How To Clean Pewter?
How to clean pewter?
I have some old pewter figurines of my fathers. I believe he started getting them in 1977. They have been stored for a very long time and now the protective padding has disintegrated and molded onto the figurines. I was wondering how to go about cleaning them. (I have no idea what type they are tho)
Depending how badly stuck on that is, pewter is as easy to clean as any jewellery, can just use some warm water and dish soap with a toothbrush.
Sonic jewellery cleaner would work too if it's worked into small/hard to reach places.
Sonic jewellery cleaner would work too if it's worked into small/hard to reach places.
wouldnt a toothbrush be abrasive on the softer metal?
or a paintbrush should do it also . but a soft toothbrush will do the job aswell .
Pewter is soft yes, but it's not that soft.
I've done a lot of casting with pewter and cleaned it with everything from steel wool to scotchbright. Just when using more abrasive stuff gotta be more careful.
I've done a lot of casting with pewter and cleaned it with everything from steel wool to scotchbright. Just when using more abrasive stuff gotta be more careful.
Try a toothbrush to get the foam off and then read a bit on some automotive detailing clay. It comes in bars about like soap but I don't know what it does on pewter.
I know on pewter flasks, steins, etc. they polish it in-factory with a form of clay and a rotating polishing wheel.
I know on pewter flasks, steins, etc. they polish it in-factory with a form of clay and a rotating polishing wheel.
Vinegar and baking soda paste also should work and not be abrasive.
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Using a buffing wheel would be ill advised on a piece like that, from the pictures it looks like he's supposed to be a matte finish as opposed to mirror bright. If you were to polish him, they make specific polishes for pewter that you use by hand, or you can make your own out of some simple household items.
Allyha Kiade said: »
Using a buffing wheel would be ill advised on a piece like that, from the pictures it looks like he's supposed to be a matte finish as opposed to mirror bright. If you were to polish him, they make specific polishes for pewter that you use by hand, or you can make your own out of some simple household items.
Around one hundred of these things. Looks like most of them are in the shape in the OP.
Found one that looked fairly unscathed tho.
Found one that looked fairly unscathed tho.
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From a person who deals with pewter minis, depending on the number of them you are going to be dealing with, soaking them in Simple Green should help greatly. After the soaking you can take a toothbrush to them and remove the stuff still stuck on. Shouldn't be a huge issue if you go that route.
Didn't read the part where there are around a hundred of them. For that volume, I would really lean towards the Simple Green, then.
EDIT:
Here is a link that gives you some other decent options as well as application.
http://www.blmablog.com/2009/12/stripping-metal-miniatures.html
In the link it talks about stripping paint primarily, but this can be applied to other things, sculpting putty, glue, etc. Positive it will apply for your foam issue as well.
Didn't read the part where there are around a hundred of them. For that volume, I would really lean towards the Simple Green, then.
EDIT:
Here is a link that gives you some other decent options as well as application.
http://www.blmablog.com/2009/12/stripping-metal-miniatures.html
In the link it talks about stripping paint primarily, but this can be applied to other things, sculpting putty, glue, etc. Positive it will apply for your foam issue as well.
[+]
Pew Pew....... that is all.
Valefor.Xerus said: »
From a person who deals with pewter minis, depending on the number of them you are going to be dealing with, soaking them in Simple Green should help greatly. After the soaking you can take a toothbrush to them and remove the stuff still stuck on. Shouldn't be a huge issue if you go that route.
Didn't read the part where there are around a hundred of them. For that volume, I would really lean towards the Simple Green, then.
EDIT:
Here is a link that gives you some other decent options as well as application.
http://www.blmablog.com/2009/12/stripping-metal-miniatures.html
In the link it talks about stripping paint primarily, but this can be applied to other things, sculpting putty, glue, etc. Positive it will apply for your foam issue as well.
Didn't read the part where there are around a hundred of them. For that volume, I would really lean towards the Simple Green, then.
EDIT:
Here is a link that gives you some other decent options as well as application.
http://www.blmablog.com/2009/12/stripping-metal-miniatures.html
In the link it talks about stripping paint primarily, but this can be applied to other things, sculpting putty, glue, etc. Positive it will apply for your foam issue as well.
Lemon juice and salt
Valefor.Xerus said: »
From a person who deals with pewter minis, depending on the number of them you are going to be dealing with, soaking them in Simple Green should help greatly. After the soaking you can take a toothbrush to them and remove the stuff still stuck on. Shouldn't be a huge issue if you go that route.
Didn't read the part where there are around a hundred of them. For that volume, I would really lean towards the Simple Green, then.
EDIT:
Here is a link that gives you some other decent options as well as application.
http://www.blmablog.com/2009/12/stripping-metal-miniatures.html
In the link it talks about stripping paint primarily, but this can be applied to other things, sculpting putty, glue, etc. Positive it will apply for your foam issue as well.
Didn't read the part where there are around a hundred of them. For that volume, I would really lean towards the Simple Green, then.
EDIT:
Here is a link that gives you some other decent options as well as application.
http://www.blmablog.com/2009/12/stripping-metal-miniatures.html
In the link it talks about stripping paint primarily, but this can be applied to other things, sculpting putty, glue, etc. Positive it will apply for your foam issue as well.
if it can strip paint, will it cause any damage to the figures?
I havnt looked but im guess figurines form the 70's... i wont ever be able to replace if they get messed up.
Odin.Godofgods said: »
Valefor.Xerus said: »
From a person who deals with pewter minis, depending on the number of them you are going to be dealing with, soaking them in Simple Green should help greatly. After the soaking you can take a toothbrush to them and remove the stuff still stuck on. Shouldn't be a huge issue if you go that route.
Didn't read the part where there are around a hundred of them. For that volume, I would really lean towards the Simple Green, then.
EDIT:
Here is a link that gives you some other decent options as well as application.
http://www.blmablog.com/2009/12/stripping-metal-miniatures.html
In the link it talks about stripping paint primarily, but this can be applied to other things, sculpting putty, glue, etc. Positive it will apply for your foam issue as well.
Didn't read the part where there are around a hundred of them. For that volume, I would really lean towards the Simple Green, then.
EDIT:
Here is a link that gives you some other decent options as well as application.
http://www.blmablog.com/2009/12/stripping-metal-miniatures.html
In the link it talks about stripping paint primarily, but this can be applied to other things, sculpting putty, glue, etc. Positive it will apply for your foam issue as well.
if it can strip paint, will it cause any damage to the figures?
I havnt looked but im guess figurines form the 70's... i wont ever be able to replace if they get messed up.
Not only that, but how about drying them. Im not sure just how delicate these pewters are. If f theirs any moisture left over after a towel drying could that cause damage? Or should i hand dry and then maybe a low hair dryer for those spots, or will the heat damage them?
Odin.Godofgods said: »
Odin.Godofgods said: »
Valefor.Xerus said: »
From a person who deals with pewter minis, depending on the number of them you are going to be dealing with, soaking them in Simple Green should help greatly. After the soaking you can take a toothbrush to them and remove the stuff still stuck on. Shouldn't be a huge issue if you go that route.
Didn't read the part where there are around a hundred of them. For that volume, I would really lean towards the Simple Green, then.
EDIT:
Here is a link that gives you some other decent options as well as application.
http://www.blmablog.com/2009/12/stripping-metal-miniatures.html
In the link it talks about stripping paint primarily, but this can be applied to other things, sculpting putty, glue, etc. Positive it will apply for your foam issue as well.
Didn't read the part where there are around a hundred of them. For that volume, I would really lean towards the Simple Green, then.
EDIT:
Here is a link that gives you some other decent options as well as application.
http://www.blmablog.com/2009/12/stripping-metal-miniatures.html
In the link it talks about stripping paint primarily, but this can be applied to other things, sculpting putty, glue, etc. Positive it will apply for your foam issue as well.
if it can strip paint, will it cause any damage to the figures?
I havnt looked but im guess figurines form the 70's... i wont ever be able to replace if they get messed up.
Not only that, but how about drying them. Im not sure just how delicate these pewters are. If f theirs any moisture left over after a towel drying could that cause damage? Or should i hand dry and then maybe a low hair dryer for those spots, or will the heat damage them?
Suspend over volcanic ash (approximately 3x the height as the square route of the weight of the Volcanic ash you have) while making sure your pewter is down wind. . . . .
Sorry I be Trollin Hard.
next time try trollin good'
Odin.Godofgods said: »
next time try trollin good'
I would but we both know that's not how I roll.
Cerberus.Conagh said: »
Odin.Godofgods said: »
next time try trollin good'
I would but we both know that's not how I roll.
In all honesty a good rule for drying something you're unsure of, is to think "how would I dry something really delicate?"
Cotton Buds, dab at it to remove the liquid for the safest results really.
wormfeeder said: »
could search wiki myself. Looking for knowledge from ppl that have personally worked with this material. Im not trusting an impossible to find, pewter figurine set from the 70s that was left to me from my father when he died last year, to wiki...
Odin.Godofgods said: »
wormfeeder said: »
could search wiki myself. Looking for knowledge from ppl that have personally worked with this material. Im not trusting an impossible to find, pewter figurine set from the 70s that was left to me from my father when he died last year, to wiki...
looking for a diy solution or a service?
Can let pewter air dry, it's comprised of mostly non-oxidizing metals, about 95% tin iirc.
I think some jewlery stores can clean that stuff for you
thank you for the info!
If you're gonna do it yourself with a chemical agent, you may want to be careful cuz i read somewhere that pewter products/items were use to be made with lead mixed in...dunno if that will affect anything or not but just a thought.
imo~ can talk to a jeweler/cleaner guy and get their opinion on what to do. maybe take 1 figurine to them and see if they can clean it
imo~ can talk to a jeweler/cleaner guy and get their opinion on what to do. maybe take 1 figurine to them and see if they can clean it
Modern pewter has somewhere around .5% lead in it. Nothing to really worry about.
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well i dont no how modern 'modern' is that your referring to. But as i mentioned, this collection started in the late 70's
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