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Object Culture

Brilliant Design for a Gas Can: The SureCan

Innovative features vastly improve the UX

By Rain Noe - July 12, 2018

Now relocated to farm country, I recently needed to gas up a lawn tractor. I went to Lowes to purchase a gas can. I grabbed the standard $20 one, which looks like this:

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But next to it I spotted another gas can, listed for an absurd $50, that looked like this:

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I couldn't understand why this one cost more than double, and set the other can down to take a closer look. A sticker on the side demonstrated how to use it, and it did indeed appear innovatively designed. Since Lowes has a pretty liberal return policy, I left the $20 can on the shelf and purchased the $50 one to try it out.

After a trip to the gas station I returned to the farm and learned that the SureCan, as it's called, works amazingly well. Here's what it looks like in action:

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Using it was incredibly easy, and I won't be taking it back. Hoisting and aiming the thing was simple, and the trigger works perfectly, allowing you to dispense with precision.

I looked into it and the SureCan was invented by general contractor and cabinetmaker Brad Ouderkirk, who "spent a lot of his time filling gas powered machines and constantly spilling all over his expensive equipment." Ouderkirk spent four years designing the SureCan, building his own prototypes out of wood and plastic. Here's a closer look at the design, development of and need for the SureCan:

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One of our favorite types of stories is when someone looks at an established, tried-and-true object that everyone takes for granted, then figures out how to improve it. Congratulations to Ouderkirk for not only designing it, but successfully bringing it to market.

Object Culture

Rain Noe

Rain Noe is a writer and industrial designer based in New York City.

3 Comments

Daniel Puariea

10 months ago

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In the traditional gas can when dirt gets in, and it will, it settles at the bottom of the can. As long as you don't completely empty the can (which I never do) dirt will remain at the bottom. I see a possible issue with dirt coming out of this new style can and entering the tank you are filling since the filling nozzle is at the bottom of the can. Maybe install a filter at the filling port of the can could resolve any dirt entering the can.

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Nick McDonald

10 months ago

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I redesigned the humble gas can for a first year industrial design project at university! I remember focusing on keeping the weight of the fuel load central and ensuring the users wrists are able to maintain a 'power grip' position throughout the entire 'filling' motion. This design looks like it works well!

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Marc B

10 months ago

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Leaks would be bad (if not catastrophic), I would not trust the dispensing arm. Many of these designs are necessitated by the stupid vapor lock required by EPA regulations. Those vapor lock spouts may be fine for filling a horizontal gas tank opening (e.g. a car), but they absolutely fail when filling a vertical gas tank opening (e.g. most outdoor equipment). I have spilled more gas with those cans and released a lot more gas vapor than I would have with a simple spout. A simple and cheap solution is to buy a "water" can, label it abundantly, and use it for gas. If you worried about the environment, make sure you cap it properly when not in use.

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