Can Crusher ?

[Roundrocktom]

At least in Texas, if you come down the drive... better not plan on steeling anything. My wife keep asking when I am going to have our 200' driveway paved. Simple, never. Any sound wakes the dog, which wakes me. I'm not a pretty sight during the day, let alone if someone wakes me at three am.

Back to the can crusher:

Hunt around and use scrap metal. Rusty scrap is good.

Can's are about 2 3/4" diameter. Pipe with 3" inside diameter will work.

Plunger to fit inside of the above pipe. Overall about 8" of pipe, 14"
of plunger. Bottom 6" of the pipe is cut away... about 200 degrees. Keeps a can from getting pinched by the sides if you made the opening only 180 degrees. Bottom plate on the pipe can have a 2 degree angle towards the back. Keeps can from falling out.

Mechanical advantage. The plunger will move about 6" (Can is about 5" tall). Have your six year old hold his arm up high, then bring it low. Probably about a 24" movement. Your pivot point will 6" back from the center of the can. Crusher arm then is about 24" long. Give the kid a good advantage on his weight.

Perhaps a return spring (screen door type) to lift up the lever so he can put in the next can.

I can think of a whole bunch of ways to add "can eject" and other things, but simple is best. Main issue is to make sure he can not get pinched by anything (advantage in the mechanical arm length is he hast to stand back from the crusher).

Mount the whole contraption on the walls (sturdy) inside the shop/garage. Ideal area allows everything to hose down to keep bug downs and shop clean (after a 100 cans of mountain dew looks like you spilled a full one).

Alternate, mount to a wide board (kid can stand on the board) while crushing, and big enough the thing doesn't fall over). Check to see hand clears everything.

Oh... if you google "can crusher" and hit image.... it should give you more ideas. I like the "auto feed" one. Save it for when they are 12.

[randydupree]

i kinda like keeping it simple too,also then maybe he/she can dream up a better way.so i would start with a BFH.let them smash em with the hammer,then see if they can improve on that!
Randy

[MPK]

I don't have any plans but I have a pic of one I made a few years ago. It will do about 50 cans a minute.

[Bolt]

I like this type:

http://tesladownunder.iinet.net.au/CanCrushing.htm


I'll bet your neighbors would love it too.

[randydupree]

now thats some high tech can crushing!
cool!
Randy

[LeonS]

Here are a couple, one is a commercial, the other is one I copied from another forum. We have one similar to the commercial but the handle is from the bottom and rises to smash the can, plastic contruction, I'll try to get a pic or two tomorrow.
Good luck
L*S

[petersenj20]

http://www.irontoart.com/can%20crusher1.JPG

This is from Iron2Art's (weld talk)web site.

[LeonS]

Originally Posted by LeonS

Here are a couple, one is a commercial, the other is one I copied from another forum. We have one similar to the commercial but the handle is from the bottom and rises to smash the can, plastic contruction, I'll try to get a pic or two tomorrow.
Good luck
L*S

Here is the third design which as I said is a commercial rig. Cans may be loaded in the chute or flip the plunger out load a can and mash singles.
Good luck
L*S

[grizzley30814]

I got the crusher built and it is working fine. I will post some pics this weekend.

Thanks for all the ideas.

He is enjoying it.