This video is such an excellent source of information. I'm an art teacher, teaching pewter casting for the first time. This video gave me a lot of confidence to teach something new. Thank you for making this.
Worth noting that Copper Sulfate can give a nice patina, it's dirt cheap, and should be flushable. You can buy it for cleaning roots out of pipes or algae from pools. It's a plant killer (hence using it to remove roots from pipes) but fine for sewage/septic tanks. Plumping supply stores and pool suppliers sell it by the pound.
This was incredibly educational and really well made man!! I am inspired, actually. I'll be getting myself some too after I get the equipment and some ideas. I had casted once before, using aluminum as well, and it wasn't bad but this does seem considerably better to use than that for art projects especially
This just popped up in my recommended, great to find someone who does metal casting pewter too, I love how easy it is to melt and remelt and takes all the details very well. I usually cast in silicone molds, but I am going to look into this method for sure! Subscribed and rang the bell for more. Hope you upload again in the near future. 👍👊
As far as using baby powder. There has been a switch away from Talc and it has been replaced with Cornstarch. (also called cornflower in some places) Baby powder with cornstarch is not a good replacement for talc in metal casting. You need Talc, talcum powder. Check the ingredients list before you buy/use it.
Awesome video! Thanks for sharing. Tell me, if (for example) you wanted to leave the tops of those gears shinny and the rest patinated, what could you cover them with to protect them from the acid bath?
This was good. I’m wanting to pour some metal into a wood inlay just like the one you had. But instead of pulling it out I want it to stay in the wood, then sand it down so it’s flush. What do you think about that? Could you make a video?
Amazing video, I was just wondering if pewter could be used for really small shiny pieces. I was wondering if I could make a metal tooth cap, usually grillz for teeth are made with silver or gold. Would lead free pewter work in an easy cast replacement of this?
Sorry for the late reply... there are plenty of sources out there. Rotometals is great, but you can even get it on Amazon. Just do a search for 'pewter ingot' and you'll probably find several sources. Alternatively, there are people who raid thrift stores for old pewter objects. You can find pewter candlesticks, picture frames, tankards, etc., and then just melt them down with a torch. It takes more effort to find what you need, but it's definitely the cheapest way. Just be careful to check the markings, because very old pieces may still contain lead.
The mold can definitely be used more than once! You'd think the heat would break down the glue in the chipboard, but apparently it is able to withstand quite a bit. For basic molds, I've been able to reuse them up to probably 10 times, but that's normally because I make some iteration and start over with a new set. So it's hard to say exactly how long they last. That said, if the mold is deep and contains thin lines of material, it's easier for the cast to pull bits of it out when you demold it. For me personally, if the detail is very thin, I'll try to keep it around .5mm deep, or less. The thicker the detail, the deeper you can go.
Loved the video, thanks for all the details! Would a tumbler be something that can be used on Pewter to do the finishing or does it damage the pattern too much?
Is it any good for mechanical parts? I've seen two gears in the end and I was thinking if I could use it to replace some plastic parts. How much tough does it get? I've read somewhere that it's supposed to hold up to 6900 psi. Is that true? There isn't a single video on pewter's strength for mechanical applications. More info would be greatly appreciated.
It's not bad, but definitely not the best. The metal gears definitely work, but pewter is much softer than steel, or even aluminum, so any mechanical parts would either need more reinforcement in their design or else need to be light duty pieces.
So the short answer is 'yes', but it really depends on the size and thickness. The coins that I show in the opening clip are 2-3mm thick, which is a bit thicker than a normal coin, but I can't bend them by hand. Scale them up a bit though, and you could get the mechanical advantage you would need to bend them. It's the same with any metal, that way. I've made a few nameplates that are 1-2mm thick, and they can be bent fairly easily by hand, but since they're designed to be mounted on wood it's no issue. Normally when I'm casting a new project I'll start thinner, and if it's too bendy I'll just use a thicker spacer in the mold.
@@SomeUncomm That makes sense, thanks. I might try this out with a silicone mould i made based of a 3D print. It seems like a good method to get into metal casting and forgiving in a sense as you can just remelt the failures as youve shown!
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Dude we need more of these videos! I was ready to binge the hell out of this stuff
Shearing a steel sheep?! That had me wheezing 🤣
This video is such an excellent source of information. I'm an art teacher, teaching pewter casting for the first time. This video gave me a lot of confidence to teach something new. Thank you for making this.
This makes me so happy to hear! I wish one of my art teachers had taught me this!
Worth noting that Copper Sulfate can give a nice patina, it's dirt cheap, and should be flushable. You can buy it for cleaning roots out of pipes or algae from pools. It's a plant killer (hence using it to remove roots from pipes) but fine for sewage/septic tanks. Plumping supply stores and pool suppliers sell it by the pound.
Thank you!
It probably doesn't even matter what subject you do, this is a great video and explains things very well. Thank you
This was incredibly educational and really well made man!! I am inspired, actually. I'll be getting myself some too after I get the equipment and some ideas. I had casted once before, using aluminum as well, and it wasn't bad but this does seem considerably better to use than that for art projects especially
This just popped up in my recommended, great to find someone who does metal casting pewter too, I love how easy it is to melt and remelt and takes all the details very well. I usually cast in silicone molds, but I am going to look into this method for sure! Subscribed and rang the bell for more. Hope you upload again in the near future. 👍👊
Interesting and fascinating
Recently picked up a pewter reproduction coin, never really knew what it was, so thank you
As far as using baby powder. There has been a switch away from Talc and it has been replaced with Cornstarch. (also called cornflower in some places) Baby powder with cornstarch is not a good replacement for talc in metal casting. You need Talc, talcum powder. Check the ingredients list before you buy/use it.
Such a well made video, great job
Dude you need to post much more often. You could become a huge channel
Really interesting video!
Works great for alloying lead so it flows better in to molds.
Steel sheep 😂😂
Yeah, that got a chuckle out of me too
Very interesting. I'm thinking of making molds for plastic casting.
Awesome! I learnt something new!
Fantastic video, many thanks.
Was the pattern on your chipboard laser-engraved or a CNC job?
It was laser engraved :) this one was just a simple pattern, but you can get pretty elaborate with them
Ham, kelsier and vin would be proud.
How did you make the mould design
Is there any way to colour the pweter? Like how steelsmiths colour with brass?
Many thanks for your video
Awesome video! Thanks for sharing. Tell me, if (for example) you wanted to leave the tops of those gears shinny and the rest patinated, what could you cover them with to protect them from the acid bath?
This was good. I’m wanting to pour some metal into a wood inlay just like the one you had. But instead of pulling it out I want it to stay in the wood, then sand it down so it’s flush. What do you think about that? Could you make a video?
Wow! How did you make a mold like that?
Great video. Kids would like to do that I'm sure
cool stuff. where have you been?
Nice metal.
Amazing video, I was just wondering if pewter could be used for really small shiny pieces. I was wondering if I could make a metal tooth cap, usually grillz for teeth are made with silver or gold. Would lead free pewter work in an easy cast replacement of this?
very nice video thank you for sharing . where can I buy pewtwer metal to work?
Sorry for the late reply... there are plenty of sources out there. Rotometals is great, but you can even get it on Amazon. Just do a search for 'pewter ingot' and you'll probably find several sources.
Alternatively, there are people who raid thrift stores for old pewter objects. You can find pewter candlesticks, picture frames, tankards, etc., and then just melt them down with a torch. It takes more effort to find what you need, but it's definitely the cheapest way. Just be careful to check the markings, because very old pieces may still contain lead.
where do you get the molds?
It looks like the mold can be used more than one time?! So the powder and heat do not deteriorate the mold?
The mold can definitely be used more than once! You'd think the heat would break down the glue in the chipboard, but apparently it is able to withstand quite a bit.
For basic molds, I've been able to reuse them up to probably 10 times, but that's normally because I make some iteration and start over with a new set. So it's hard to say exactly how long they last.
That said, if the mold is deep and contains thin lines of material, it's easier for the cast to pull bits of it out when you demold it. For me personally, if the detail is very thin, I'll try to keep it around .5mm deep, or less. The thicker the detail, the deeper you can go.
Loved the video, thanks for all the details! Would a tumbler be something that can be used on Pewter to do the finishing or does it damage the pattern too much?
you can polish pewter in a tumbler but use steel ball bearings as media, smooth ceramic chips work as well.
Is it any good for mechanical parts?
I've seen two gears in the end and I was thinking if I could use it to replace some plastic parts. How much tough does it get? I've read somewhere that it's supposed to hold up to 6900 psi. Is that true? There isn't a single video on pewter's strength for mechanical applications. More info would be greatly appreciated.
It's not bad, but definitely not the best. The metal gears definitely work, but pewter is much softer than steel, or even aluminum, so any mechanical parts would either need more reinforcement in their design or else need to be light duty pieces.
How do you make the desing on the chipboard?
Very interesting, nice video! Would you be able to bend that coin since its a softer metal?
So the short answer is 'yes', but it really depends on the size and thickness. The coins that I show in the opening clip are 2-3mm thick, which is a bit thicker than a normal coin, but I can't bend them by hand. Scale them up a bit though, and you could get the mechanical advantage you would need to bend them. It's the same with any metal, that way. I've made a few nameplates that are 1-2mm thick, and they can be bent fairly easily by hand, but since they're designed to be mounted on wood it's no issue.
Normally when I'm casting a new project I'll start thinner, and if it's too bendy I'll just use a thicker spacer in the mold.
@@SomeUncomm That makes sense, thanks. I might try this out with a silicone mould i made based of a 3D print. It seems like a good method to get into metal casting and forgiving in a sense as you can just remelt the failures as youve shown!
Where do you buy the alloy?
What Copper used for pewter casting? I just know copper sulphate thats blue colour
hi
So I have a vintage press for pewter , is it with anything ?
That metal should be a fourth place metal for the Olympics & the Pan-American Games, without the lead.
if you can use correct units you will have more subs
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.