is there any reason why I can't ...

[Phil Pascoe]

... mix lead free pewter with leaded pewter? I can't see any reason why not, but someone here will have done it before. It's for inlays, not for making vessels or anything.

 

[heronviewer]

if you are going to melt it, you will just have less lead content in the alloy.

 

[sunnybob]

pewter is more brittle than lead. If its not going to be disturbed once poured, I would just do it.

 

[Jonzjob]

Pewter, brittle??? Not any of the pewter I have ever drank out of and I carry my pewter pot in my car and have done so since I got back from Singapore in 1969. :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

There is only a tiny amount of lead in pewter and the alloy is a lot harder than lead, but not brittle.

 

[bourbon]

no reason at all. It will just dilute the lead on the finished alloy. When you melt it, use a little bit of tallow to clear the muck, especially if it's old stuff.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Thanks, everyone. I couldn't think of a reason why they shouldn't mix, but I thought I'd ask as I'm no expert in these things. I picked up yet another pewter pint pot for £2 on Sunday (so I've five to do)....... it was a good morning all told - I got a 5ltr coloured Johnstone's pliolite masonry paint (which is enough to do my back walls) for a fiver and a set of four unused Wood Beaver augers for a tenner. :lol:

 

[Jonzjob]

May one ask what one is going to do with one's pewter mix :? :?

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Inlays on turnery, rims of bowls and maybe finials. I would like to incorporate some dichroic glass (I have a small kiln).

 

[Jonzjob]

That sounds an interesting idea Phil. I look forward to seeing some of the photos.

When I was living in France the top notch roof guttering and pipe work is zinc. It lasts for ever and is as soft as poo :shock: It solders very easily and if you put a gas torch on iy t a moment too long you have a nice hole! It looks a bit like pewter and is as soft as lead. That would be an interesting material too as it has such a low melting point making it easy to use?