https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/soldering-a-pewter-ring • Posted by Rebecca Skeels.
Again I was asked for some advice and found it easier to do a step by step, hope it helps others. Soldering a pewter ring. See link.
Again I was asked for some advice and found it easier to do a step by step, hope it helps others. Soldering a pewter ring. See link.
Pewter strip. Pewter can be bought as sheet, tube or bar. It is a low melting soft metal.
Pewter is very soft and textures really nicely, it also scratches, so if its jewellery keep this in mind!
It bends easily too, you can't anneal it in the normal way, but we found putting in boiling water softens it when it has work hardened.
Measure and cut it in the same way that you normally do. Keep your tools separate... pewter can 'contaminate' silver, even a spec of dust could eat a hole into your silver.... (controlled this may be exciting... unexpected its a nightmare!)
Flux with pewter flux, remember to wash brushes and hands after use, avoid skin contact with the flux! And wash it off your work afterwards!
The join needs to have no gaps and the metal needs to be clean. For this demo I will use a pallion of silver but....
I usually stick feed with pewter work
Heat carefully, you don't need to heat the whole thing only where the join is! Like 'normal' soldering the solder flows towards the heat. Here the solder has just started to melt.
This is when I stopped heating, it took a matter of seconds, I am literally taking the heat away as this picture was taken.
Clean up as normal, remember the metal is soft so will clean up fast, avoid anything too harsh. Remember it is 'sticky' so clogs up tools and papers fast. Remember don't use your tools you use on silver!!
finish, we found polishing with shammy leather with brasso or rouge is good, polishing machines will remove metal too fast and create lines if you are not careful. Textures are good.