Pewter Casting

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Pewter Casting

• Medieval art form
• Interlace patterns (animals and linear designs)
• Emphasis on openwork

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• Pewter is an alloy of tin and a little copper
• Pewter has a low melting temperature of 500 750
  degrees

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Pewter Silver

• Pewter does not have a high, glossy finish,
  but rather, it has a satin finish

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• Designs
• Geometric forms
• Nature-based forms
• Alpha-numeric forms

Designs must fit within the circle!

• Metal must flow into all parts!
• Pouring spout (sprue)
• Air vents

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Pouring area (sprue)
Air vents (must go upwards)
Metal will not flow uphill!
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Melting and pouring

• Molds must be COMPLETELY dry!
• Clamp a flat cookie to the carved cookie, settle
  in the sand at a good angle.
• Heat the ladle, dont allow it to rest on the
  sand (the sand will absorb heat and take longer)
• When metal rolls easily, pour while keeping the
  flame on the metal
• Unclamp the two plaster cookies, remove the metal
  and dunk in cold water. Remember, its HOT! Use
  tools, not fingers!
• If the casting is incomplete, remelt the metal
  and try again.

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Hints for better casting

• Divide the jobs, one student to hold ladle, one
  to hold the torch
• Dont let kids toss metal into the ladle it
  can splash out
• Be sure all papers are clear of the casting area
• Use a piece of plywood to protect the table
• Have water ready to dunk hot metal (or to soothe
  burnt fingertips!)
• The molds cast better when theyre warm, if
  youve got a toaster oven, pre-warm the molds for
  faster results
• If the first cast isnt complete, inspect for
  inferior carving, add pathways, or cast again
  while the mold is warm

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Supplies

• Propane tank 2
• Electronic igniter 25 (optional but nice!)
• Oil pan (feed pan) 8
• Plaster of Paris 10
• Bag of play sand 5
• Casting pewter - 24 lb
• Clamps 3