How to Turn Army Surplus Ammo Cans into a Handy Chuck Box for Camping

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

thanks for watching

[@mrkultra1655]

Thanks Blackie. They’re like the metal version of the 5 gallon bucket. Uses are only limited by your imagination.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

very true

[@carlericvonkleistiii2188]

I took a .50 caliber ammo can, cut a 2" hole in the end of it, and used silicone caulk to glue a square of tempered glass over the hole. Then I lined the can with foam to fit my video camera so that I could take the camera under water to about 15 feet or strap it on the front of a whitewater kayak. It never leaked.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

cool idea

[@bretjohnson6188]

Excellent use of those ammo cans! I keep a large one screwed to the bed of my pickup towards the tailgate (behind the wheel well). In the summer, camping food goes in it to keep rodents out of it. In the winter, my snow chains go into the can so I don't have to search for them at the worst possible moment.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

they are real handy for that

[@timlacy2284]

Blackie, A Million and One Usages Of AMMO Can .Thanks Again.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

yes there is

[@rancidcrawfish]

Those "mark 19" ammo cans came in handy for our .50 cals. We'd link a few .50 ammo belts together and put them in those big cans and mount them by the gun instead of using the .50 cal cans. The point of that was less reloading

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

thank you for your service

[@mdamon9613]

More bang for the box

[@timlacy2284]

Blackie, Great Information The Things you can do with a Ammo Can is unlimited. I've got several ammo cans. Yes Sir I Greatly Appreciate Your Vast Knowledge and Wisdom That You Share Freely and Passing On The Craft of Bushcrafting and Woodsmans. Thank You Sir. I'm a Silver Wolves myself. Tim L.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

thanks for watching

[@southernlandsolo7839]

I am enjoying the info from the comments almost as much as the video. Great tips and insight.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

thanks for watching

[@robertdodd9623]

The 5 gallon bucket accessories include gamma lids with two o rings . There is also a plunger style lid that has a trigger vacuum release . They also sale padded backpack straps as an accessory. The 5 gallon bucket option is much lighter and more versatile. Good video Blackie

[@PaulDekleva]

Great idea for the ammo cans. I use a 50cal can for my camp lights (LED) and extra lengths of 12 volt cord. I use a step up from the cans as well- modern foot locker (space case) that is rotor-moulded plastic with seals that are waterproof and dust proof for my camping food. Works a treat.

[@ShorebillySanctuary]

Great idea Blackie! Hadn't thought about that, thanks for sharing

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

No problem 👍

[@johncooper1107]

I have used a ammo can as a stove to cook food on and as a tool box. They have a number of uses

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

i have seen them turned into hundreds of useful items in camp

[@knifelore1647]

Blackie you aren't kidding on the bugs! Red ants to me are the worse,and those dang gnats can drive you crazy. An now this was years ago, i was camping with family at Munsion, and during the night woke up to a panther looking in our tent at us through the screen, an when we got up the next morning saw its an a black bear tracks, an more recent we were out dirt road riden between Florala and Andalusia and both saw a large Black panther crossed in front of us. Amazing place to live. Thanks Blackie!

[@davegoodridge8352]

I've never really considered an ammo can, until now. Thanks great information.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

thanks for watching

[@twoowls4469]

Years ago we had a tour company that planned and led corporate canoe / raft trips. We would take an old jeep out through the woods and meet our groups halfway down the river to provide a bbq lunch. We used the big 40mm cans to cart everything except the cold items. Like you, we painted the inside white! I still have a couple of them. Last forever!!! Of course if worst comes to worst... You can clobber an attacker!😊

[@michaelbeams9553]

The white interior is a good idea . Thanks .

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

glad to help

[@eschneider8799]

Good idea Blackie I use a plastic bucket with a round 1" thick piece of walnut glued & scewed to the top, makes great cutting board, seat & makes it safer to use my trangia on it. Cheers 🇨🇦

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

Sounds great!

[@david6920-r6z]

Those things are really cool. I was lucky to score a few larger heavy plastic boxes the 81 mm mortar ammo came in. From memory Singaporean made. Still got 2. 🇺🇸 🇳🇿

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

very cool

[@Strawberry92fs]

Living in Apartments for about a decade now, moving every year or two, I've had to get real acquainted with roaches and other bugs. A consistent problem was my cat's food. So I took one of my old ammo cans, checked it for rust, washed it out real good, and keep her dry food in that. Same idea and works great.

[@Shards-of-Narsil]

Excellent tip.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

Glad you think so!

[@chrishall9208]

I didn’t sprau mine white inside but I painted them the same as the outside. Thanks for sharing brother. You always have a different or better idea to point out.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

glad to help

[@JohnnyHildebrand1969]

Cool idea, Blackie. This resolves a question that I've pondered. Thank you and God bless.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

glad to be of help

[@bushcraftchip]

Great idea Blackie!!!!!

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

thanks

[@redsorgum]

The cans also make great saddle bags/hard cases for motorcycles. ✌️

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

yes they do

[@proctortoad]

Thanks for the tip blackie!

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

You bet!

[@cowtipper6705]

This is a good one.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

thanks

[@57WillysCJ]

Great thoughts, especially painting the inside white. you get 100 points for knowing what a wannigan is. Some people paint the outside in traditional Hudson Bay type colors. By the way you could paint a checker/chess board on the top or inside the lid for simple intertainment. A lot of the small ammo cans are used as a center console. Some even weld small sections of pipe to the top as can/cup/bottle holders.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

true we have made game boards a few time

[@danpost4755]

Great suggestion, Blackie!

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

my pleasure

[@outbackowl3040]

Hi Blackie, greeting from Australia 🇦🇺, thank you for your time to make these videos, great idea . Muchly appreciated.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

thank you for watching

[@michaelnasser8697]

Brilliant idea

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

Thanks a lot

[@jeffrichards5106]

That's awesome, Blackie! I've been searching for the right size food box for solo camping that doesn't take up alot of space in my vehicle. Thanks much, I'll be looking for an ammo can this weekend! 👍👍

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

awesome good luck

[@thomasoverton7131]

Great video Blackie. Thanks for sharing 👍

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

glad to do it

[@susansanchez8789]

I bought those exact cans for a chuck box and a cooking box. I oneiwelded brackets for a drop down shelf on both sides. pop up the shelf and use them for my small cooking stove. still have to paint my box though.

[@apar1560]

Thanks Blackie... very helpful !!! 👌 ...Alan in 🇨🇱

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

Glad it was helpful!

[@MichaelR58]

Good video Blackie, thanks for sharing, God bless !

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

Thank you too

[@sandersjones1577]

Thank you Blackie for the tips

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

glad to do it

[@thewheelchairprepper8070]

Excellent video. Thank you for sharing.👍👍👍👍👍

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

thank you for watching

[@mikebsbd]

Excellent video. Thank you for sharing.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@LockBits-ts6eo]

Good one!

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

Thanks for listening

[@grampabuckshot402]

One of my brothers worked for a factory that made the Low Velocity 4omm grenades and he got permission to take some old rusty boxes home....we replaced the seals and sand paperd the rust off and repainted them and they are as good as new......they will probally faimly heirlooms in the future.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

they will

[@hagman1077]

Good Evening- Those ammo cans are tough as nails, but I dont miss carrying them with packed with ammo because they get heavy real quick. As you stated, they are great storage containers. They container you have, used to hold 40MM MK-19 grenades on belts. Id rather buy a few ammo cans, instead of spending a ridiculous price on a Yeti container. Good video and have a good weekend- Carry On-

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

thank you for your service

[@joebazooka-w7k]

Thanks for sharing these great ideas

[@roberting5288]

This is an awesome idea. I was wondering though, if I use the can to store food like biscuits and nuts for a couple weeks if I should put a desiccant pack inside to remove any trapped moisture inside the can? As always, Blackie you have provided excellent tips and I appreciate you sharing your knowledge. It’s even because of the videos you did on the M-65 that I de-mothballed my decades old jacket and am using it as part of my regular gear. Thanks.

[@randybeeson3424]

Great idea! Especially for my overnight kayak trips which by the way, is the best method of camping without being bothered by others.

[@alf3553]

Great info as usual, awesome idea using it as a food box. I used an ammo box for many years with my 4 wheeler but that’s long gone. A good one is so hard to get here 🇨🇦 so I still only have one.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

kaufmans has them and they will ship 334-898-1770

[@toneyjohnson8910]

Great use of used Military gear. Sorry I did not know about you camp a week or so ago. See you soon.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

we will share a fire again my friend

[@miked7666]

Good idea

[@hiramhaji7813]

Great information

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

Glad you think so!

[@moik2747]

I learned from another Survivalist to paint or get survival gear containers that R Hi visibility Orange. The reason is bcuz one time when they were on a Rafting Expedition the Raft flipped over and the gear that wasn't tied down either sank or floated away down river. The Raft was ruined, so they were on foot and started to gather gear that was most important and that was the stuff that was Hi visibility Orange which meant of high importance survival gear. Some gear floated down river and was easily spotted and some gear was at the bottom of the river which was easily spotted due to WHAT the hi visibility Orange which also had strips of Hi luminance tape around it for night time spotting with a flashlight. They survived with the gear that they found till they were rescued . 🙏🤞👌👍👍🙋😃

[@Captain-Electro]

That's a pretty good idea 💡 👍

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

Thanks 👍

[@smoothvern165]

Great tip! Very useful and so sturdy.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

It sure is!

[@greywuuf]

We used to have a couple with a pad on the top to use as seats in the MH60's

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

i have seen pad mad for that to use in a deer blind

[@w4ame]

I need to paint mine white inside, I like that idea Blackie. I have stickers from companies I like and KZbin channels I watch plastered all over the outside of my fat .50 can. I’m always on the hunt for more stickers🤷‍♂️😂

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

sounds good

[@trynsurviven2440]

If you have ever been camping and not encountered a raccoon or some type of critter in the night then, you’re either one of the lucky ones or you’ve never really been camping.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

very true i have had coons rain ice boxes many times

[@terrystockstill251]

thank you

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

your welcome

[@royc.ssgt.8787]

This is a great video blackie I actually have several of these cans I use for storage. to make it as a chuckbox is a really good one. I think I'm going to do that with one of mine. You should also try a mermite can I have a couple of those as well and they work well too. in a pinch you can use it as a cooler. when I deployed to Iraq I found one of these mermite cans without the pots in them and it's insulated and I used it for small bottles of Gatorade I would just get ice from the dfac once a week and change the ice in it and it kept everything nice and cold. They usually come with 2 pots in it with gaskets and lids.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

thank you for your service and i will think about that thanks for the info

[@royc.ssgt.8787]

@@BLACKIETHOMAS You're welcome. I probably have a few more under my sleeve. I did 7 years in the army with the 10th mountain unit in the 172nd Mount infantry as a mountain truck driver before that 3 years in the Navy on submarines and after the army 15 in the Air Force in a combat communication squadron. I medically retired with 25 years total due to an accident and injury on active duty. I'm 54 now and still enjoy camping. Just have to use a little more comfort like home to enjoy it more. You know what I mean. lol

[@seanpolus4873]

Great idea!! How about with national park do they allow them as bear canisters?

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

not sure

[@carmenmartinez2882]

I don’t think so, I just came back from Yosemite, up to $5,000 fine for not storing food in the bear box but they can fit easily and slide out of the bear box. Outside of National parks might be ok but I’m not sure they’re bear proof. Still a great idea though.

[@snappers_antique_firearms]

I have a lot of memories with Those 40mm grenade ammo boxes for the mark19. we used them Instead of the normal 100 round 50 cal ammo boxes On the turret of our m2 50 cal machine guns. We could now fire 250 rounds before needing to reload. Compared to the normal 100 rounds.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

thank you for your service

[@snappers_antique_firearms]

@blackoracle69 lol you don't have to think me . I got 5 funs years that I got to travel and break stuff at the expense of American taxpayers. I should be thinking you guys for the opportunity

[@Daniel_Richardson]

Hey Blackie, can you tell me what kind of hat you got on? I really like your hat, I wanted to buy something like it. The hat that I already have looks too formal for me, and I thought maybe a brown hat, with more of a curved rim, would look so much better with what I usually wear

[@edwinklaver]

Good stuff

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

Thanks for the visit

[@jimnjele.bean-dayone3505]

Love the chuck box idea....but I am skeptical of the cans ability to float..he's rectangley and has a bit o weight so I do not belive he'll float....

[@efuller6770]

My ground doesn't move with insects but we are talking about going camping or doing more traveling Tennessee and South in the future and its not a horrible idea with or without legions of ants. Ammo cans have often been called manly Tupperware, and while I have never used it for this I think it might be an excuse to buy a couple more cans lol

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

the stack well serve as stool in camp ect

[@nomadmarauder-dw9re]

Insects? Think bears.

[@richwallace4632]

I use the size that’s wider to keep my black powder in.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

nice

[@ajantis007]

Hey Blackie, Where can I get a hat like yours?

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

it is a boy scout exploriers scoutmaster hat i am told bsa still sells them in the scouthuts

[@FredFreiberger-pk6wc]

I made 50 cal cans into saddle bags on a motorcycle once 😂

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

i have seen those they look cool paint a white star on the od green fuel tank

[@JoeCool-mj1so]

Not a bad idea. Kinda like a bear box.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

exactly but a lot cheaper

[@tenminutetokyo2643]

You can also turn them into semi-auto turrets.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

DUDE!!

[@greywuuf]

Vaseline is fairly inocuos BUT it is still a pertroleum product and can degrade many types of "rubber" seals. ...you are better off using something like silicon spray

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

very true

[@bretjohnson6188]

I typically use silicone based grease purchased at the local hardware store.

[@danflaherty5218]

Are ammo cans bear proof?

[@carmenmartinez2882]

Maybe but those guys are super smart and strong but perhaps I’m wrong. I’d like to try it since I camp in bear country all the time that’ll be great.

[@camojoe83]

Considering the chemistry used to preserve ammo in storage and whatnot, I would definitely think twice about using an ammo can for food. Most of them say right on them, especially the artillery fuse boxes, *"DO NOT USE CONTAINER FOR FOOD OR COOKING"* Considering the toxicity of tracer compounds, primers, initiator explosives, etc... I'd believe them.

[@carmenmartinez2882]

What about if you get a new one? Would it be food safe? What are your thoughts?

[@camojoe83]

@@carmenmartinez2882 now that I don't know about. I suppose if it's not had anything in it, then it would be as fine as the paint and gasket would allow it. If I were using new ones, I'd be more comfortable with bagging everything tightly before storing it inside. Used ones tho... No. Not a chance. Gear and ammo only.

[@misolgit69]

Interesting coincidence I was reading an online article about historic mess kits after describing the Imperial German Army issue which served through WW 1 there was a quotable line, new recruits would look at this lumpish clanking piece of metal and wonder what they're supposed to do with it, once they reached the trenches however....they quickly realised with proper use they had dust,mud, insect and rat resistant storage for their rations, more or less just what you said atb Bill

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

yep when you in bug /mud /rain a sealed ammo can is worth gold

[@mdamon9613]

I made a wood burning stove out of a fat 20mm ammo box 4" flue w/ a damper

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

very nice

[@ParaBellum282]

I guess I'll be that guy who challenges the wisdom of getting in the habit of using an ammo can to sit up close to the fire.

[@kylewilkinson6975]

If you camp in the backwoods away from lawnchairs and cook on a campfire, not a BBQ pit then you know exactly what Blackie is talking about.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

lol just be sure the can had beans not bullets in it

[@Dagreenberg68]

Oh my God, Bobby Hill grew up

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

lol

[@helenbowen6259]

Good Idea BUT DO NOT PAINT the inside. i did paint paint the inside 5 years ago and it still stinks. Food was bad. But all the ideas other than painting inside are great and it does keep critters out. I love mine new one. Not painting inside i did the outside. Love your channel