Hi All!

I know...odd title for a subject name, but here is my problem:

I have a Chop Beer Can which I love to use, but I find the mouth diameter is too small for my preferred final load. Does anybody know how I may enlarge the opening of the can (it is made out of a real aluminum beer can)? Or, if not, any ideas where I might take it to have it enlarged for me?

Thanks for any help!

Best,

Sandy

Sandy, I used to make my own beer can chop cups, since the pk ring ive stopped making them. my final loads ended up being billard balls. I used a bench top grinder to open the bottoms up. this took some practice and patience and most importantly safety as the can could snag on the wheel. this is hard to explain, but ill try, you place the opening against the wheel and rotate the can, try to do this evenly and not to slow, after a couple of turns you'll notice a flat edge will form, take a round file and pull out this as you turn the can, then use a fine wool pad and smooth out the edges. the openings of my cans were on the bottom of the cans not the pull tab end. this was done because the opening could be wider than the pull tab end also, making the opening to big will make the cans opening and sides weak and less sturdy. any questions? hope this helps Jeff

Thanks Jeff!
Actually, my can is open on the pull tabe end so it has the nice formed lip around the edge. I was hoping there was some way to enlarge it and still keep the lip. But your ginder ideas is interesting. Perhaps I can cut down the edge and try to form a new lip around the cut edge somehow.
Thanks!
Sandy

Sounds like you could use a large cone shaped object to gently flare-form a new opening. Not sure how it would work on the pull tab end with the ridge, that will make it tougher to do I think,but if you did the bottom, and needed it wider a wee bit, a large wodden cone shape, or metal one (talk to a blacksmith) could be used to shape the opening. (You could also see if it will chuck into a lathe, the use a wood block to gently flare the opening.)

You might try a tool from harbor freight that flares out pipes for car mufflers. Can't remember what it is called but they come in different sizes.
Ray

Thanks, everyone, for your suggestions.
Ray, I checked the Harbor Freight site and only saw something to flare smaller pipe sizes. I'll keep looking though. I'll also try someone who works with air ducts and ventilation and see if they have any ideas.
Thanks, again!
Sandy

Changing over to a Fosters beer can will do the trick too, and they look nice

That's an excellent idea, why didn't I think of that.
Now, does anybody know if they make a Fosters chop beer can, or do I need to do it myself?
Sandy

I would try to do it myself. Even if I had to go through dozens of cans of beer before I got it right.

I,ve made them for a while, I ended up using the Heineken keg can, the chrome look of the can was nice. pm me your e-mail and ill send you some pics. Itried to post some here but, had problems w/ the uploading. My routine ended up w/ me opening the can and pouring the beer in a glass. Jeff