Tin Or Can!!

[saintpeter48]

What is the difference between a 'tin' and a 'can'?

[Prudie]

Nothing. They are both tin-cans.

[saintpeter48]

Why is it then that soup is sold in tins but beer is sold in cans?

[-SharonA-]

A can of drink.

A tin of beans.

[saintpeter48]

Why is that SharonA?

[B00]

The containers for beans and beer are not the same.

[EDDIE51]

Food cans are made of steel with a very thin coating of Tin to stop rusting.
Because of this they became known as 'Tin cans'

[-SharonA-]

You don't say 'a tin of coke' do you now?

So tins for food and cans for drinks.

[Prudie]

A can of beer is a tinny isn't it?

[mikey4444]

My nephew has lived in Oz for about 3 years now, and refers to cans of beer as "Tinnies" He has even started to use the the rising-inflection, which drives me MAD !

But essentially, there is no difference any more.

[tamborine]

Can is aluminium and tin is tinplate. Former is non magnetic & worth less than tin which has to mined.

[Prudie]

Has this opened a tin of worms?

[tonyav]

Can of worms in my neck of the woods, Prudie.

[cupid04]

I can answer this.

I tin answer this don't make sense...

[stuey]

I don't think that the difference in terms is anything to do with the composition of the material used in the construction: most of have no idea anyway. I think the main factor is where you live. I've noticed that most people on this site use the term "tin", whereas in Canada and the US, the word "can" is used. But I imagine that there could be regional variations in UK usage. Also North Americanisms have a tendency to sneak over there.

[bookbinder]

'Can' is short for 'canister', which means a container. Cans were originally made of steel, with a coating of tin. Steel alone was no good for storing food, particularly acidic fruit juices, but a thin coating of tin prevented corrosion by the juices. So, cans became known as tins, because of the tin coating.

[Retrochic]

just to put a spanner in the works -many people 'can' their excess garden produce in North America -in glass jars....

[joggerjayne]

So if it was just made of aluminium, it wouldn't be a tin?

[stuey]

Retro, you wench, didn't you mean "wrench"?

[Retrochic]

stuey -its taken me a long time to remember to say spanner instead of wrench ;-)

[EDDIE51]

Beer and soft drink 'cans' are made of Aluminium. It is lighter than steel but more expensive. This is because the weight of it is important when people often buy packs of 12 or 24. 24 steel cans would be cheaper but too heavy to carry easily.
Tamborine both Aluminium and Tin have to be mined as do all other metals.
Steel is just Iron ( also mined) with some added Carbon.