Techniques for Casting Pewter Jewelry
- Make a pewter turtle by using the sand casting method.pewter turtle image by jimcox40 from Fotolia.com
Artists use the process of pewter casting to make figurines, toys, jewelry, dishes and ornamental items. Pewter has a low melting point, which makes it a good metal for teachers to teach metalworking or jewelry making in the educational system. The molten pewter is poured into molds to create the desired item. Pewter molds should be placed on either an enamel or glass surface, as the molten pewter will not stick to these surfaces. - You must find or make a template of the desired item prior to making the mold. The template is necessary because it creates the void needed to pour the metal. Use the appropriate material to make each type of mold.
Sandcasting and Plaster of Paris template materials include metal, wood, plastic, wax, clay and glass. The template must be hard to allow for the proper imprint needed in the sand. The investment mold is carved from wax so it will melt and leave a void in the investment.
Soapstone does not require a mold. You carve or incise the image into the surface of the soapstone as an exact opposite of the desired design. - Create a sandcast mold by inserting the template into the sand. Press firmly so the entire template is submerged. The bottom of the template will be flush with the top of the sand if it has been inserted properly. You can do multiple castings with this method.
When using an investment mold, place a sprue on the carved wax template. The investment fully encases the entire mold, including the sprue. Remov the wax by heating the investment and melting the wax. Insert the molten pewter into the mold by centrifugal process, or the spinning of the container. This method only allows one casting.
Make a plaster mold by placing the template inside a container and pouring plaster around it. Cut the mold in half and remove the template. Drill a pour hole into the plaster to add the molten pewter.
Carve a design into the soapstone that is the exact opposite of the desired pewter shape. Pour the the molten pewter into the mold and leave it to harden. The pewter will release easily from the soapstone mold after it has hardened. - Melt the pewter ingots in a cast iron skillet with a blowtorch. You can reuse old pewter items or leftovers from other castings and melt them with the pewter ingots. The cast iron skillet withstands the heat well and has a nice handle that allows you to to pour the molten pewter. The molten pewter will not stick to the pan, so you can leave any leftover pewter in the pan to harden. Place the pan on a surface that will not catch on fire from the heat.
- Cut off the pour hole or sprue hole shapes from the pewter object. Use sandpaper and small files to remove any imperfections or to emphasize line work in the design.
