Used to be that vintage oil cans, or petroliana as they are called by collectors, were the stuff you threw away after servicing your car. You’d find them in the back of garages, on the side of the highway, or all over the dump. But now, these little bits of metal that are considered part of our everyday heritage are considered collector’s items. And these collectors are looking for original and unusual ways to display these cans. And why not? Vintage oil cans are original and unusual things to collect in themselves!

Of course, those vintage oil cans found in mint condition (unopened ones are considered pure gold in the collector’s world) like those with minimal rust damage, small or no dings, and only a few scratches in the paint, and especially those that have mascots on them, or are from small oil companies deserve to be displayed with pride. It’s very unusual to find such everyday items, especially those considered as unimportant as an ordinary paint can, in good condition, and they deserve to be put front and center.

However, formal display cases look incongruous with the paint can, and are definitely out of place in an informal, country-themed family room, so choose simple wood or, if you like, aluminum shelving or a specialized rack put in a prominent place to display the cans in a row. Remember, though, to keep the cans away from any heat source like a radiator or open fire place since there still may be residual traces of the chemicals inside despite the rinsing and soaping you should do before display. You don’t want your collection to be a source of a potentially tragic accident.

Other vintage oil cans may be more damaged than the rest. The more common ones (like cans from a big oil company; for example Mobil or Texaco) or those that have some rust on them can be used in more original ways. These involve a bit of destruction, however, so be sure to check online first for the can’s value before you put a pair of metal shears to your can!

The tops and bottoms can be removed and the flat metal part used to make a “painting.” Clean off the backs of the cans with denatured alcohol and, using construction adhesive, place the glued side of the metal onto a clean piece of plywood. Use a construction roller to eliminate any air pockets and clamp the metal pieces to the plywood using flat rubber ties and clamps for the recommended time specified. It’s quite a bit of work, but the result is a one-of-a-kind display piece of vintage oil can for your family room.