> The equipment has never been patched, but I > notice the seams are tinned. Could lead by a concern in using this > equipment? Should I paint the inside of this equipment with epoxy > paint or some such before using it? Or, given the short time that > the honey is extracted and the short time it's in the tank, is it OK > to use as is? I really don't see any harm in it. Epoxies are far more toxic to many people until they are cured than the tiny (imaginary) amount of metals thatmight be added to the honey by your equipment. The key is that honey immediately coats the equipment, and that layer stays in contact with the metal until cleaned. Assuming you exract with reasonable dispatch and then wash off the equipment, rather than scrape the last little bit for consumption, I defy anyone to prove any metals get into the honey. Regards Allen W. Allen Dick, Beekeeper VE6CFK RR#1, Swalwell, Alberta Canada T0M 1Y0 Internet:[log in to unmask] & [log in to unmask] Honey. Bees, & Art <http://www.internode.net/~allend/>