Pewter. Identifying versions of.

[cardiffrob]

I'm after a supply of Tin to do some casting with. I know that Pewter has traditionally been made with a large proportion of Tin but it iss ocassionally alloyed with unwanted elements. Ideally I'd like to be able to identify and decline any made with Zinc. Is there a way to identify the presence of it?

Thanks

 

[Porkypine]

You prob want to try and get some scrap antique pewter bits that are squashed / muller'd beyond saving as an artifact, I think the old fashioned pewter wouldn't have any zinc ,only the modern stuff that's punted as 'pewter'

 

[piman]

Rob,

as I understand pewter is lead and tin, i.e. also known as solder? I have no idea of the proportion however .

If you need to make a tin casting, surely it would be better to buy pure tin, not cheap, I don't suppose, but depends on your requirements?

Alec

 

[8ob]

I'm after a supply of Tin to do some casting with. I know that Pewter has traditionally been made with a large proportion of Tin but it iss ocassionally alloyed with unwanted elements. Ideally I'd like to be able to identify and decline any made with Zinc. Is there a way to identify the presence of it?

Thanks

The scrap yards use a metal analyser gadget, they point it at the metal and it gives an accurate breakdown of what it is. May also be a good source of the material you want.

Bob

 

[MattF]

as I understand pewter is lead and tin, i.e. also known as solder? I have no idea of the proportion however .

Lead, tin, copper & antimony were, if I recall correctly, the components of traditional English Pewter. It's produced lead free nowadays.

As you say, a poor source for tin casting.

 

[cardiffrob]

It's for making ammo. I have a ton of pure lead (well, about 100+ ingots of roofing stuff melted down) but it doesn't cast as well if there is no Tin in it. the Tin helps it to fill out the corners better. Antimony hardens it but that is even harder to find in the scrap bins. Japanese plates and trinket boxes are sometimes made of Antimony.

From what I can tell, modern lead-free Pewter is softer since the Lead acted as a stiffening agent, if you see what I mean. Still largely Tin and Antimony but with a bit of Copper added. This is only from what I can find from the Web so might be a load of old billhooks.

 

[KemppiFrog]

You need to go digging in Cornwall

 

[bourbon]

Tin, copper and either Antimony or Bismouth. Copper hardens it, but raises the melting point. Antimony lowers the melting point back down. I cast pewter in a medieval setting, in a field. It's getting harder to find tankards at car boots now, and Pewter is around 50 quid a kilo.

 

[bourbon]

You need to go digging in Cornwall

nah. Casserite, (the ore of tin) is pretty much worked out, unless you want to reopen the Geevor mine. But that's flooded. But, If you go digging in the spoil heaps, You will be able to get a bit of Lithium.

 

[bourbon]

It's for making ammo. I have a ton of pure lead (well, about 100+ ingots of roofing stuff melted down) but it doesn't cast as well if there is no Tin in it. the Tin helps it to fill out the corners better. Antimony hardens it but that is even harder to find in the scrap bins. Japanese plates and trinket boxes are sometimes made of Antimony.

From what I can tell, modern lead-free Pewter is softer since the Lead acted as a stiffening agent, if you see what I mean. Still largely Tin and Antimony but with a bit of Copper added. This is only from what I can find from the Web so might be a load of old billhooks.

Heat the mould, and make sure there are air vents in it. Don't worry about the thing being perfect. you want to spend time shooting the ammo rather than making it.
These were a copy of some medieval cannon balls I made for Bosworth Battlefield centre