pewter knife bolstersn

[freeloader]

I have been making knives with pewter bolster for about 4 yrs. now. I am running into a huge problem that until last winter has never happened.My usual routine is drill hole for tang in deer antler, drill anchor holes, set tang in with 2prt. epoxy, let cure, dam off pour area with masking tape and manila envelope paper. heat pewter in an antique metal casting ladle, pour pewter, shape and done.
My problem is I thought contaminated pewter, I tried pewter, pewter mixes, straight lead, and even tire weights. NO HELP.fluxed compound to death. NO HELP, Move all my matereals out of work shop (UNHEATED)and moved them into the kitchen, worked a little better but not good enough.My Problem is that my pewter is boiling like a yellowstone mud pot and leaving large cavities in the bolster. Today I thought you need to heat and dry every thing out. So I moved to the bathroom cranked up the heat to 72 Degrees warmed my propane bottle, antler with tang and all other implements involved, everything warm and dry and when I poured it did not boil so much, so I thought GOT IT!!! took the wrap off and a little hole about half way down, I thought no big deal so I began to file and opened up a huge cavern. I haved talked to metal ergests bullet moulders etc. no help! I am desperate has any body else out there had this problem with a solution that I or anyone else to date has not thought of? Thanks, hope someone can help, I have pulled out all of my hair and started smoking again.

 

[LRB]

Been there. Looked like Kracatoa. From my experience, the problem is the epoxy. The hot pewter burns and melts it, and creates gases which do exactly as you describe. I pour a tad short on the epoxy, then seal it from the pour with a thin wood disc, or poster board, and clean out any that might contact the pewter. If you don't mind waiting for it to completely dry, you can use a flour dough seal. Anything that the pewter will not melt, or burn through. Also, try not to over heat the pewter.

 

[anvil1231]

What Wick said. It seems that I may have been getting air bubbles in the epoxy also. Then when the hot pewter hit the epoxy it would try to bubble out. I haven't had any more trouble since I have started doing as Wick describe with the piece of wood. Again as Wick said don't heat the pewter to hot.

 

[LaBonte]

Sounds like the pewter may be on the hot side as noted. Flow temp is generally about 50°F above the melting point of whatever pewter alloy you choose.

Suggestions - use JB Weld instead of regular epoxy since it holds up to the heat real well unlike most regular epoxies. I've used JB on auto exhaust system parts, including a cracked manifold and it held for years.

Another thing that helps flow is to rub all the places you want the metal to flow with a lead pencil - where possible of course. Also warm the blade up to help flow when casting. A heat gun set at low (about 350° F) or a hair dryer on hogh works good and lessens the chance of burning the wood or the paper mold.

 

[freeloader]

Thanks to all of you for your comments and suggestions, I have been using this method for years and I have not had a problem with it until winter hits. It did not seem to matter what type of epoxy I used. Started out with gorilla glue, No problem except its not that strong, tried the JB weld and it still did the Krakatoa thing.I am going to try the wood deal though, could you explain to me how you get the wood fiber in after your tang is already epoxied? I try not to drill a large cavity, just large enough to fit the tang has always worked best for me.I tried the heat deal this morning and another big crater.Dang this thing is really buggin me. Hey wick are you a member of CLA? thought I had seen your name some where? Maybe we could chat, I think I will look on the Artisian board to see if I can find your e-mail address or Phone#. Thanks all keep the suggestions coming.Freeloader

 

[davy]

Thanks to all of you for your comments and suggestions, I have been using this method for years and I have not had a problem with it until winter hits. It did not seem to matter what type of epoxy I used. Started out with gorilla glue, No problem except its not that strong, tried the JB weld and it still did the Krakatoa thing.I am going to try the wood deal though, could you explain to me how you get the wood fiber in after your tang is already epoxied? I try not to drill a large cavity, just large enough to fit the tang has always worked best for me.I tried the heat deal this morning and another big crater.Dang this thing is really buggin me. Hey wick are you a member of CLA? thought I had seen your name some where? Maybe we could chat, I think I will look on the Artisian board to see if I can find your e-mail address or Phone#. Thanks all keep the suggestions coming.Freeloader

Sounds like good advice I could use in the future ... Wick warned me last year not to let epoxy and poured pewter mix.:hmm: :nono: Can any body give us a diagram or picture of what they mean by using the wooden dam method? Thanx ...

Davy :thumbsup:

 

[freeloader]

Glad to have you aboard Davy!, Maybe we can get some good ideas going here. Ya wick I looked up your Phone # on CLA's Artisan list, tried your phone, but no answer. I have three knives and the likes for sale on CLA's site I am a member also. All are sold waiting to clear the bank.Two are under hunting pouches and one Brain fog knife under knives Tomahawks etc. The knives you see with the pouch sets were made during the summer months, no problem. Made about 20 of them because they are the easiest or at least until winter hits, to make. By the way my real name is Mike and I sure would like to clear this pewter problem up. Thanks to all who have responded.

 

[freeloader]

Well Back to the drawing board, Ya all probably have to work for a living, well I guess I do to, but I had to get back to the experimentation from all of your suggestions. I do not use a thermometer,I do not think the 18th century black smith used one either, and like I said before I have never had this problem before winter sets in and it can get cold and snowy in my part of the woods. I wanted to give you that have tried to help me and any one else that is interested,my up to date report I bore out a piece of deer antler and poured no epoxy into it and went about as usual, and as usual in winter it boiled and churned!! WHAT A BUMMER. But then I took to heart the temp. Factor that was mentioned by most of you and I set up another one NO tang, No epoxy, I heated to room temp. all materials, and put the torch to the Ladle, but this time after I heated it to very flowing I stopped my self from pouring and waited while the pewter started to set up and kept rolling it back and forth in the ladle,while it was starting to frost on top, but I kept rolling it over and over until I figured it was about to solidify and then very slowly I began my pour a little fizzle at first, and I stopped and then I poured it the rest of the way. Waited for it to cool enough to remove the wrapper, and so far it looks good!!! I will let you know what happens when I lay the file to it.
Thanks again, Freeloader, (Mike)

 

[Trkdriver99]

If you are using pewter why use epoxy? The pewter will hold the tang. Don't drill as large of hole.

Ronnie