Punched tin ceiling tiles can be trimmed to shape with a sharp pair of tin snips and used to make pinwheels, wastebaskets, tissue box covers and fireplace screens, among other things. Pinwheels can be used to shoo birds and small animals from your garden. Store-bought fireplace screens can be expensive, but they are not always effective at keeping ash and sparks from blowing off the hearth and onto your rugs or floors.
Pinwheels
Pinwheels are an easy project for beginners. You will need a measuring tape and black marker to make a template for each item. Sharpen your tin snips before you begin, so that all your cuts will be smooth and uniform. Don heavy leather gloves and wrap-around eye protection too. If your ceiling tiles have been painted white, they may be contaminated with lead. Lead-paint test kids are available at home improvement stores. Use the procedures outlined by the Consumer Product Safety Commission to remove or encapsulate surfaces that have been painted with lead-based paint.
Mark a diagonal line from each corner to within 1 inch of the center point of your tin ceiling tile. Use a punch to make a small, round hole in the corner to the right of each cutting line, plus one in the center of the tile. Beginning at the top left corner, fold the corners to the center point and line up all of the holes. Put a fender washer with a ¼-inch diameter hole on a ¼-inch L-shaped threaded rod. Push the shaft through all five holes. Add a second fender washer and cap with an acorn nut. If you have trouble enlarging the image that accompanies this step, try the pinwheel template at PinwheelsforPeace.com
Wastebaskets
It takes three tin ceiling tiles to make two wastebaskets. Cut one ceiling tile in half for your bottoms. Grind off any burrs to make a smooth surface. Bend a second ceiling tile to fit around the base, with about 1/2-inch overlap. Use a bending brake to fold over 1/4 inch down the right and left sides of the wastebasket top. Bend the right side up, to the left, and the left side down, and to the right. This will allow you to link the left and right sides together. Crimp the two ends together. Use a propane torch and 95/5 lead-free solder to attach each bottom to the wastebasket tops.
Tissue Box Cover
One ceiling tile will make four tissue box covers. Cut along the solid lines on the tissue box cover template to make the tissue opening and the side tabs. Fold along the dotted lines. Crimp along each end of the tissue box with a pair of pliers. Use lead-free solder along the seams to ensure that your tissue box cover stays together.
The tissue box template by Lara Cameron, given in the Resources, was created as a sewing project, but the templates given can be used on your tin if you have any trouble with the template that accompanies this step.
Fireplace Screen
Use a pop rivet gun to attach piano hinges to the right and left sides of one of your tin ceiling tiles. Attach a second tin ceiling tile to the right side, using a pop rivet at the top and bottom corners of the tile. Attach a third tin ceiling tile to the left side, at the top and bottom corners. If desired, for added strength, use 1/4-inch long, 1/4-inch diameter machine screws and hex nuts to attach the tiles at the center point and a point between each corner and the center of the piano hinge. Store flat, and open the sides to a 45-degree angle in front of the fireplace. The punched pattern in the tin allows firelight to shine through, making a relaxing dance.
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