Pewter Belt Buckles come in several different styles, which make for great accessories no matter the outfit. For decades they have been very popular products in the mainstream fashion industry, but where did this idea of using such metal come from, exactly? How can you find the perfect one for you? And how can you protect your buckle from wear and tear?
What Exactly Is Pewter?
Pewter is a metal that has been used since the time of the Roman Empire, where it was also sometimes called “black metal”. The reason is that pewter was usually made with lead, which turns black as it oxidizes. Today, it is important to purchase buckles with no lead or cadmium content. The pewter alloys used by high profile manufacturers are primarily tin with varying small amounts of copper, bismuth, silver, and antimony. Some alloys have only one or two of the metals and some have all four in addition to the high tin content.
Manufacturing the Pewter Belt Buckle
Pewter Belt Buckles are centrifugally cast into vulcanized rubber molds at temperatures of approximately 400 degrees. The process is sometimes called spin casting or centrifugal rubber mold casting.
Rubber molds for the pewter belt buckle are made by placing positive actual size models between two round sheets of raw rubber. The raw rubber with models are placed in a mold frame which is heated and compressed while the rubber flows around the model until vulcanization occurs and exact reproduction of the model occurs. After removing the models, casting channels are cut into the rubber mold from the center hole to the cavities. The mold is spun at variable speeds (dependent on size of the pewter belt buckle) in a centrifugal casting machine. When the metal is poured from the top into the center hole, the centrifugal force forces the pewter metal into the cavities. All of the variables of mold speed, metal temperature, pressure, rate of pour, and mold design are controlled by the mold maker and caster to create the raw pewter belt buckle casting. After a short spin cycle, the pieces are removed from the mold, separated from the sprue wheel, and prepared for the meticulous hand finishing of the pewter belt buckle
Taking Care of Your Pewter Belt Buckle
Once you have found and purchased your belt buckle it is important to know how to take proper care of it so it can stay in great shape for a long time. Pewter in belt buckles is soft so over time, the buckle will show the wear of use which is usually acceptable and preferred by many. The pewter belt buckle has been lacquered with a clear top coat, so normally of soft cloth with soap and water will remove any surface soiling of the pewter belt buckle.