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Thread: Removing plastic base from pewter mugs

  1. #1
    Boolit Mold
    Join Date
    Jul 2020
    Posts
    14

    Removing plastic base from pewter mugs

    I have a few pewter mugs that I would like to melt for the tin. They have plastic see-through bases. Can they be melted as is and burn the plastic off, or do I need to pound them apart first to remove the plastic?

    Thanks

    Jim

  2. #2
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Feb 2019
    Location
    Washington
    Posts
    402
    I have not encountered plastic, only glass in the bottom of the beer mugs. I throw it all in the melt and then fish out the gaskets, glass bottoms, steel pins (from hinged lids), and aluminum rings. Some of the newer products have an aluminum ring that seals the glass bottom in.
    JM
    Last edited by JM7.7x58; 09-12-2020 at 11:25 PM.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Location
    NC
    Posts
    2,863
    I break them out, the putty that seals them in stinks.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master
    CastingFool's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Climax, Michigan
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    2,634
    There is a pewter ring that holds the glass bottom in place. You can pry it up, so you can get the glass out, then scrape the putty.

  5. #5
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Location
    So Cal
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    364
    I always break the glass out and clean out the putty sealer. I'll then smash the mug to fit in my pot.

  6. #6
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
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    2,659
    Quote Originally Posted by CastingFool View Post
    There is a pewter ring that holds the glass bottom in place. You can pry it up, so you can get the glass out, then scrape the putty.
    ^^^
    What I do.

  7. #7
    Boolit Mold
    Join Date
    Jul 2020
    Posts
    14
    Thanks for the comments, much appreciated.

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Posts
    4,338
    I unroll the crimp that holds the ring and glass bottom in place. Scrap as much of the caulk as possible to keep as much unwanted material out of my smelting pot as possible.

  9. #9
    Moderator Emeritus


    MrWolf's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    NE West Virginia
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    4,856
    Quote Originally Posted by rcslotcar View Post
    I always break the glass out and clean out the putty sealer. I'll then smash the mug to fit in my pot.
    Same here. Putty stinks.

  10. #10
    Boolit Buddy PBaholic's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Wisconsin
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    236
    I have one of those hoses that you hook up to a 30# propane tank, that goes to the screw thread like the ones on small propane tanks. I screwed on a propane burner with a built in starter.

    So, now I've got a really nice torch available, and use it all the time.

    For Pewter mugs, I use the torch to burn the edge of the aluminum ring that holds the glass, and then grab hold of it with a needle nose. I keep melting the Pewter until it's clear and then throw it out.

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