You’ve probably used aluminum foil for everything from wrapping your food to keeping it warm, but you probably haven’t considered using it to make a knife. Luckily, a YouTuber is on to this idea and has shown us how to turn a roll of ordinary foil into a razor sharp kitchen blade.
Heat the foil
Using a standard roll of aluminum foil, YouTube user kiwami japan (previously at Boing Boing) shows us how to turn it into a handy kitchen knife. The result is a sharp, sturdy blade that can cut cucumbers like a pro.
But there are a few things you should know about aluminum foil before making this homemade weapon. First, it’s not the best choice for cooking in the microwave, since it is a metal and can burn easily.
You should also avoid overusing aluminum foil, which may lead to toxic levels of the metal. High temperatures and acidic foods can cause the metal to leach out of the foil and into your food.
While this is not a problem with all foils, it’s important to choose high-quality ones that are made of the right metal and won’t leak or tear. This way, you can save time and money while still enjoying the convenience of wrapping your food in a durable, easy-to-use package.
Hammer the foil
A roll of aluminum foil can be turned into a knife with a little hammering and heat. In this video from YouTube user Kiwami Japan, he layers sheets of foil to create a makeshift blade that’s as sharp as anything you’d find in the kitchen.
First, he takes the entire roll of foil and flattens it using a hammer. He then heats it over the stove and re-flattens it.
Once he’s satisfied that the metal is as dense as possible, he cuts it into the shape of a chef’s knife with a hand saw. Once he’s happy with the shape, he sands the edges and sharpens it with a series of whetstones.
Kiwami has shown us how to turn chocolate, dried fish and pasta into knives in the past, so this isn’t the first time he’s created something from aluminum foil. And as you’ll see, it’s a pretty impressive process. We hope you’ll check it out!
Shape the foil
You can make a knife out of aluminum foil, and it’s surprisingly easy. All you need is a roll of it, some hot flame and some unpowered hand tools.
It’s not quite as labor-intensive as you might think, and it works well for anyone who doesn’t have access to sharpening media. You can also use the foil to shape other items, including a ball for scrubbing pots and pans.
The foil can be shaped into an oval, a circle, or any other shape you want. To do this, simply roll up the foil into a cylinder and twist it.
After you’ve rolled it up, hammer it flat to get rid of any crinkling. Next, shape it into a ring.
You can cut it with scissors, or you can use a serrated machine knife to create a smooth ring. The latter method will give you better results and requires less effort.
Sharpen the foil
If you’re a DIY person and have aluminum foil on hand, there are a few surprising uses for it. Besides keeping food warm and covering dishes, you can sharpen scissors with it too.
Popular Mechanics says that the foil “effectively scours” and cleans the blades, removing dust, grime, and residue that might have built up and inhibited their cutting ability. However, this method isn’t perfect and won’t work on extremely dull blades, notes Craft Space Ideas.
This technique can also be used to sharpen kitchen scissors, although it’s a bit more difficult to achieve results. It involves folding a sheet of foil several times until it’s thick enough to cut through.