Retinning isn’t Tinning? and the world of Flux

Learned something new today: retinning is the process of re-applying tin to a previously tinned object, such as copper pots. By this you might assume that tinning is the process of applying tin the first time, but tinning is in fact commonly used in modern days to refer to the process of copper plating steel and tinning that. Basically a process by which you create a very weather-proof, non leeching metal sheet.

So, technically then, I am retinning… even if its the first time.

On other notes, I have completed a forming stake, and once I get a hold of a forming hammer or two I will begin doing some basic vessels to retin and use for dish-ware. The only problem now is the flux. I’ve found that Rosin and sal amoniac are the two most commonly used for this, but how much of what mixed in what vehicle is still a little sketchy. I’ve even got a recipe that involves tallow. Cow fat in my flux? I am going to do an array of samples and determine what works the best by guess and check, because the researching is about at an end. Wish me luck!