Canteen Tin vs Steel?

[The Warning]

Are tin canteens safe to drink from? I'm told by some people to buy steel since tin always makes the water rusty even when taking good care of it. I could use some advice in which to buy. I know tin is correct, but I'm concerned about rust. What the difference between a regular tin canteen and a hot-dipped one? Lastly, and recommendations where to buy and taking care of it?





Thank you for any advice

[MarkTK36thIL]

Re: Canteen Tin vs Steel?

Meh, I believe the trick is to take care of a hot dipped tin canteen. I bought my first one in 2001, and it's still my go-to canteen. Let it dry after events, and it will rust eventually, but it's still in very serviceable shape. Hot dipped tin will rust eventually, but it will take years.

[NMVolunteer]

Re: Canteen Tin vs Steel?

I have an Axel Ulrich tin canteen. There is a little rust along the seams, but it does not leak and I haven't died yet.

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: Canteen Tin vs Steel?

I am still using the same (historically accurate tin) Fed canteen I carried at Perryville in 2000. I couple spots of rust? Yep, but it will still last another decade at least. Here's what you need to do...

As soon as you get home from EVERY event...

Drain your canteen.
Take one or two sheets of paper towell and twist them up diagonally into a snake of paper towel.
Put one end down in your canteen until it touches bottom so it can start wicking up the water .
After a little while, flip it around and put the other end in.
After a little while, get a new piece of paper towell and repeat.
... keep doing this until the paper towel comes out dry after sitting all night.

This removes the water which will ruin your canteen.

[DougCooper]

Re: Canteen Tin vs Steel?

This is an old reenactorism - that tin is bad because the rusty water is harmful. Rust in water IS NOT HARMFUL. This nonsense was no doubt invented by a farb canteen maker to justify buying a canteen made from a material that was not used in the Civil War. All the advice on here is valid - because you want the canteen to last...and bacteria in water left in a canteen can send you to the sinks with the soldier's quickstep. But its not the rust.

[NMVolunteer]

Re: Canteen Tin vs Steel?

Your tap water is probably already full of rust.

[Craig L Barry]

Re: Canteen Tin vs Steel?

Hot dipped tin is really the only way to go. Better question...which tin canteen is right for your impression?

[Silas]

Re: Canteen Tin vs Steel?

Better question...which tin canteen is right for your impression?

Duh. The least rusty one.

- "I'll take Gardner pattern for $500, Alex."

[cmccurley33]

Re: Canteen Tin vs Steel?

Do exactly what Wickett said. My tin canteens have been perfectly fine for years and years by maintaining them this way.

[aztrooper63]

Re: Canteen Tin vs Steel?

I have a quality hot dipped tin smooth side canteen that I bought 14 + yrs ago from Tim Sheads at S&S and I cant find even a hint of rust in it. After ever event I drain it , let it dry out and leave it un plugged . Granted I live in SE Arizona where we have little to no humidity but I did live in PA for 2 yrs during this time . As long as it is taken care of it will last a very long time. As was mentioned earlier by a couple of folks, a little rust wont hurt you one bit. Just have a look inside the water pipes leading into most older homes with steel or iron pipes let alone the storage tanks and you would be amazed at what you would find.
John

Mod Hat: John, a rule of the forum is that full name signatures are in each post. Easiest way is set up an auto signature in profile settings. Jeremy Bevard

[weed]

Re: Canteen Tin vs Steel?

Why would you purchase something totally incorrect? Stainless Steel????? The Originals were made out of tin canteen. I have been using tin canteens for 46+ years and not dead yet. Have gone though a few of them and when they are done for, I do look at the insides? Ya a lot of rust, but so what. It is Not lead.

[john duffer]

Re: Canteen Tin vs Steel?

Be careful, I drank from rusty canteens and now I'm old and fat. :confused_

[Michael Semann]

Re: Canteen Tin vs Steel?

Be careful, I drank from rusty canteens and now I'm old and fat. :confused_

We apparently drank from the same stream my friend. :D