i used to do that all the time.....i've never tasted any metal taste from it...whereas when smoking with aluminum foil or cans i could.....so my best guess would be that it's not made of aluminum...and i know you're not looking for yet another alternative but if it is made out of aluminum you can go to a hardware store and pick up a couple of socket wrenches or some brass fixtures..brass is safe to smoke out of....and i used to use small sockets from socket wrenches all the time. if you do try to get brass fixtrues...make sure it's not copper...it's just as dangerous if not more than aluminum.