Retinning

If you have chosen our tin-lined copper, you will know that tin has many wonderful advantages: it’s naturally low-stick, hygienic and safe, and a wonderful heat conductor. You will also know that after extended use it deteriorates, and your cookware will eventually need to be retinned.

When we receive a copper pot in need of retinning, it doesn’t just get a “touch up”. We scrape off all the remaining tin to restore the pure copper, then remove any excess tarnish and check the handles. Our master tinner then applies a thin layer of the purest tin, by hand, just like he does with every new pot. Finally, it gets polished, cleaned, and safely packaged to be returned to you for many more years of faithful service.

Frequently Asked Questions About Retinning

When properly cared for, high-quality tin that was applied by hand over a flame will last a very long time! Many of the retinning inquiries that we receive are for items that do not need it, so we have tried to address some of our customers most frequently asked questions!

In most cases, no. Color changes are natural and result from the tin interacting with a number of acidic and salty foods. This is totally safe and you shouldn’t worry about it, but if you’d prefer to restore tin to its bright shine, you can do a small galvanic process in your home kitchen. Fill the pot with water and bring to a boil, then remove from heat and add a couple tablespoons of sodium bicarbonate and salt, and a folded piece of aluminum foil (use wooden or plastic utensils to push it in, not metal) and wait for a few minutes, then rinse and dry well. The tin will be lighter, and the aluminum foil darker! Note that this is a slight corrosive so we recommend not doing it too often so as not to shorten the life of your tin lining.

Occasionally, the tin will be blackened because the cookware got overheated and burnt. This is not desirable and should be avoided. Before re-using your pot, do clean away the burnt-on layer by following the above instructions with sodium bicarbonate, and be mindful of avoiding these incidents in the future by cooking on low-to-medium temperature, and never leaving an empty pot on a source of heat.

Color changes in tin are perfectly normal and retinning is not needed

Minor scratches are not a problem and you can continue using your cookware. When the copper becomes clearly visible through the tinning, however, please send it in for retinning.

When the copper is clearly exposed, the tin lining needs to be re-applied.

Certainly not. We understand that international shipping costs can be high and we encourage you to look for skilled craftsmen in your area who use high-purity tin and are expert at retinning quality copper cookware.

In the US, we recommend Rocky Mountain Retinning as they work to very high standards and offer a discounted rate for Ruffoni products. They can be contacted here:

Rocky Mountain Retinning
5815 W 52nd Ave
Denver, CO 80212
3032950462
rockymantin@q.com   
 

We do! And we offer a special price for all Ruffoni products – basically, we’ll only charge you for the cost of materials and shipment. Please see below for instructions on how to send us your item for retinning.

If you do not have a trusted retinner near you, our coppersmith will be happy to retin your cookware for you:

  1. Email us at service@ruffoni.net and make sure to include:
    1. A description and size of the item(s) needing retinning
    2. A photo of the inside of your items
    3. Your full shipping address and phone number
  2. We will check that your items in the photo actually need retinning, and if so, we’ll email you the shipping and re-tinning fees and estimated lead-time
  3. You'll pay through a secure PayPal link, send us the items, and we'll get to work
  4. Once it’s all done, we’ll email you the shipment tracking number so you can know exactly when your retinned pot will arrive, ready for many more years of faithful service in your kitchen. Happy cooking!