At 06:34 PM 1/8/2012, Jason wrote:
>Yes - most modern tin cans contain a plastic coating that has BPA in
>it.  Our family stopped buying canned food years ago for this and
>other reasons.  I imagined it wouldn't be too bad after that is burned
>off.  Maybe I'll find some stainless steel and build something.

This subject is sprouting legs.  I'd like to make one point and then
if people still have questions about the safety aspects of  "tin
cans" let's keep them until Friday, please.

Aluminum cans are made of aluminum.  Other cans are made of
steel.  Steel cans require some form of plating or coating to prevent
rust, and both kinds need to have a surface facing the food inside
that isn't attacked by it.  Historically steel cans have been plated
with tin.  Now more and more are coated internally with a very thin
plastic coating of some sort.

None of these coatings will still be around after you've heated the
can red hot once.  It will be a plain steel can and it will get black
oxide on it in the flame or red oxide in the weather.  Neither one is toxic.

Aluminum melts before it gets even faintly red.  Aluminum cans are
ecologically excellent since they recycle so easily, but not
something you want to heat dry over a flame.

Yours,
David, holding mod hat in hand.