How To: Turn a mint tin into a mini speaker

Entertain your friends by turning your traditional personal headphones into a mini loud speaker with just an old mint tin and a playing card. This might not be the most advanced or prettiest way of listening to music but sure is a fun way to kill some time.

When it comes to fresh breath, you're always covered, but when you want to rock out to your music, you're woefully unprepared. Try this minty fresh solution.

You Will Need

  * Headphones
  * Needle-nose pliers
  * Metal tin
  * Playing card
  * Pencil
  * Pin
  * Duct tape or super glue
  * Awl
  * Scissors

Step 1: Take apart the headphones

Make sure the headphones are ones that go over, not in, your ears. Use pliers to remove the casing and foam padding around your headphones, leaving just the speakers. Check that they fit side by side in your mint tin.

Step 2: Poke holes in the card

Line up the mini speakers on the back of the playing card and trace them to remember the placement. Then, take them off and use a pin to poke small holes in the card where the speakers will be.

Step 3: Tape the speakers

Duct tape or glue the speakers to the card, making sure the speaker ends face down and line up with the holes.

Step 4: Thread the headphone cable

With your awl, make a hole on the back of the mint tin, close to one of the shorter edges, then thread the headphone wire through it.

Make sure the hole doesn't leave any jagged metal, which can rub against the wire and damage it.

Step 5: Trim the playing card

Trim the playing card to fit in the tin. If your headphones came with foam padding, place it in first to cushion the speakers. Then, place the card inside, gluing it in place if you need to.

Step 6: Plug into your MP3 player

Plug the cable into your favorite handheld music player, prop open your tin, and get rockin'!

Altoids introduced their distinctive metal cases in the 1920s in England, where the tins were seen as a "gentlemanly accessory.