headphone amplifier.](http://tangentsoft.net/audio/cmoy/)
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### Author:  [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2015, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-do-with-altoid-tins/717457/8 "2015-04-12T00:10:45Z")
people that make small electronic projects might use them for enclosures.
tin can of all sorts have always been popular in this regard.
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### Author:  [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2015, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-do-with-altoid-tins/717457/9 "2015-04-12T00:10:05Z")
You can use them for small tools – taps, mills, random tiny drill bits, lathe tools.
I keep my sorted change in them until I accumulate enough to put in coin rolls
You can also put small stationery supplies in them – paper clips, or thumb tacks, or small binder clips
You can decorate them and use them as containers for tiny presents (earrings, gift cards) or for stocking stuffers.
You can put small things for camping in them. If you seal around the joint with electrical tape they’re virtually waterproof. So you can keep matches in them, along with a striker strip.
If you’re into electronics, you can use them like mini-Bud Boxes. Especially since Radio Shack has gone down the tubes.
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### Author:  [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2015, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-do-with-altoid-tins/717457/10 "2015-04-12T00:14:43Z")
I used to have an addiction to curiously strong mints, so I used them for [art](http://imgur.com/sWarqMT) at my office.
When we moved out of that building some lucky midtown office peon inherited my creative genius.
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### Author:  [@Whatever4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whatever4)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2015, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-do-with-altoid-tins/717457/11 "2015-04-12T01:41:54Z")
They make wonderful mini suitcases for dollhouses, especially when covered in leather.
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### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2015, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-do-with-altoid-tins/717457/12 "2015-04-12T01:44:04Z")
I keep loose change in one and bills in another one. Comes in handy to pay the pizza delivery or paper boy.
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### Author:  [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2015, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-do-with-altoid-tins/717457/13 "2015-04-12T02:02:31Z")
> [@friedo](#):
>
> I used to have an addiction to curiously strong mints, so I used them for [art](http://imgur.com/sWarqMT) at my office.
>
> When we moved out of that building some lucky midtown office peon inherited my creative genius.
I noticed a ginger mint box in there. Why the @#$%& did they stop making ginger & licorice? :mad: :mad: :mad:
I use 'em for thumbie drive holders or to hold various small hardware - nails/screws/etc.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2015, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-do-with-altoid-tins/717457/14 "2015-04-12T02:05:10Z")
> [@Spiderman](#):
>
> I noticed a ginger mint box in there. Why the @#$%& did they stop making ginger & licorice? :mad: :mad: :mad:.
[Trader Joe’s Gingermints](http://thingsiloveattraderjoes.com/tag/ginger-mints/)
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### Author:  [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2015, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-do-with-altoid-tins/717457/15 "2015-04-12T02:11:36Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#):
>
> [Trader Joe’s Gingermints](http://thingsiloveattraderjoes.com/tag/ginger-mints/)
TJ’s is where I used to get the Ginger Altoids; never seen those in my local one. Guess what just got added to the agenda for tomorrow morning. 😉
I’ve also never seen two (three) buck chuck as they don’t sell it in the local states.
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### Author:  [@Sarabellum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarabellum)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2015, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-do-with-altoid-tins/717457/16 "2015-04-12T03:49:03Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#):
>
> Anyway, I was nagging my husband about all his boxes full of various hardware bits 'n pieces, and he pointed out I was just as bad, with the Altoid tins as Exhibit A.
>
> So now I really need some good ideas for what Altoid tins are good for. 😉
>
> Any one?
Personally, I think they’d make excellent containers for various small hardware bits 'n pieces. 🙂
I used one as a wallet for a few years.
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### Author:  [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2015, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-do-with-altoid-tins/717457/17 "2015-04-12T04:17:19Z")
One holds my bobby pins.
Another hairpins.
Another safety pins.
Another pin pins.
I also make adorable miniature neopagan elemental altars out of them. But that’s probably a niche market.
I love the doll suitcase idea!
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### Author:  [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2015, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-do-with-altoid-tins/717457/18 "2015-04-12T04:17:57Z")
Use 'em to store your [odonate collection](http://www.pugetsound.edu/academics/academic-resources/slater-museum/biodiversity-resources/dragonflies/collecting-preserving-specim) ;).
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### Author:  [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2015, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-do-with-altoid-tins/717457/19 "2015-04-12T04:22:47Z")
Back when I smoked I remember an empty Altoids tin perfectly held 20 cigarettes (a pack) and kept them from getting crushed. And once you smoked a few, it held your lighter as well.
.
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### Author:  [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2015, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-you-do-with-altoid-tins/717457/20 "2015-04-12T04:28:12Z")
OB tampons.
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