Home Repair forum - Where to get old pots tinned

Author

Where to get old pots tinned

Aaron Fude

2008-02-26, 3:25 am

Hi,

We own a number of very old copper pots that we would very much like
to use. However, back when they were made, they used lead in solder. I
have heard (from chefs who use them) that it is safe to use them if
one gets them tinned. Any thoughts on where I could have done? What
would that trade be called?

Thanks!

Aaron

Robert Allison

2008-02-26, 3:25 am

trader4@optonline.net

2008-02-26, 9:25 am

On Feb 26, 2:27=A0am, Robert Allison <rimsho...@verizon.net> wrote:
> Aaron Fude wrote:
>
>
>
>
> I call it metal plating. =A0Look under metal plating in the phonebook.
>
> http://www.generalplating.com/processes.htm
>
> --
> Robert Allison
> Rimshot, Inc.
> Georgetown, TX

I've seen lots of copper pots, but never any with solder. What
exactly are they supposed to have used solder for in a copper pot?
For one obvious thing, one would think lead solder could start to
soften at temps that a pot might occasionally experience firing up on
a hot burner.

John McGaw

2008-02-26, 9:25 am

Aaron Fude wrote:
> Hi,
>
> We own a number of very old copper pots that we would very much like
> to use. However, back when they were made, they used lead in solder. I
> have heard (from chefs who use them) that it is safe to use them if
> one gets them tinned. Any thoughts on where I could have done? What
> would that trade be called?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Aaron

It is a common service which should be offered in most large cities. The
reason for the in lining in copper pots has nothing to do with solder
and everything to do with the reaction of acidic foods with the copper
itself. You can probably find a company to do re-tinning by contacting
companies which provide cookware and services to the restaurant industry.

Take a look here:

http://www.retinning.com/care.html

--
John McGaw
[Knoxville, TN, USA]
http://johnmcgaw.com

Roger Shoaf

2008-02-26, 1:25 pm

If there is lead based solder in a cooking pot why risk the health of your
friends and family? If it has lead use it for a decoration and buy a lead
free pot.

If there is no lead, then go ahead and get it replaced with tin.

--
Roger Shoaf
If you are not part of the solution, you are not dissolved in the solvent.

"Aaron Fude" <aaronfude@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:04822569-6f1b-4719-b56f-431a01d0c195@62g2000hsn.googlegroups.com...
> Hi,
>
> We own a number of very old copper pots that we would very much like
> to use. However, back when they were made, they used lead in solder. I
> have heard (from chefs who use them) that it is safe to use them if
> one gets them tinned. Any thoughts on where I could have done? What
> would that trade be called?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Aaron

trader4@optonline.net

2008-02-26, 1:25 pm

On Feb 26, 12:46=A0pm, "Roger Shoaf" <sh...@nospamsyix.com> wrote:
> If there is lead based solder in a cooking pot why risk the health of your=

> friends and family? =A0If it has lead use it for a decoration and buy a le=
ad
> free pot.
>
> If there is no lead, then go ahead and get it replaced with tin.
>
> --
> Roger Shoaf
> If you are not part of the solution, you are not dissolved in the solvent.=

>
> "Aaron Fude" <aaronf...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:04822569-6f1b-4719-b56f-431a01d0c195@62g2000hsn.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> - Show quoted text -

I'm skeptical that:

1 - Lead solder was used in copper cooking pots at all, because solder
could easily start to weaken at temps that a pot might experinece.

2 - That it's a common service readily available to get pots like this
dipped in something to cover them.

Like you state, what's the point? If I had such a pot, I'd just
chuck it and go buy a new one.

Joe

2008-02-26, 5:26 pm

On Feb 26, 12:33=A0am, Aaron Fude <aaronf...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> We own a number of very old copper pots that we would very much like
> to use. However, back when they were made, they used lead in solder. I
> have heard (from chefs who use them) that it is safe to use them if
> one gets them tinned. Any thoughts on where I could have done? What
> would that trade be called?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Aaron

Tinning is commonly done for processing equipment for the food
industry. It is often a hot melt dip like galvanizing to take
advantage of the low melting point of the tin and the speed of such a
process. Don't know if you easily could find a shop that can do a hot
dip, but an alternative and better solution would be to have the pot
interiors heavily silver plated. The advantages are keeping the
exterior its natural color, and having a more robust interior that
could stand mild cleaning better than tin. HTH

Joe

Norminn

2008-02-26, 5:26 pm

Joe wrote:

>On Feb 26, 12:33 am, Aaron Fude <aaronf...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>Tinning is commonly done for processing equipment for the food
>industry. It is often a hot melt dip like galvanizing to take
>advantage of the low melting point of the tin and the speed of such a
>process. Don't know if you easily could find a shop that can do a hot
>dip, but an alternative and better solution would be to have the pot
>interiors heavily silver plated. The advantages are keeping the
>exterior its natural color, and having a more robust interior that
>could stand mild cleaning better than tin. HTH
>
>Joe
>
>
Silver? That's a new one :o) Silver would react with some foods,
especially those
containing egg. Don't know what kind of compounds would form from a
reaction, but I
sure wouldn't want silver-lined cookware. Copper cookware is a
traditional favorite of gourmet cooks,
unless they sell their own brand of some other type of cookware. Tin
keeps the copper from
reacting with food, and is a very old style of cookware. Copper is
expensive, but lasts forever.
I don't have a maid to polish it, so I never touch the stuff :o)

Robert Allison

2008-02-26, 5:26 pm

trader4@optonline.net wrote:
> On Feb 26, 2:27 am, Robert Allison <rimsho...@verizon.net> wrote:
>
>
>
>
> I've seen lots of copper pots, but never any with solder. What
> exactly are they supposed to have used solder for in a copper pot?
> For one obvious thing, one would think lead solder could start to
> soften at temps that a pot might occasionally experience firing up on
> a hot burner.

Copper pots are lined with tin, and the old tin alloy was often
heavy in lead content and was used in this tin coating. The
modern tin coating for cookware is lead free.

--
Robert Allison
Rimshot, Inc.
Georgetown, TX

Robert Allison

2008-02-26, 5:26 pm

trader4@optonline.net wrote:

> On Feb 26, 12:46 pm, "Roger Shoaf" <sh...@nospamsyix.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> I'm skeptical that:
>
> 1 - Lead solder was used in copper cooking pots at all, because solder
> could easily start to weaken at temps that a pot might experinece.
>
> 2 - That it's a common service readily available to get pots like this
> dipped in something to cover them.
>
> Like you state, what's the point? If I had such a pot, I'd just
> chuck it and go buy a new one.

Copper pots are very expensive and I consider them the best for
certain things, right up there with cast iron. Copper conducts
heat well, heats up fast and cools down fast which makes it great
for sauces, reuxs, etc.

All copper pots need to be retinned every few years and it is not
that expensive, nor is it dangerous.

--
Robert Allison
Rimshot, Inc.
Georgetown, TX

aemeijers

2008-02-26, 8:25 pm

Robert Allison wrote:
> trader4@optonline.net wrote:
>
> Copper pots are lined with tin, and the old tin alloy was often heavy in
> lead content and was used in this tin coating. The modern tin coating
> for cookware is lead free.
>
Clean them up and hang them on the wall as display pieces, and use the
money you would spend at metal plating shop to go buy modern pans for
actual cooking. Seriously, I doubt any plating shop would want to expose
themselves to the liability of doing anything other than a display
piece. 'Food safe' is a term probably totally outside their experience,
and while a little lead leaching probably won't kill adults, it can
screw up kids bigtime. Any kids every eat the food you cook? It just
ain't worth the risk, IMHO.

aem sends...

John McGaw

2008-02-26, 9:25 pm

aemeijers wrote:
> Robert Allison wrote:
snip...
> Clean them up and hang them on the wall as display pieces, and use the
> money you would spend at metal plating shop to go buy modern pans for
> actual cooking. Seriously, I doubt any plating shop would want to expose
> themselves to the liability of doing anything other than a display
> piece. 'Food safe' is a term probably totally outside their experience,
> and while a little lead leaching probably won't kill adults, it can
> screw up kids bigtime. Any kids every eat the food you cook? It just
> ain't worth the risk, IMHO.
>
> aem sends...

The tinning of copper pots is not done by a "plating shop", it is done
by specialists and the material they use is pure tin -- not some toxic
lead alloy -- and the results are truly food grade. Copper pots are
excellent for cooking, not just for looking, as long as one is willing
to go through the trouble and expense of re-tinning as needed. With
suitable care I've seen good quality French pots last for 20+ years
before needing attention.

I'll be the first to say that I personally don't have any copper pots
but that is just because the good ones are expensive and require more
care than I care to give them. Give me a nice copper-cored All-Clad pan
any time for day-to-day cooking. Or a traditional Le Creuset cast iron
Dutch oven or omelet pan.
--
John McGaw
[Knoxville, TN, USA]
http://johnmcgaw.com

Edwin Pawlowski

2008-02-26, 9:25 pm

<trader4@optonline.net> wrote in message
I'm skeptical that:

1 - Lead solder was used in copper cooking pots at all, because solder
could easily start to weaken at temps that a pot might experinece.

2 - That it's a common service readily available to get pots like this
dipped in something to cover them.

Like you state, what's the point? If I had such a pot, I'd just
chuck it and go buy a new one.
******************* ******************

Agree with #1. Should NOT be leaded.

As for #2, not every town has them, but they do exist.

Tinning is very common for copper pots.
http://www.eastcoasttinning.com/RecentCustomers.html

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpa...753C1A961948260

Joe

2008-02-27, 5:25 pm

On Feb 26, 2:40=A0pm, Norminn <norm...@earthlink.net> wrote:
> Joe wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Silver? =A0That's a new one :o) =A0Silver would react with some foods,
> especially those
> containing egg. =A0Don't know what kind of compounds would form from a
> reaction, but I
> sure wouldn't want silver-lined cookware. =A0Copper cookware is a
> traditional favorite of gourmet cooks,
> unless they sell their own brand of some other type of cookware. =A0Tin
> keeps the copper from
> reacting with food, and is a very old style of cookware. =A0Copper is
> expensive, but lasts forever.
> I don't have a maid to polish it, so I never touch the stuff :o)

GE and others for years made copper percolator coffee pots with silver
plated interiors. Grandma lived to 94 and used her GE coffee pot every
day. Never seemed to bother her.
The so-called silverware in most households is almost always silver
plated copper. It is well known that copper compounds are lethal to
many organisms, hence antifouling copper paint for boats. It follows,
then, that careleess use of copper utensils with certain foods might
not be wise.
True, silver has a great affinity for sulfur (tarnish) but I haven't
found any references to AgS toxicology nor poisoning. In sum, your
concerns about silver utensils for food preparation don't appear to
have a factual basis. Who knows, with copper prices being pushed out
of sight by Chinese demand the French chefs may be using cheaper
silver skillets. <G>

Joe.

HeyBub

2008-02-27, 9:25 pm

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