Metals - Tin, Aluminum and Chrome

Tin is a silvery, malleable metal that does not easily oxidize, so it is commonly used to coat other metals to prevent corrosion. Because tin is corrosion-resistant, it is used in food packaging to plate steel cans, which become our ubiquitous “tin cans.”

The word “tin” is often improperly used as a generic term for any silvery metal that comes in sheets. Most everyday materials that are commonly called “tin”, such as aluminum foil, beverage cans, corrugated building sheathing and tin cans, are actually made of steel or aluminum (although tin cans do contain a thin coating of tin to inhibit rust.)


Aluminum is a soft, durable, lightweight, malleable metal with appearance ranging from silvery to dull grey, depending on the surface roughness. Aluminum is remarkable for its ability to resist corrosion and for the metal's low density.

At Tidal Pulls, we appreciate the fact that aluminum is 100 percent recyclable without any loss of its natural qualities, but because it is such a lightweight metal and can detract from that feeling of quality, we do not use it in the manufacturing of our pulls.




Chrome, or chrome plating, is a technique of electroplating a thin layer of chromium onto a metal object. The chromed layer can be decorative, provide corrosion resistance, ease cleaning procedures, or increase surface hardness. It is most often seen in cars and motorcycles.