In the alloying of pewter it is important that the mix is accurately controlled both on quantities and temperature for repeatability. Once manufacture procedures have been established in a pewter workshop, it is essential that the supply of raw materials is consistent from batch to batch, whether it be for casting ingots or for sheet materials.

ROLLING The slabs of pewter in their 'cast form' will have a rough surface and the upper surface will have considerable shrinkage marks and depressions. The upper and lower surfaces are therefore machined off. The slabs are then passed through banks of rolling mills which progressively reduce the thickness. It is important that the rolls of these mills are polished to a high finish and every care must be taken to keep the sheet clean to avoid letting dirt or other foreign substances into the surface. During the reduction process, the pewter softens quite considerably from its original 'cast' hardness. This is mainly due to a reduction in crystal size and distribution caused by the rolling and reducing action. The rolling and reduction continues until the desired sheet thickness is reached.

SPINNING Spinning is a metal-forming technique, done on a suitable spinning lathe, by which flat sheet can be easily formed into hollow vessels. Using formers or burnishers, the spinner works the pewter discs onto former chucks which come in many and various shapes and sizes.

SOLDERING Pewtersmiths are experienced in soldering which makes it one of the most important techniques in the pewter workshop, as it is the standard method of joining individual components to form an assembly. When carried out with skill and the correct materials, the joints are extremely difficult to detect. Using various solder alloys for the many varied items made nowadays, the pewtersmith has to use his skill in bringing the components to a soldering lamp, or in certain circumstances the lamp to the component

CASTING Casting is the oldest method of producing pewterware and in some countries it is still the dominant method. Gravity casting into permanent metal moulds is the traditional and most widely-used technique of producing cast pewterware.

Slush casting is a method of making hollow castings without the complexity of using cores, particularly where the profile or surface finish of the inside is relatively unimportant. This makes it an ideal method for reducing the weight of a handle or other attachment to a main article without upsetting the balance or feel.

Rubber mould casting by the centrifugal method is, today, a very common method of producing small items quickly, accurately and to a high standard of finish and complexity. Impressions are formed in two thick circular sheets of rubber, which are then clamped together. The top sheet has a central hole which connects with runways in the rubber which lead to the impressions. Molten pewter is poured into the central hole of the top sheet, whilst the mould is rotated at high speed. The pewter is forced along the runways into the cavities by the centrifugal force. When the metal has cooled, almost immediately, the two halves are parted and a radial display of cast parts is seen.

FINISHING Finishing is the last process in the production of a piece of pewterware, but is by no means a technique tacked on to the end of the other processes. It is the finish that determines the final appearance and characteristics of a piece of work. Firstly, stitched mops dressed with abrasive compounds are used to cut away the surface, to remove irregularities and imperfections. This is then followed by the final polishing on swansdown mops, using a rouge based compound. This gives an extremely fine, sometimes mirror, finish and brings out the colour of the metal.

It can be seen that there are many different skills in the making of pewterware, too many to fit into this short introduction. The skills mentioned have been handed down over the centuries and the craftsmen of today are still proud of their heritage. We owe them all a debt of gratitude for their continued efforts to turn out superior articles of beauty.