pewter

[sschultz]

When and if I find some pewter can I smelt it down like lead ( in smaller ingots ).

[imashooter2]

Yes. Same process, except lower heat.

[cdngunner]

I made my own mold out of two aluminum blocks. Casts 1oz slugs.

Makes getting your ratios easier, makes adding a pound or two to the pot easier

[sschultz]

Thats what I was planing to do. When I start to make bullets can I then add the pewter to the lead.

[BNE]

Yes, it will make nice SHINY ingots. I cast some using a 45ACP mould. That way I can add it in small increments. There is usually someone on this site selling pewter.

[sschultz]

Copy thanks

[OptimusPanda]

Lately I've been going to thrift stores looking for old beat up pewter bowls and cups. Also found a large number of pewter picture frames for short money that way. I usually end up paying between $3 and $6 a pound that way and make small ingots from aluminum muffin pans.

[original]

when melting down the pewter do you still need to flux or skim off anything that mat have been added to the mix? what is the melting point of pewter?

[imashooter2]

Pewter melts at 350 - 450 degrees depending on exact alloy. Yes you flux to remove dirt, old polish, and return oxides to the melt.

[RogerDat]

Think the main point is to cast your pewter stock into small or thin pieces since you will only use small amounts to sweeten a pot of lead with a little tin. So a thin wafer worth in a muffin tin, a large boolit mold, or an ingot thin enough to break apart for a few oz. at a time is what you want to end up with.

It would only take 1/3 of a lb. of pewter to make a 20 lb. pot of COWW's have 2% tin. Little over 5 oz. would do the whole pot.

FWIW - a wide cold chisel can cut through a disk of pewter from the muffin pan or a thin ingot from a half filled mold pretty easily. But casting pewter into bullets will give you very consistent weight chunks making your "recipe" a little easier to repeat and less hassle. Some people just use tongs and dip an end into the pot and melt the end off of the ingot.

[Leverlad]

I went off to a second hand thrift shop and bought what i thought was a pewter tumbler - it was quite heavy and looked to be cast. It wasnt a shiny metal but rather matt looking. It bounced when i dropped it on concrete but shattered when i hit it with a hammer - does that sound like pewter?? I hope so cos i wanted to throw a bit in my next pot full of lead. I estimated about 5grains weighed in my powder scale for a 10Lb pot - does that sound about right?

[imashooter2]

I went off to a second hand thrift shop and bought what i thought was a pewter tumbler - it was quite heavy and looked to be cast. It wasnt a shiny metal but rather matt looking. It bounced when i dropped it on concrete but shattered when i hit it with a hammer - does that sound like pewter?? I hope so cos i wanted to throw a bit in my next pot full of lead. I estimated about 5grains weighed in my powder scale for a 10Lb pot - does that sound about right?

No, I'm afraid that isn't pewter. Check the thread in my signature for some good tips and examples.

[lightman]

If I were going to cast ingots from pewter I think I would use a large caliber bullet mold, like something for a 44mag or even a 45-70. The small sections of the Lee ingot mold would be another choice. The bullet mold would give you very consistent weights to work with.

[nylocmik]

Thanks for the suggestions for casting my pewter ingots using bullet molds. Smart, really smart.

[Forgetful]

Makes me want to buy a gang mold. I'm using a silicone candy mold, making coin-shaped puddles about 1oz each and 1/4" thick. With straight walls in the mold, thickness linearly translates to weight.

[adanymous]

I use my lyman ingot mould and pour them about 1/8 inch thick. Gives me 2 oz about every time.