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bgreed
08-06-2013, 06:46 PM
I took the idea from U more experienced fellows and started aquiring pewter items from local thrift shops garage sales etc. Only buying things marked as pewter the mystery is I get a large amount of heavy slag on top when I melt it down. Is this usual? Or am ssingg
deltaenterprizes
08-06-2013, 07:09 PM
The dross is oxidation that may have put on the items to make them look old or just from age.
500MAG
08-06-2013, 07:12 PM
Hope you didn't try to melt anything marked "RWP pewter". Royal Wilton is not pewter. I'm not sure if it would melt at the temp close to pewter melting point.
luky-dude
08-06-2013, 08:17 PM
Do you flux pewter? What else do I need to know about smelting it?
500MAG
08-06-2013, 08:25 PM
When you heat the pewter, the tin will oxidize at the top layer. Fluxing will reduce th loss of this oxidation.
dbosman
08-06-2013, 08:41 PM
I've not done much pewter, yet. I melt it in my smelting container while warming that up for lead. As soon as the pewter is melted I pour it. Any oxidation I'll deal with when I add it to the lead.
docone31
08-06-2013, 09:00 PM
Add some vegetable oil whil melting down.
Keeps the dross down.
imashooter2
08-06-2013, 09:57 PM
Heat to ~500 degrees. Toss in a big pinch of saw dust. Stir with a wooden paint stirrer. The heavy "oatmeal" will reduce into the melt leaving charcoal and a small amount of dry gray dirt or dust. Skim that off and discard. Reduce the heat and ladle your nice clean alloy into the mold of your choice. It's pretty...

http://home.comcast.net/~imashooter2/pictures/sell/pewb.jpg

Don't be concerned about Wilton non pewter. It won't melt at casting temperatures.
robpete
08-06-2013, 11:03 PM
So pretty....
gimling
08-06-2013, 11:18 PM
Use a Flux, sawdust is a great flux to use it creates a barrier and keeps tin and other goods from oxidizing and being skimmed out of your melt. if you see shiny metal when you are scooping out the floating dross/impurities then your taking out the tin.
bgreed
08-07-2013, 12:45 AM
No Wilton marked stuf. The dross is heavy and thick but after really only a few piecrs I have nearly two pounds of thr stiff. Tried fluxing witj pine sawdust doesn' t make any difference. Any thoughts?
imashooter2
08-07-2013, 06:02 AM
No Wilton marked stuf. The dross is heavy and thick but after really only a few piecrs I have nearly two pounds of thr stiff. Tried fluxing witj pine sawdust doesn' t make any difference. Any thoughts?

Yes it does. Get the melt hotter.