Why is Pewter Great for Custom Belt Buckles?
What is Pewter?
Pewter is a tin alloy traditionally used to make household items and tankards. It mainly consists of tin with other elements like bismuth and antimony to make the alloy denser.
Pewter is a softer metal and has a low melting point (230 degrees Celsius.) This makes it easily malleable and has the ability to be highly detailed.
Why is Pewter Great for Custom Belt Buckles?
Design –
Being a malleable metal allows greater creativity on the design aspect. You can achieve more detailed designs that have a 3-dimensional look and feel. Multi-layered buckles can be achieved and Pewter is also perfect for the curved nature of a belt buckle.
Quality –
When using Pewter for custom belt buckles, you know that it’s going to last a life time. Being a durable metal that is hardened with antimony or bismuth allows the buckle to have enough softness to be cast with plenty of detail. Luckily though, it isn’t too soft that it will chip or deteriorate whilst wearing your belt buckle. The colour, sheen and finish will hold its look.
Shine and Texture –
Pewter naturally has a bright surface after being polished. Buckingham Pewter submerges the raw cast buckles in an acid to create a black patina effect. This will then either be grinded on a hard wheel for a high shine look or polished on a soft wheel to give an antique look and feel. You can add to the finish by creating an area for colour infill. This generally makes the design pop and stand out. This needs to be done during the design phase of the project to allow the product to be developed correctly for the colouring process.
Taking Care of Your Custom Pewter Belt Buckle –
The final step of the manufacturing process is to coat it in a lacquer. Naturally over time you will see some wear and tear of your buckle. Using a soft cloth with soap and water is the best way to clean your belt buckle.
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