Can crusher pics

LD1 · Sep 12, 2012

Some pics of the can crusher I am making.

The valve set-up is temproary. I have a lever DCV that I am going to use. This was set-up just to test. But has small ports so it dont flow fast enough.

Enjoy:thumbsup:

jlsmith · Sep 12, 2012

Looks nice but also looks expensive lol

LD1 · Sep 12, 2012

Not really. The aluminum was just some scrap drops from the shear, and the cylinder was an old used one that was destined for the trash that I rescued.

Deere Dude · Sep 12, 2012

That brings back memories. :thumbsup::thumbsup:I built one similar to that at work and let the opening hang over the end of my desk. I had quite a few people from all over the factory save their cans and bring them up to be able to put them in and hit the knob and watch it crush a can in half a second and drop into the box. Of course I took the aluminum home. One co-worker was going to catch his can so he put his hand under the chute a little to close and when the ram came back it pinched his finger a good one.:cool2: Nothing broken but got his attention.

PapaPerk · Sep 12, 2012

Make a cut out in the bottom end and the can will fall out after being crushed. :thumbsup: Nice work!

LD1 · Sep 12, 2012

It is cut-out. Notice picture 1. I know its kinda dont look like it cause its setting on a stainless bench. But where the angled VEE shape stops, is the end of the bottom.

This isnt the first one of these I have made. I just bolt them to the workbench, Let the end hang over about 6", and place a barrel underneath. Cans fall out very nicely.:thumbsup:

Cpjlube · Sep 12, 2012

Deere Dude said:
That brings back memories. :thumbsup::thumbsup:I built one similar to that at work and let the opening hang over the end of my desk. I had quite a few people from all over the factory save their cans and bring them up to be able to put them in and hit the knob and watch it crush a can in half a second and drop into the box. Of course I took the aluminum home. One co-worker was going to catch his can so he put his hand under the chute a little to close and when the ram came back it pinched his finger a good one.:cool2: Nothing broken but got his attention.

I was thinking about that when I saw it. Made me imagine a crushed finger. I'm sure it's for personal use so it doesn't matter but a guard would be nice. I can only imagine the things I would have put in that as a child........ Or inebriated younger man.

Chuck

LD1 · Sep 12, 2012

No guards. For personal use only. If I am stupid (or drunk) enough to leave a finger in there and hit the lever, then I deserve what I'll get.:mur:

PapaPerk · Sep 13, 2012

LD1 said:
It is cut-out. Notice picture 1. I know its kinda dont look like it cause its setting on a stainless bench. But where the angled VEE shape stops, is the end of the bottom.

This isnt the first one of these I have made. I just bolt them to the workbench, Let the end hang over about 6", and place a barrel underneath. Cans fall out very nicely.:thumbsup:

ahhh I see it! Duh! Nice! Makes for rapid crushing! :jump:

LD1 · Sep 13, 2012

PapaPerk said:
Makes for rapid crushing! :jump:

It sure does.

And its actually more efficient than one might think. It takes 30 cans to make a pound. And they are bringing ~60-70 cents a pound right now.

My compressor....draws 15A @ 220V. With my power @ 12 cents /kwh, by my math, thats ~$0.40 to run for an hour.

Cycling this thing about 60 times causes the compressor to run for 1 minute to charge up.

So....under a pennys worth of compressed air to crush $1.20-$1.40 worth of cans:thumbsup:

CBW1999 · Sep 13, 2012

That is neat. I'm just curious how big your desk is to have a "doodad" like this on it.......

Curious- is there no nickle deposit on beverage cans where you are? Here in Vermont, those 30 cans would be worth $1.50. Although i like the idea of using less space to store them before returning to the store- they require them to be in original shape.

The stoopid aspect of the deposit law is that- each distributor is responsible for processing. So, if it isn't theirs, they don't want it. Most return centers have huge areas with different bins for each companies products. Takes up a lot of space. Would seem a lot easier if they would accept crushed cans regardless of distributor. Easier to count and less time spent sorting.

jmc · Sep 13, 2012

"Ok, hold my beer CAN and watch this.........."

Dutch445 · Sep 13, 2012

CBW1999 said:
That is neat. I'm just curious how big your desk is to have a "doodad" like this on it.......

Curious- is there no nickle deposit on beverage cans where you are? Here in Vermont, those 30 cans would be worth $1.50. Although i like the idea of using less space to store them before returning to the store- they require them to be in original shape.

The stoopid aspect of the deposit law is that- each distributor is responsible for processing. So, if it isn't theirs, they don't want it. Most return centers have huge areas with different bins for each companies products. Takes up a lot of space. Would seem a lot easier if they would accept crushed cans regardless of distributor. Easier to count and less time spent sorting.

that's a good point, it does make it complicated for the folks that take in the returnables. and in the end they all get crushed anyways. i could see a scale system to count crushed cans!

LD1 · Sep 13, 2012

CBW1999 said:
That is neat. I'm just curious how big your desk is to have a "doodad" like this on it.......

Curious- is there no nickle deposit on beverage cans where you are? Here in Vermont, those 30 cans would be worth $1.50. Although i like the idea of using less space to store them before returning to the store- they require them to be in original shape.

The stoopid aspect of the deposit law is that- each distributor is responsible for processing. So, if it isn't theirs, they don't want it. Most return centers have huge areas with different bins for each companies products. Takes up a lot of space. Would seem a lot easier if they would accept crushed cans regardless of distributor. Easier to count and less time spent sorting.

Nope, no deposit law where I am at. And I am glad we dont have it. Because where they do, you get ZERO for recycling the can. So that 30 pack, cost you an extra buck-fifty to buy. By returning the cans, you just get your buck-fifty back. Whereas by NOT paying the deposit, I get the proceeds as ADDITIONAL.:thumbsup:

jmc said:
"Ok, hold my beer CAN and watch this.........."

BINGO:laughing:

Sledgie · Sep 13, 2012

I used to have a 100 ton hydraulic press that I would crush cans in. It would flatten a can to about .011 thick, then it could be folded and smashed again 2 more times to make a little pie shaped piece about .033 thick. It was mainly to show the local kids groups what you could do with some machinery.

forgeblast · Sep 13, 2012

I stomp them and then throw them in a bag, when I get three bags full, I melt them down using my coal forge and pour them into some molds I have. I just stack them in the barn. This way if i need to cast something I have metal on hand.
Having something to crush the cans tighter would be a big help with storage. Nice Job.

bobm6996 · Sep 13, 2012

One of the things I love about this site; you see everyday americans being at their creative and innovative best, great idea and great job.

flyerdan · Sep 13, 2012

We've got the nickel ransom on cans here in Oregon as well. They did take the return machines out of the individual stores and moved to a location that accepts most brands. The stores didn't care much about the return area and as a result the machines were either always full or inop, the floor was sticky as a **** theater and the ones outside were swarming with yellowjackets and tweakers. At least in the new center the machines work and there aren't any stinging insects. Still plenty of bums and tweakers, but that's just endemic to Oregon.
I've thought about building a crusher before, only I'd use a piston - crankshaft type run by a geared way down electric motor. Add a top feed hopper with a trigger that drop them one at a time and you could walk away and do other things, doesn't matter if it's slow.

LD1 · Sep 13, 2012

flyerdan said:
I've thought about building a crusher before, only I'd use a piston - crankshaft type run by a geared way down electric motor. Add a top feed hopper with a trigger that drop them one at a time and you could walk away and do other things, doesn't matter if it's slow.

A buddy of mine made one of those. It is actually a double crusher. Kinda like the 2-way logsplitters, it crushes both directions. If you can visualize, it is a big flat plate with the "connecting rods" on the outside so the middle is free to crush both ways. It slides along two rods to keep it square.

Still working on a suitable hopper that wont jam and allow only one can in at a time, and allow the next one in squarely and quickly enough:confused2: