Blacksmithing - Casting a pewter pommel on antler

One of our Facebook friends requested a little presentation on how I cast my pewter knife bolsters and pommels.
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[@danielcharbonneau222]

Definitely a beautiful looking blade. Everyone makes mistakes, it's how you correct it that matters. Great video.

[@serendipityforge333]

Thank you sir. You’re exactly right, that’s the same thing I’ve tried to teach my kids and new hires.

[@chuckbowie5833]

Beautiful work!

[@serendipityforge333]

Thank you sir.

[@patrickambler749]

What a great way to cast a pommel! Thank you

[@serendipityforge333]

You’re very welcome

[@y-notforge8913]

..fascinating process. Great looking blade also. Even Blackbeard would like using it...

[@toddmedic186]

Really enjoyed this video and watching the work you do!

[@serendipityforge333]

Thank you sir. I’ll try and keep them coming.

[@Hopeknives13]

Only way we learn is from our mistakes. Thanks for video. Question you said you ran to hardware store for pewter are you just using soder? If so it save me from ordering it online. I’ve forged two knives I’d like to try this on thank you. 🔪

[@serendipityforge333]

I use lead free plumbing solder or I melt down small pewter items I occasionally find at flea markets or antique stores

[@Hopeknives13]

@@serendipityforge333 thank you I’ll give that a try. You take care

[@serendipityforge333]

@@Hopeknives13 excellent! You’ll do a fine job.

[@crystalandbillashley8854]

This is awesome! Thanks for the video, excited to explore your other vids!

[@serendipityforge333]

Thank you very much and I appreciate the views.

[@robertsmith616]

My hardware store doesn't sell pewter are you using lead free solder .?

[@serendipityforge333]

Yessir. Pewter is just easier to say and more folks understand the concept. Now, I have melted down old decorative items and such, but the lead free solder is easier to get and works just fine, and it’s lead free!

[@craigcook1571]

What do you buy at the hardware store that is pewter?

[@serendipityforge333]

I use the term pewter because it’s easy to say and easy to understand. In the past I’ve picked up old pewter pieces at yard sales and such and melted them down. Now I just use lead-free solder, which gives the same effect without the possibility of lead contamination.

[@craigcook1571]

@@serendipityforge333 ok thanks

[@jimhamlin8671]

I do have a question. Can I cast lead same manner? Tape etc?

[@serendipityforge333]

Lead melts at 621.5 F and that’s about 130 degrees hotter than what I use. It may be possible but it would take some small scale experiments with lots of safety measures to find out.

[@GodseyKnives]

nice work !

[@serendipityforge333]

Thank you very much

[@anthonystrunk5360]

Knife looks great!

[@Vikingwerk]

That is a really neat process! I’ve been fantasizing about making a knife with a cast in place brass grip, but I’ve not worked out exactly how to accomplish it without destroying the heat treat of the blade. My current working theory is to heat treat the blade, cast the brass onto the tang, and use the residual heat from the casting for a color run temper on the blade. Obviously it would be a far cry from modern heat treat and temper standards, but it would be interesting to try!

[@serendipityforge333]

Brass melts pretty high at a bit over 1700f. That’d be a lot of residual heat to deal with, too much I think because that’s into the forging range of most steels. Maybe it’d work if you could suspend your blade in water and cast from the handle side.

[@Vikingwerk]

@@serendipityforge333 Yeah, I’ve cast a bit of brass before, and know the temperature range pretty much makes the whole idea a non-starter, but it’s fun to try and imagine a solution!

[@serendipityforge333]

@@Vikingwerk agreed! There’s a way to make it work I’m sure

[@michaelharrison8036]

Beautiful, I had no idea it was possible to cast a pommel like that!

[@serendipityforge333]

Yessir. Thank you very much