Questions on sourcing junk pewter

[Hank Mcmauser]

Stopped by a 2nd hand junk store today and saw this mug, and a serving set (2nd pic) would either of these be a good candidate for smelting down to pour a nosecap? The mug was marked $12, and the serving set had 4 pieces for $15. Seems as it it is it would be better than paying shipping on an ingot of alloy from a vendor

 

[hawkeye2]

Track of the wolf gets $13/lb. + tax & shipping for pewter ingots. If either of the items you were looking at weighed a pound or more you could save a little and if you bought both you could probably haggle the price down some. Recycling pewterware is a good way to save just don't melt anything that has historic value or is collectable. Single items, incomplete sets and things like that mug don't fall into that category.

 

[J2shortt]

Bro!?!?!?!? Don't melt down the TRIPLE CROWN HALL OF FRIGGIN FAME GOBLET! Someone's Great uncle has been searching for that cup and will pay every bit of $6 and 20 minute conversation on how "these damn kids don't know how good they got it!"...

Don't let a good deal GO TO WASTE!



/s

 

[ZUG]

I'm a sucker for pewter mugs that have embossing and/or emblems on them. I can't bring myself to melting them down for nose caps and such. I have babbitt bearing material and linotype for such things.
I have no issues with putting a torch to any pewter plates or any other pewter items that are plane jane items of no value.

 

[deerstalkert]

shipping is here the vendors ream you on pewter.
I a dyed in the wool "wow that is neat, and just think of the work....... yada yada " collector. wife calls me a junkie but what does she know!
all that said if i needed pewter, I would grab that stuff and fire up a pot.

 

[The Crisco Kid]

I've always used tin for nose caps. I've read that it's use was common in the old days. I like the way it looks better than pewter but that's just my opinion. It keeps it's shine and doesn't tarnish. I get my tin for little or nothing at garage and estate sales in the form of 95/5 solder.

 

[Hank Mcmauser]

Well, I went back there today and picked up the mug. I also picked up the pewter snap-on belt buckle at the goodwill outlet for $.99/# unsure about melting that as I may find a snap on fan boy that needs it more than I do. Also snagged the brass house number that is going to become my front sight.

 

[Hank Mcmauser]

Well I should have left that mug, apparently it's aluminum, the torch didn't begin to melt it, however that pretty snap-on 75th anniversary belt buckle sure is pewter. It is now my nose cap. I used an arizona iced tea can for my form, used a little bit of modeling clay to form a block, and blue taped the bottom edge of the can. It's not as nice as If like but it's going to do alright. I got the front sight made and installed and I'm working on the ramrod pipes (1/2" steel tubing)and the ramrod. I'm going poor mountain boy syyle on this rifle and using a nice fairly straight section of river cane I harvested in late '23 for making arrows. I will need to finish drilling the stock for the ramrod. Install the pipes, dovetail the barrel for the pinning tennons, and the rear sight ,make and install the rear sight, and start making some of that magical go boom powder. I'm probably going to shoot this a dozen or so times and hang it on the wall afterwards. As I've got a CVA Mountaineer on its way soon, and it will be for regular duty.