Tinning

Tinning is the process of thinly coating sheets of <a href="/facts/Wrought_iron/zynpjrIv">wrought iron</a> or <a href="/facts/Steel/aN6qWo4H">steel</a> with <a href="/facts/Tin/obW9mqc3">tin</a>, and the resulting product is known as <a href="/facts/Tinplate/RJ9l7tz1">tinplate</a>. The term is also widely used for the different process of coating a metal with <a href="/facts/Solder/GBvJH75t">solder</a> before soldering.
It is most often used to prevent <a href="/facts/Rust/sajUmaz8">rust</a>, but is also commonly applied to the ends of <a href="/facts/Stranded_wire/yyy05H1S">stranded wire</a> used as <a href="/facts/Electrical_conductor/BSuyupLP">electrical conductors</a> to prevent <a href="/facts/Oxidation/Pyd5RVcj">oxidation</a> (which increases <a href="/facts/Electrical_resistance/hxSt0UAj">electrical resistance</a>), and to keep them from fraying or unraveling when used in various <a href="/facts/Wire_connector/rJh0cHs6">wire connectors</a> like <a href="/facts/Twist-on_wire_connector/sWu8o3pg">twist-ons</a>, <a href="/facts/Binding_post/nnInjBd1">binding posts</a>, or <a href="/facts/Terminal_block/C0MnmsDL">terminal blocks</a>, where stray strands can cause a <a href="/facts/Short_circuit/r09vaaeQ">short circuit</a>.
While once more widely used, the primary use of tinplate now is the manufacture of <a href="/facts/Tin_can/Mfopo4tz">tin cans</a>. Formerly, tinplate was used for cheap pots, pans, and other <a href="/facts/Holloware/lTtRSSQY">holloware</a>. This kind of holloware was also known as <a href="/facts/Tinware/B0Brs78x">tinware</a> and the people who made it were tinplate workers.
The untinned sheets employed in the manufacture are known as black plates. They are now made of steel, either <a href="/facts/Bessemer_process/Al0kr3a3">Bessemer</a> steel or open-hearth. Formerly <a href="/facts/Wrought_iron/zynpjrIv">iron</a> was used, and was of two grades, <a href="/facts/Coke_(fuel)/vD8xjd0m">coke</a> iron and <a href="/facts/Charcoal_iron/AAf0yjpI">charcoal iron</a>; the latter, being the better, received a heavier coating of tin, and this circumstance is the origin of the terms coke plates and charcoal plates by which the quality of tinplate is still designated, although iron is no longer used. Tinplate was consumed in enormous quantities for the manufacture of the tin cans in which preserved <a href="/facts/Meat/DUHTTM1d">meat</a>, <a href="/facts/Fish/fln4gH9V">fish</a>, <a href="/facts/Fruit/PBpuzk60">fruit</a>, <a href="/facts/Biscuit/RM0u4zvf">biscuits</a>, <a href="/facts/Cigarette/8kuVCjbr">cigarettes</a>, and numerous other products are packed, and also for the household utensils of various kinds made by the <a href="/facts/Tinsmith/NKMBfPCd">tinsmith</a>.

Tinning open-in-new

Tinning