Grilling Tins

Having a nice batch of tins accumulated again (thank you friends and mint eaters)! It was time to cook some up outside on the grill.

*Heating the tins takes the paint finish off and gives the them a nice patina. They are then ready to alter as you see fit using beeswax, paint or whatever.*

There have been a fair number of questions on just “how” to bake the paint off tins.

Here you will find some notes on my latest experience with the process.

A few words to describe the fun, it’s HotHotHot AND Smelly, did I say it gets VERY hot! We used a propane (bottled) gas grill, set at medium heat (about 300-350 degrees F).

I had mentioned in an earlier beeswax tin tutorial that we line the outside grill racks with tin foil. My husband said not to bother this time. He plans to wire brush them vigorously with a brass grill brush and heat the grill up to a very hot temperature before using it for it’s intended purpose = ‘food’.

If you are sensitive you may want to wear a face mask. I cannot stress enough that this MUST be done OUTSIDE!!! There will be some fumes. I set a timer so I don’t feel the need to hover over the grill. You may open your tins (if they are hinged) or leave them closed while cooking. I can’t see that it makes a big difference, and have tried it both ways. Once they are hot do not touch them without good protection, a kitchen hot mitt will NOT do the trick, it might melt…..ask me how I know.
Place the tins on the hottest part of the grill. I did line the top shelf with some as well and then those were moved to the lower hotter shelf when there was room.
I set the timer for 15 minutes to begin with; flipping/turning the tins at that point. Photo #2 shows the tins after roasting them for 15 minutes. I set the timer for 10 minutes after that (Photo #3), checking and turning the tins again.
On average one batch of tins took about 25-35 minutes for the look I was after.

You will find these items handy:

*Grill (propane works well, charcoal would too)

*assortment of tins (more is better)

*Leather heat proof gloves

*Face Mask for protection from fumes

*Tongs (my tool of choice for turning and removing tins, I felt safe without leather gloves, but worked VERY carefully)

*Timer

*Heat proof tray for cooling tins after removing from grill

Hope this has taken most of the mystery out of the paint peeling process. You may want to sand the tins lightly with a fine sandpaper, rub them with an old rag to clean them up a bit. Your tins are now ready to alter…..have fun….go forth and create!

This last picture shows the results of a little over two hours worth of grilling. You can see my melted mitt too 🙂

“A danger foreseen is half avoided” ~ Thomas Fuller