Altoid tin care

[Clint Simpson]

For the Altoids kits, how does one prevent the tin from getting all scratched up and the paint scraped off? I am limited in the pockets I can have on my clothes so the tin ends up in the same pocket as my keys

 

[Callahan]

Well, you can go in my direction and remove the paint. I like the look of the tin "in the buff". Give the inside of the lid a bright polish for a signal mirror in a pinch if you like. Paint remover is fastest for the first strip then use a Scotch Brite pad for polish after the scratches show up.

 

[clipiteer]

Are they like a collector's item or something? Or do you just want to make sure it doesn't fall apart? Anyway, if you don't want the tin to get scratched up in your pocket, you can have a tin you carry all the time and just empty the altoids from the new tin into it, so only one gets scratched up, or you can even carry them in a Ziploc bag.

 

[Brian_T]

Clint,

One way to avoid rubbing off the paint would be to wrap your tape and paracord around the outside of the tin. It'll save space inside for other goodies too.

 

[clipiteer]

Whoops, missed your survival kit thread. I guess I can't help you much, then, but if you want to save more space, use paracord for your shoelaces. Also, if you break a popsicle stick in half and wrap the tape around it, it saves space. Hope this helps.

 

[Clint Simpson]

OK, my kit is more a daily carry/use/nice-to-have carry-all. It hold things like paper, pen, ear-plugs, when I go to a hi-noise area without stopping to get earmuffs, etc. So taping it shut does not help me. The reason I care about he looks is basicly "Why look like a redneck if you don't have to?" I don't eat altoids that often for I'm not about to rotate tins each week, but once a month seems good. If I have a hot date, I'll just switch early. It is not really a big deal, I was just curious if there was an easy way to keep the outside tin nice. Being a gadget freak is one thing, being a gadget freak with beat up gear is another.

Ever haer the story about the town with two barbers? One has a good, clean haircut, the other looks like a dog used his hair for a chew toy. So who to you have cut your hair? Most people say the clean-cut guy until I mention that you don't often cut your own hair! So it looks like Mr. Scruffy knows what he is doing after all. I tend to look at gear the same way. If it is too clean, the guy using it knows more about cleaning it that working it to its full potential. People still spend more more for the spit-and-polish. Go figure.