How to Make an Aluminum Can Crusher

An aluminum can crusher is used to crush or smash empty aluminum cans to the smallest possible size in order to recycle them. There are various methods, by which these cans are crushed by different types of can crushers. Some can crushers, crush the can by pressing into it from both the sides, while some can crushers smash the can from above. The two prominently used methods of can crushing are mechanical method, wherein the cans are crushed by machines powered by electricity, and manual method, wherein the cans are crushed by machines operated manually by humans.

Manual Aluminum Can Crusher
Manual aluminum can crusher uses the force created by an individual to crush the can. These human operated machines are preferred over their mechanical counterparts in most of the homes, as they are relatively inexpensive and user-friendly. In simple aluminum can crushers, ideal for use at home, the cans are inserted in the frame meant to hold them, and then the top part of the machine is brought down on the can manually. More importantly, it is very easy to build your own aluminum can crusher. If you are wondering, how to make an aluminum can crusher at home, here is the answer to your query.

How to Make an Aluminum Can Crusher?
Aluminum is a relatively soft metal, and hence you can use hard wood to make an aluminum can crusher. Take a 32 inch 2 x 4 piece of wood and cut it into two halves of 16 inches each. While it is for you to decide whether you want to make a large can crusher or a small one, we believe that a 16 inch can crusher would be an ideal bet when it comes to home use. Next step is to attach the hinge. To do this, place both the boards end to end, and attach the hinge to them with the help of screws, such that you can fold these boards together lengthwise, like a book. Take two jar lids, slightly bigger than the size of the cans, and fix them to the inner side of the boards. These lids should be fixed opposite to each other, such that they are directly on the top of each other, when both the boards are folded. You can either use a strong adhesive or small screws to fix these lids to the board. These lids will act as a holding device for your aluminum can crusher. Attach a cabinet handle on the outer side of the can crusher, exactly above the place where you have fixed the jar lid. This will give you a good hold over the equipment, when you are crushing cans. Finally your home-made aluminum can crusher is ready.

Instructions for Home-made Aluminum Can Crusher Usage
You can follow these simple instructions to use your hand made aluminum can crusher effectively.

• Place your homemade can crusher either on a table or some hard surface when you use it.
• Take the empty can, which you want to crush, and place it in the jar lid fixed on the bottom board.
• Grip the handle and bring the top board of the crusher on the can and press to crush it.

Recycling is one of the most important step in creating the environment, free of any sort of pollution. You can use this information about how to make an aluminum can crusher to make this handy equipment, which will make your recycling haul compact, and hence easy to transport.