Stamping pewter has two major uses in our manufacturing processes. Firstly pewter that has been rolled from an ingot into a sheet can be stamped by a power press to cut out shapes from the sheet.

Presses can also be adapted to hold tools for creating embossed patterns on the pewter or to put a company touch mark onto the sheet. We, however prefer to use the traditional method and use a touch mark and a hammer to place our A.E. Williams mark onto our pewter.

Casting in moulds is the oldest and most traditional way of producing pewter.

Molten pewter is poured into the moulds and they're either spun at high speeds or left to let gravity ensure the pewter is evenly spread. Once the metal has cooled the mould is removed and the item is ready to be finished.

Rolling is used to create sheets of pewter ready for spinning, thicker sheets of metal are passed through pairs of rollers to make it thinner and easier to work with.

By controlling the thickness of the sheet we can also put dips or bends in the sheet which are commonly required in metalwork for furniture or construction. Rollers can also have a pattern added to them, so that when we roll the metal the pattern is transferred to the sheet.

Spinning transforms a disc or tube of pewter into a hollow vessel, making it perfect for creating tankards and bowls.

A formed block is put on the lathe, and the pewter is clamped against it. As the lathe rotates a craftsman applies a tool to work the pewter around the block, creating the desired shape.

Repousse is a great technique for achieving small relief work design into thin sheets of pewter. Repousse is French for “pushed up”.

Working on the reverse of the metal we hammer or shape using various tools to create a relief on the other side. Once the desired shape has been formed, the hollow can be filled with a filler such as resin so that the pewter does not collapse in on itself. Repousse is great for creating relief work that stands out.