How to Make Robots Out of Tin Cans

Sardines cans work great for the body of your tin can robot

Tin can robots are a science fiction classic. Originally popularized by low-budget science fiction movies during the 1950s and 1960s, this vision of the clunky but powerful mechanical man is still one of the most recognizable robot types. It is also one of the easiest to build on your own.

Things You'll Need

• Tin cans
• Epoxy
• Nuts and bolts
• Circuit components
• Tin snips
• Bendy straw
• Paint
• Mason jar lids
• Other scraps
• Various tools

Instructions

1. Pick out tin cans for the body and head of your tin can robot and remove the labels. Try to find two cans of different sizes and shapes to create a contrast. For example, you could use a narrow sardine can for the body and a tuna fish can for the head.

2. Make the face. One way to do this is to glue nuts and bolts onto the head of your tin robot for eyes and a mouth. You could also use chips, capacitors and other electronic components from an old circuit board for facial features. Either way, you should be able to attach them with epoxy. When you are done, glue the head onto the body of the tin can robot.

3. Make arms and legs. See what scraps you have lying around for this, and try to let your imagination run wild. One way to make legs is to cut a soda can in half with tin snips and attach them to the bottom of the robot with a slight gap between the two halves. You can make arms out of bendy straws covered in metallic paint, broken kitchen utensils or other odds and ends.

4. Make wide feet. If your tin can robot doesn't stand on his own, glue his legs to lids from mason jars. These should be wide enough to balance your tin robot.

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