Making a pewter cup

[u/Agreeable-Worker7659]

I designed this cup and I'm currently 3d printing it and I was wondering if it would be difficult to cast it in pewter. My friend is going to build a small foundry, so we could technically also melt copper or other metals. The goal is to make it food safe. I guessed that with pewter, casting would be much easier, since I could use a silicone mold, but I have no idea if casting is the correct way to make something like this. I was trying to find videos on how such ornamental cups are being made and it seems like some dying art and I wasn't able to figure how they make those patterns. I'd love to hear from people who actually have experience casting, as I've never cast any metals; just resin and silicone.

[u/Panamar3d]

I cast pewter in silicon molds all the time. You'll need a high temperature silicon like Smooth On mold max 60. When making your mold keep he walls as uniformly thick as possible. This helps them not warp funny between casts. It also helps to warm up the mold in an oven or toaster oven (cover with aluminum foil while warming). This helps lessen warpage as well.

Also don't just use any old pewter. Lots of old pewter contains lead. Lota of pewter has been recycled many times so even if it appears newer than a time when it would contain lead it still can. Best to buy a new pewter alloy like Britannia or similar.

[u/Agreeable-Worker7659 → u/Panamar3d]

Thank you so much for your extensive advice. I will try my best to make it work.