Pewter score

How much did it cost and what do you think you bagged for weight? I got frustrated with shopping for it and ended up paying market price for actual tin. I only use it when I need to.
 
MuthaFunk said:
How much did it cost and what do you think you bagged for weight? I got frustrated with shopping for it and ended up paying market price for actual tin. I only use it when I need to.
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I picked up several similar pieces, yesterday, from the Valu Village in Vernon and the Salvation Thrift store behind it.

I weighed the pieces, everything from mugs, cups, candle stick holders, one plate and picture frame.

Worked out to $2 per pound, stripped of all the glass and other types of metal tabs.
 
Amature, lol

Three trips worth and last trip got about half of whats in the bucket

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I've been buying pewter for at least 30 years. Still have a stash of 50lbs or so and I have sold some over the years as well. I still shop the thrift stores but don't see nearly as much as I used to. Have melted down a lot of beer mugs over the years. Still have a couple big boxes to turn into ingots. Mugs that yield 8-10 oz usually sell for around 3 bucks.

My wife has rescued some "cute" stuff over the years as well. They are in the china cabinet now.
 
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Pewter isn't being used as much as it used to be for such things as beer mugs or liquor flasks.

There are still a few specialty places that make picture frames and decorator plates or even plaques.

The tin content is much lower than it used to be.

There are two ways to check the tin content.

If the mug or plate doesn't bend or flex easily it likely isn't good quality pewter and may even contain more zinc.

The other method is to look for a triangle on the bottom that will usually indicate the tin content.
 
People make these things seem common but I never have any luck getting lead from Tire shops or pewter from pretty much anywhere. Sooner or later hopefully.
 
I got three 4 cubic ft boxes of pewter mugs plates and candlesticks at an auction three years ago and with fees and taxes less than $40. People were asking me after what I wanted it for and I said I was making cannonballs for fishing. I am still melting it down a couple dozen pieces at a time as I need some. Can you run this through a shot maker for non-toxic shot?
 
270 totheend said:
I got three 4 cubic ft boxes of pewter mugs plates and candlesticks at an auction three years ago and with fees and taxes less than $40. People were asking me after what I wanted it for and I said I was making cannonballs for fishing. I am still melting it down a couple dozen pieces at a time as I need some. Can you run this through a shot maker for non-toxic shot?
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Non Toxic??? Pewter usually has some lead in it. The poorer grades of Pewter can have up to 60% lead. Check out the triangles on the bottom

Those are very expensive cannonball weights, when you consider what you could be selling the Pewter for.

Zinc is cheap but not nearly as toxic as lead. It's still toxic though and can really screw up kidneys and liver.
 
bearhunter said:
Non Toxic??? Pewter usually has some lead in it. The poorer grades of Pewter can have up to 60% lead. Check out the triangles on the bottom

Those are very expensive cannonball weights, when you consider what you could be selling the Pewter for.

Zinc is cheap but not nearly as toxic as lead. It's still toxic though and can really screw up kidneys and liver.
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-Really old pewter as in ancient items, had some lead in it but modern pewter made into a mug or plate for use is mostly tin. (I hate using Wikipedia as a reference but 85-99 % tin).
- I didn’t make cannonball weights but only told the inquisitive I was.
- I am not eating it, only shootin’ it
 
After a few years collecting I have a several hundred pounds of pewter in various state of ingots to plates, picture frames, etc. I'm running out of space to keep this stuff. I already have a couple of display cabinets full of really nice non melting pewter that is otherwise more valuable as collectible pieces. I have a couple of decently antique mugs probably worth a couple of hundred dollars each as just collectibles.

The cheap supply is definitely decreasing. A lot of garbage Chinese "pewter" that is just mostly zinc that you need to avoid. Even though I don't need anymore I still can't help picking up a cheap seagull picture frame or 70's retirement mug especially if its only a buck or two, lol. Oh well I guess when I die the thrift store market will have a pewter glut once again :)

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