Pewter Repair Methods and Things to Take into Account Since pewter is a soft metal that breaks easily, bringing back the strength from any sort of damage occurs just as delicate. An analysis from several perspectives of this repair process:
Estimating Pewter Composition
Most of the modern pewter however is 91% -95% tin with a bit of antimony and copper to harden it. This all translates to a low melting point of about 550°F (about 288°C) which means that during repair we must make sure not to melt the piece itself12.
Repair Methods
Soldering
Pewter Solder The most common way to mend recently made pewter is by employing pewter solder, produced only for this kind of metal It has a lower melting point than pewter, which allows for repairs34.
TIX Solder: A low temperature solder that melts at around 250°F (121°C). Very small repair where even a little overheating can cause damage46
This gives a nice tradeoff between overall solder strength and ease of use, as it will flow around 400°F. Pewter41 is sometimes desired because it matches the color of pewter45.
Techniques
Temperature Regulation: Pewter softens with low temperature, and it’s very easy to melt. Use a small flame so as to heat just the area in which you are making repairs. It would be wise to practice on scrap pieces before attempting repairs on those valuable items12.
Flux Application — The right flux will guarantee a strong bond. A certain type of flux is designed to work with a specific solder, and in any other case you get poor results34.
Difficulties in restoring old pewter
Old pewter items can contain lead, and this makes the item difficult to fix because of concerns about health and the possibility of more damage from the repair process. Often since antique parts have elaborate designs, their repairs feature specialized knowledge and effort26.
Alternative Repair Options
Two-part epoxy would be a good one for those of you who do not want to use solder or, depending in what the plan is to use them for could consider food-grade resin.pewter repair (ad) For small repairs these methods are useful as they do not need the extreme heat that melts pewter23.
In conclusion, while modern pewter can become restored successfully if you know-how and which materials to use, for antique pewter you may need a professional.
