Playing with Pewter

**littlebuddha** · 2nd May 2008, 08:03 PM

Some have asked about the rings of pewter and how to do them so here are a few pics to show you not much need of how the pics tell it all.
Pewter is a low melt so a small stove is good i use a stainless kitchen ladel i file a vee shape in the side of the ladel to help with a smooth pour.
When you come to turn the pewter save the shavings to remelt, it goes every where looks like tinsel on a christmas tree. turning mdf for moulds is cheap and easy but get a vac on it as mdf is very dusty stuff.
any one not seen the finished piece here is the link
https://www.woodworkforums.com/f8/hot-lathe-71794

Have a go it is easy, the pewter you can buy as new or do the same as me ask friends family or even ebay boot markets for old pewter plates tankers and such then just chop them up into small pieces the second pic with the stove shows a small white box with pewter bits cut up there is about 3 kilos there it goes far, and is a lot cheaper than buying rings, theres a lot you can cast, just a little imagination. Im a novice with it so were in the same boat..Happy melting..LB

**lubbing5cherubs** · 2nd May 2008, 08:16 PM

thank you for this. but where did you get the pewter from in woodchip like that?
Toni

**littlebuddha** · 2nd May 2008, 08:54 PM

Originally Posted by lubbing5cherubs

thank you for this. but where did you get the pewter from in woodchip like that?
Toni

Hi Toni they were tankards that i picked up, i cut them up into tiny pieces with tin snips, use side cutters anything like that. cutting into small piece makes it easier and quicker to melt down and you don't need much for small rings. Have ago put some into those pens you make.
Cut a small grove into the pen wrap some masking tape around each side of the grove then get a shoe lace or something like it but into the grove, wax the lace first put some more masing tape around then pull the lace ot just to leave a small hole, pour the melted pewter into the hole being carfull then when cool you can turn it up with a skew, turning pewter is very easy..LB

Toni just for you
http://www.woodcentral.com/cgi-bin/r...cles_603.shtml

http://www.shapwood.co.uk

**wheelinround** · 2nd May 2008, 09:06 PM

Thanks Little Budda saved for future ref

Got to be the tip of the year

greeny on its way

**joe greiner** · 3rd May 2008, 01:13 AM

I guess I should have seen this thread before I posted my question in the other one.

Thanks again, LB.

Joe

**echnidna** · 3rd May 2008, 12:49 PM

Theres a bit of info on google,

heres a basic primer

and a basic project

**Hardenfast** · 3rd May 2008, 01:45 PM

Fascinating stuff LB. Definitely something to add to the burgeoning Must Try list.

For Toni and others who may be interested I found a local supplier of pewter casting rods - link below. Cost is $0.06 per gram - each rod 730g so $43.80 each. This is an interesting site for jewelry maker suppliers, but maybe there's somewhere cheaper?

http://www.aemetal.com.au/products.a...e=2&subcate=17

Wayne

**littlebuddha** · 3rd May 2008, 07:22 PM

Thanks guys glad to see some of you got some form of interest out of it, i find a real kick out of finding new ways of adding something, the pewter angle i am loving just know, nice one for filling cracks dead knots filling viods ect, its also cheaper than the brass,copper fillings and i think easier to. Hope to see a few turnings turning up with some form of pewter.
Only thing is know there will be less out there for me. Hope no one in the UK read this the price will go up..

..LB

**BernieP** · 3rd May 2008, 07:59 PM

G'Day LB

Thanks for the informative thread certainly one to stow away!

Cheers
bernie

**Anne Munro** · 3rd May 2008, 09:04 PM

Hi Little Buddha,
I notice that you come from Coventry in Britain so that leads me onto the next question - Were you at the Woodturning Conference at Loughborough last August. I ask because I was there, as I was in Britain at the time and one of the sessions I went to was with Simon Hope who demonstrated "Turning With Pewter". Did you get the idea from him. He was really impressive and his finished products were stunning.

**David Mitchell** · 3rd May 2008, 09:23 PM

You can cut shapes in cuttle fish and pour the molten pewter into the cuttle
fish, this gives a textured surface from the grain ?? of the cuttle fish.

Jewellery made from pewter will leave a black stain on your skin

Regards
D M

**littlebuddha** · 3rd May 2008, 10:43 PM

Originally Posted by Anne Munro

Hi Little Buddha,
I notice that you come from Coventry in Britain so that leads me onto the next question - Were you at the Woodturning Conference at Loughborough last August. I ask because I was there, as I was in Britain at the time and one of the sessions I went to was with Simon Hope who demonstrated "Turning With Pewter". Did you get the idea from him. He was really impressive and his finished products were stunning.

Hi Anne funny you brough up Simon Hope i was asked about the guy on another forum if i had seen his work and that he was showing some of his stuff at a woodshow last week and if i was going.
I was in Loughborough last year and im still going there as my mum is in an old folks home there but no i could not spare the time, Had a large job on to get finished, i did want to go missed a few show last year.
I got the idea form buying a few pewter tops for the smelly pots and thought about casting them myself as the price was for ever going up, then started to think about other ways of using it with turning have a few ideas going around just getting the time. Maybe my work gets stunning some day, still if your as good looking as me you can't ask for everything can you

Thanks..LB

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