# What would you do with 65 Altoid tins? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 17, 2001, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-with-65-altoid-tins/54920 "2001-02-17T22:35:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![andygirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@andygirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andygirl)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2001, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-with-65-altoid-tins/54920/1 "2001-02-17T22:35:50Z")
I have in my dorm room a drawer which I refer affectionately to as “the Graveyard.” This drawer contains memories of minty freshness, of red and white metal, of crackling paper, of curious strength… it has my empty Altoid tins, and they have served me well. Some of them have special purposes. I use one to store buttons, another for Qtips. Some of them were on hand for special moments in my life- the production of my first play, my first day at school…moments I cherish. But those are uncommon tins, and the vast majority lay happily in my drawer. I counted today. I have in my room 65 empty tins. One is a tiny tin. Two are the Valentine’s Day heart-shaped edition, complete with heart-shaped mints. One is a Big Tin, one is a special edition silver domed Big Tin. The rest are the “regular” tin- so common, yet so noble. They all have within them the lingering scent of **peppermint**. I wonder if they’re happy. I wonder if they can be put to better use. My tins might be seeking a bigger, better future, the likes of which could be made into a miniseries or quite possibly a musical. I do not know. Dopers, I throw myself to your mercy. What would you do with 65 Altoid tins? ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2001, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-with-65-altoid-tins/54920/2 "2001-02-17T22:41:04Z")
65 – wow! I don’t know what you can do with all those, but make sure you save a couple for **Alphagene** to use for his [cigarette butts](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=42115). ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2001, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-with-65-altoid-tins/54920/3 "2001-02-17T22:43:06Z")
I would tack them to the wall. This way when you get enough you can turn you room into a fallout shelter. Also haveing tiny storage coompartments all over could come in handy. ---
**Author:** ![Lexicon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ac8455/32.png) [@Lexicon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lexicon)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2001, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-with-65-altoid-tins/54920/4 "2001-02-17T22:56:00Z")
I would give them all to **andygirl** , of course. She seems to have a fondness for such things. Besides, > [@](#): > > I would tack them to the wall. This way when you get enough you can turn you room into a fallout shelter. Also haveing tiny storage coompartments all over could come in handy. …if you did this, well then whenver you opened one, all the gear you stashed inside would eat shit all over the floor. That would suck. ---
**Author:** ![Gunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2001, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-with-65-altoid-tins/54920/5 "2001-02-17T22:59:10Z")
Glue 'em together to make furniture. ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2001, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-with-65-altoid-tins/54920/6 "2001-02-17T22:59:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zebra \* > \*\*I would tack them to the wall. This way when you get enough you can turn you room into a fallout shelter. Also haveing tiny storage coompartments all over could come in handy. \*\* Actually, this is probably not a bad idea. The tins would probably block mind control rays pretty well. ---
**Author:** ![Sue\_Duhnym](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@Sue\_Duhnym](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sue_Duhnym)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2001, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-with-65-altoid-tins/54920/7 "2001-02-17T23:31:07Z")
I have no idea, but I thought of you yesterday when I was standing in line at Walgreen’s. There, on the counter (for the all important “impulse buys”), were Mini tins, Giganto tins, regular tins, cinnamon tins and heart-shaped tins. Hmmm, maybe you can be an pop-artist. Get yourself some tin cutters and a soldering gun and go to town! ---
**Author:** ![Whammo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8dc957/32.png) [@Whammo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whammo)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2001, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-with-65-altoid-tins/54920/8 "2001-02-17T23:42:20Z")
I would weld them all together and make one HUGE Altoids tin! ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2001, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-with-65-altoid-tins/54920/9 "2001-02-18T00:44:48Z")
A question after my own heart. I currently have 47 Penguin Mint tins, plus one Altoid tin. I really need an idea of something to do with them- making a little fort on my desk at work and manning it with Lego archers is fun, but it’s drawing a few too many stares. ---
**Author:** ![Montfort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Montfort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montfort)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2001, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-with-65-altoid-tins/54920/10 "2001-02-18T00:45:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JeffB \* > \*\*65 – wow! I don’t know what you can do with all those, but make sure you save a couple for **Alphagene** to use for his [cigarette butts](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=42115). \*\* I opened this thread to make this exact same suggestion! ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2001, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-with-65-altoid-tins/54920/11 "2001-02-18T01:04:48Z")
You’re having **that much** oral sex? If you’re having **that much** oral sex, you ain’t got no problem! ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2001, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-with-65-altoid-tins/54920/12 "2001-02-18T01:06:05Z")
So did I, **Montfort**. GMTA, huh cous’? 🙂 I keep one in my purse filled with my change so I don’t have to dig around in the bottom of my purse to find it. I like the Q-Tips idea. I’m often wishing I had a Q-Tip but never carry any on me. I think I’ll do that with my next empty tin. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2001, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-with-65-altoid-tins/54920/13 "2001-02-18T01:22:53Z")
Well, for starters, stock up on a LOT of lubricant… …while you’re doing that, I’ll think up the next step… ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2001, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-with-65-altoid-tins/54920/14 "2001-02-18T03:38:29Z")
How about a nifty suit of armor? I’m sure there’s at least a 1000 other things… ---
**Author:** ![Mandi\_s\_Mind\_101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@Mandi\_s\_Mind\_101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mandi_s_Mind_101)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2001, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-with-65-altoid-tins/54920/15 "2001-02-18T05:14:39Z")
65 whole tins, perfectly intact, why you could Picture Frame al la Altoid Altoid End table top Recycle them for Mula$$ Coffins for small rodents, or fish Worry Dolls furniture Pool table chalk holder Hold Mints, theres a thought Soap Dishes Door Trimming Barbie Suitcase Hold Business cards Altoid Headboard would really brighten up a room You could use the top inside to spy around corners CrazyGlue & pipe cleaners you could have one huge robot! etc etc ---
**Author:** ![Shadowfox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Shadowfox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shadowfox)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2001, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-with-65-altoid-tins/54920/16 "2001-02-18T06:09:52Z")
You could use them to store bobby pins, sewing needles, buttons, toothpicks, Q-tips, safety pins, small pieces of jewelry, etc. You could punch little holes in the top of the boxes, place string through the little holes, and hang the boxes from a Christmas tree. You could line your ceiling with them (Voila! Instant ceiling mirror). You could place beans inside the box and tape it shut for an instant noise maker. ---
**Author:** ![Inky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7feea3/32.png) [@Inky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inky_1)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2001, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-with-65-altoid-tins/54920/17 "2001-02-18T06:49:54Z")
Ah! Something close to my heart! Personally, I find the boxes more useful than the Altoids themselves, which I usually throw away (provide me with a neutral address and they’re yours for the asking). I stock them with watercolors --the tiny little .17 oz tubes of Winsor & Newton and Holbien for which you overhear middle aged community college art class women cry “Twelve dollars for that little tube!?” in art stores. An Altoids box is perfect for holding four tubes: Quinacridone magenta (3A: the warm shade), ultramarine blue or, if I suspect I’m going to be doing a landscape of my perpetually overcast city, a cooler Prussian blue, Azo yellow, and either Pthalocynide green or (rarely) the pricier Natural Viridian plus a Magic Rub eraser (cut into thirds) and the nub of a #6 watercolor brush. I have six of these, one for each jacket pocket and my glove compartment, so I’m never caught without. Great for ink pen nibs too. My advice for a clever college girl with too many Altoids boxes: Go to Target or Walmart, get bulk packs of safety pins, buttons, sewing needles, straight pins, thread, etc. make sewing kits for all the college boys you know. Single college boys _never ever_ have a sewing needle to darn a sock with nor thread to fix a torn sleeve with nor a button to mend a shirt with when they need it (I know this for a fact. Many of us are so dependant on our mom’s that it just never occurs to us to buy them). For under ten dollars you can supply every guy you know with something truly handy. If they ask, tell 'em it seemed like a clever use of all those little tins. Strikes me as a great way to make friends. ---
**Author:** ![Nacho4Sara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Nacho4Sara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nacho4Sara)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2001, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-with-65-altoid-tins/54920/18 "2001-02-18T06:58:04Z")
I saw a picture in a photo spread from _Esquire_ magazine - they had tacked up about a hundred tins to a wall behind a white sofa. It made a very daring decorating statement. It looked cool as hell, too. I always through mine away. ☹ I’ve been going at a rate of a tin a week for four years, then two tins a week when I started smoking. I would have a whole shitload if I saved them. My best friend used to store joints and blunts in them, if you’re into that sort of thing. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ChiefScott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2001, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-with-65-altoid-tins/54920/19 "2001-02-18T14:01:30Z")
Bury 65 dead goldfish. ---
**Author:** ![SwimmingRiddles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SwimmingRiddles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingRiddles)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2001, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-with-65-altoid-tins/54920/20 "2001-02-18T15:50:30Z")
Here is what happened the first time I met andygirl: we were driving to NYC for the dopefest, and I met her at Dartmouth, in front of a cafe. And she immediately pulled out the BIGGEST tin of altoids I have ever seen in my life. As a poor, deprived Vermont country girl, I had never seen a “Big Tin” before, and was shocked. I told her that in my car, at that moment, was a tin of wintergreen. And a streetfight the likes of which have not been seen since West Wide Story left Broadway almost commenced. However, we agreed to disagree on Altoid flavor, and the trip continued with narry a hitch. Except for the blizzard. And the car dying, then coming to life, but not after andy scared it by breaking a piece off. But I digress… I say tack 'em all to the wall, and get a photographer friend (everyone has one at a lib arts school…) take a portrait of you. In 30 years you’ll look at it and giggle. Of course, as dorm life goes, you’d have to take it down at the end of the semester. Bah. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-with-65-altoid-tins/54920.md?page=2)