Purchase the tin tobacco lids. Tin tobacco lids are sold in specialty Native American craft supply catalogs. Tin lids can also be collected from chewing tobacco cans; inquire with a tobacco shop about purchasing tin tobacco can lids.
Trim off the metal rims of the tin lids that you collected with the metal cutting scissors. Cut the metal rims using smooth scissor strokes. This will create fewer jagged edges for you to file down later on. This step will not be needed if you purchase tin lids with the rims already removed.
File the rims to smooth them of any sharp or jagged metal. File the metal edges by directing the file outward away from the body. Do not use a back and forth sawing motion when filing metal. This step will not be needed if you purchase tin lids with the rims already removed.
Grasp the tin lid with the needle-nose pliers on one edge. Roll the tin lid inward, making a cone shape. Ensure that one end of the tin lid is smaller than the other.
Punch a hole in the tin lid toward the small end of the cone with the metal or tin punch and hammer. Alternately, if you have an old screwdriver, you can use it instead of a metal or tin punch to perforate the end of the tin cones.