Soda Can Radio Antenna

If your radio/tv's antenna is broken/ short/ inadequate, here is a cheap, quick, and effective way of fixing it, using just one soda can. 

...and yes, it really does work (quite well actually). I had radio channels go from static to clean music (clean as in sound quality). Also, it looks a lot nicer than an aluminum foil fix. 

You will need:

1 Aluminum Can (empty and rinsed out)
A pair of scissors
An item with a hard round point (like the end/cap of a pen or marker)

Cut the top off the can first

Next, cut the can in a spiral fashion.

Then cut the bottom off. 

...and yes, the jagged edges are sharp.

Nows where the obscure "blunt sharp object" comes into play.

Press hard on the aluminum strip and drag it across, making a line down the center.


Now that the strip is straighter, you can trim the edges with scissors. Try to trim one continuous piece...having small bits of sharp aluminum scattered around would be annoying.  

Cut the bottom flat and the top however you like (mine's just round)

Now carefully crease the strip about 90 degrees (see photo).

Then, using a needle nose pliers or your fingers, roll the bottom inch in. (see other photo). It should be able to grip around whats left of the original antenna.