pewtersmith needed

**piperdbh** · 5th July 09, 11:00 PM

I've seen pics here of kilt pins and other articles cast in pewter and silver and have been wondering why no one has cast dandelions in pewter. I'm picturing a medal, of sorts, about 1 1/2 inches in diameter, that X-Markers could wear as a lapel pin or on the left jacket pocket, suspended from a bit of ribbon in the style of military medals (but not trying to copy them). Would it be possible for someone who works in metals to cast a dandelion bloom in pewter for the Rabble to see? I think there would be sufficient interest to make it worthwhile to the metalsmith.
Any ideas?

**Mipi** · 5th July 09, 11:28 PM

Casting wouldn't be such a problem. Mold is hard to do. Someone should make a "prototype" out of some other material, then the mold can be made and casting is easy.

**Bugbear** · 5th July 09, 11:55 PM

I worked a little with pewter a long while back: rings etc. It's probably doable, but you would need all the equipment like a melting pot with a pour valve and so on... It would be a lot to mass produce them.

I just happen to be planning a project, but it is for a one time casting, don't have to worry about a long lasting mold, and I know sevral metal workers and artists with the soft metals equipment.

You might talk to Tyger about it; he does work with silver and pewter.

I don't know anything about the ribbins, so you might need input from some of the military members of the forum.

Good luck.

**Chas** · 6th July 09, 02:28 AM

DBH - I think you should follow this through. Even if the answer comes back that it is not practical or affordable. I am sure most members would be interested - I know I am.

Regards

Chas

**Colonel MacNeal** · 6th July 09, 10:55 AM

http://shop.ebay.com/items/?_nkw=dan...+pin&_osacat=0

Purchase, adapt, improvise ....

**tyger** · 7th July 09, 04:55 AM

Pewter, like other low temperature metal alloys, is easy to cast. If one needed to make many castings, then it would make sense to machine the mold from metal. High temperature silicone molds are capable of a limited number of castings.

I do work some pewter; however, one must take care that filings, chips, or bits of pewter never come into contact with your silver, brass, and copper during any annealing or soldering high temperature phase. This is because pewter burns itself into these metals, and ruination is the result.

I keep all tools that have been in contact with pewter in a box labeled PEWTER, and I work it outside, not in the shop.

I am in the process of making a dandelion belt buckle (brass, copper, glass), and a dandelion shawl pin (brass and glass), and I will post it soon as I finish.

Good luck in your venture, and let me know if I can help.

**piperdbh** · 7th July 09, 07:31 PM

Tyger,
The reason I suggested pewter was I thought it would be less expensive than silver. I don't know anything about metallurgy, so what you posted above is very interesting to learn. Would sliver be a better choice? I prefer the look of silver to gold or brass, but cost (as with a lot of things) will be one of the determining factors.
Thanks for the info. Like others have said before, you always learn something at XMTS.

**Standard** · 7th July 09, 07:47 PM

Piperdbh I know you said you don't like the look of brass, but IMHO brass would look very good for a dandelion pin. Are you thinking of only one suspended from a ribbon, or are you also thinking of a kilt pin style?

**piperdbh** · 7th July 09, 08:01 PM

I hadn't thought of a dandelion kilt pin, but I like the idea. About an inch and a half in diameter, with a leaf attached. Brass would look very nice, since the flower is yellow. Maybe there could be a choice of metal?
What started all this was Googling OBE and MBE and seeing the medals that those folks wear. I then thought to myself, "Self, why couldn't the Order of the Dandelion have a medal, too?" And then I thought to myself, "Self, post it to the Forum and see what happens." So I did. or those of us who do not have an XMTS cap badge, the medal suspended from a piece of the XMTS cut to ribbon size could be a way to identify each other at formal events, and would be a nice way to introduce others to us.

**tyger** · 8th July 09, 04:21 AM

Silver is wonderful to work, it is relatively expensive, and it is white. Brass is more difficult to work, relatively less expensive, and it is yellow.

I really like brass and copper for the color that it develops. Of course, silver will develop subtile color too, unless it is an argentium alloy.

A dandelion is yellow, and my personal preference would be for a brass flower instead of a silver flower.

I intend to get the brass dandelion belt buckle finished today.