Metal Can Disco Light

This article shows a typical hole light toy. Similar lights are made for Halloween.

I have made the following disco toy shown in this photo:

I used a tuna metal tin can. You do not have to use a metal can. You can use paper or plastic cups.

You can see a video of my toy working:

Step 1: Wash the Can

Be careful when you wash the can. Do it slowly. The can is sharp.

Step 2: Bend Sharp Edges

Bend sharp edges with pliers:

Step 3: Make the Holes

It is important that you use a nail or sharp object and hammer it in with hammer or pliers even if you are using cups made from materials other than metal tins. You do not need to apply strong force.

Turn the can upside down as shown in the photo and press on the holes with pliers or hammer.

Step 4: Connect Light Bulb

I used a small/cheap 1.5 V light bulb. You really need a bright light for this toy. A small/cheap light bulb or a dim bright LED is not suitable for this particular application as you will see in my other photos of this article. You can try using a bigger 1.5 V Edison screw light bulb or a few light bulbs connected in parallel.

A typical 1.5 V Edison screw light bulb consumes 0.3 A. Thus four light bulbs connected in parallel will consume 0.3 A * 4 = 1.2 Amps. Do not connect 1.5 V batteries in parallel unless you are sure that those batteries have an almost matched voltage. You can also try connecting both 1.5 V batteries and 1.5 V light bulbs in series to achieve a brighter light or connect multiple light bulbs and batteries separately. You can use 12 V car light bulbs and 9 V/12 V batteries.

Step 5: Insert Light

The tuna can that I used is about 200 grams in size. However, you do not need to use a C battery. You can use AA or even AAA batteries that might fit inside a 100 gram tuna can or even small sardines can.

Later you will that I decided not to waste any more money on ordering a bright LED or a brighter light bulb online and used my old front light bike torch.

Step 6: Testing with Small Holes

This photo shows how dim my small 1.5 V light bulb really is:

Step 7: Widen Holes

I widened holes with a screw driver. You can use scissors. Do it slowly. At times I also cut my self when I work with metal cans.

Step 8: Hang the Tuna Can

I used blue tack to attach the can to top of my small cupboard. You can even make a stand from 2 mm thickness metal wire or wooden/metal/cardboard rods.