Videos

Did you ever wonder how some pewter products are made? Metal-turning, casting, soldering, hammering… All of these are elements in the process of making fine pewter wares. On this page you will find links to video demonstrations to show you how some of my favorite projects are made.

I’ll be adding demonstrations over time to show the whole range of techniques and traditions that go into the fine art of pewter-smithing. If there is a piece or a technique that you are particularly interested in seeing, please let me know and I’ll try to add it here.

Spinning a Baby Cup on the Lathe

Watch as Jon Gibson demonstrates how he uses the lathe to fashion a beautiful baby cup. Beginning with a flat pewter disc he spins and shapes the metal to a form, and then finishes with a gently-rounded lip. He completes the piece by soldering on a graceful, cast-pewter handle. Enjoy!

Casting a Colonial Midrib Spoon

In this demonstration, Jon shows how the Colonial Midrib Spoon is made by pouring molten, lead-free pewter, into an antique (circa 1750) bronze spoon mold. The pewter, an alloy of 92% tin, 1% copper and 7% antimony, is heated to a temperature of 550 F, and then ladled into the antique mold. Those spoons which are imperfect castings are consigned to the pot, in the time-honored spirit of recycling, to be re-cast another day.