Solder & Low-Melting Alloy Type 1 Casting Pewter
ASTM B560 Type 1
Type 1 Casting Pewter (ASTM B560 Type 1) is a tin-base casting alloy with antimony and copper additions, formulated for gravity and centrifugal casting of decorative and functional pewter parts.
Reference datasheet — Type 1 Casting Pewter is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the F condition
Type 1 Casting Pewter tempers and conditions
Type 1 Casting Pewter is supplied in 2 conditions, soft to hard. F is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 2 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FDefault As fabricated | Standard condition for pewter castings poured into rubber, plaster or steel moulds; no heat treatment applied. | 34 | 58 | 30 | 23 HB | 8.5 % IACS |
Centrifugally cast | Pick for thin, highly detailed multi-cavity parts; centrifugal filling gives finer grain and slightly higher strength than static pouring. | 38 | 64 | 28 | 25 HB | 8.5 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways Type 1 Casting Pewter is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
Ingot | Foundry remelt stock | Supply form |
What is Type 1 Casting Pewter?
Type 1 Casting Pewter (ASTM B560 Type 1) is a tin-base casting alloy with antimony and copper additions, formulated for gravity and centrifugal casting of decorative and functional pewter parts. It is supplied as ingot and cast stock and is used where fine detail matters more than strength; fluidity reproduces features down to about 1 mm. Properties are modest — 34 MPa yield, 58 MPa tensile, 30 % elongation, 23 HB and a 95 °C service limit — so cast parts creep under load and cannot be heat treated. For sheet-formed hollowware, Type 2 sheet pewter is the corresponding wrought grade. Type 1 Casting Pewter has a density of 7.3 g/cm³ (0.264 lb/in³), lighter than 93% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. It melts at 240°C (464 °F). Type 1 Casting Pewter has a yield strength of 34 MPa (4.93 ksi) and a tensile strength of 58 MPa (8.41 ksi) — stronger than 78% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Elongation at break is 30% and the elastic modulus is 47 GPa (6.82 Msi).
What is Type 1 Casting Pewter used for?
- Figurines and statuettes
- Jewelry and buckles
- Decorative hardware castings
- Award and trophy castings
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 88/100, better than 98% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Lightweight — 7.3 g/cm³ (0.264 lb/in³), better than 93% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 62/100, better than 93% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- Easy to machine — 72/100, better than 80% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- High strength — 34 MPa (4.93 ksi), better than 78% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
Limitations
- Limited formability — 45/100, worse than 82% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
- High embodied carbon — 18 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 76% of solder & low-melting alloy grades
Type 1 Casting Pewter properties
Typical room-temperature values for Type 1 Casting Pewter-F; bars are the position among solder & low-melting alloy grades.
Physical3
Type 1 Casting Pewter has a density of 7.3 g/cm³ (0.264 lb/in³), lighter than 93% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. It melts at 240°C (464 °F).
Mechanical14
Type 1 Casting Pewter has a yield strength of 34 MPa (4.93 ksi) and a tensile strength of 58 MPa (8.41 ksi) — stronger than 78% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Elongation at break is 30% and the elastic modulus is 47 GPa (6.82 Msi).
Thermal6
Type 1 Casting Pewter is rated for continuous service to 95°C (203 °F). It conducts heat at 50 W/m·K (28.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 63% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 21.5 µm/m·K (11.9 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Type 1 Casting Pewter conducts electricity at 8.5 % IACS, worse than 64% of solder & low-melting alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (62/100), better than 93% of solder & low-melting alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Type 1 Casting Pewter takes about 310 MJ of energy and emits 18 kg of CO₂ — more than 77% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 35%.
Manufacturability8
Type 1 Casting Pewter's machinability is very good (72/100, better than 80% of solder & low-melting alloy grades); weldability poor (20/100); formability fair (45/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the solder & low-melting alloy family
Yield strength against density for every solder & low-melting alloy grade FabDigit runs. Type 1 Casting Pewter is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Type 1 Casting Pewter
Is Type 1 Casting Pewter easy to machine?
Turns and drills effortlessly at high speed with sharp, high-rake HSS tools and kerosene/soluble-oil lubricant; avoid dull tooling that smears the soft matrix.
Can Type 1 Casting Pewter be welded?
Not arc-welded — repair and assembly are done by soft soldering or torch fusion with matching pewter rod and rosin/organic flux at 250–300 °C.
Can Type 1 Casting Pewter be formed, bent or molded?
Pour at roughly 280–320 °C into vulcanised-rubber, silicone, plaster or steel moulds; excellent fluidity for 1 mm detail, but allow ~1 % shrinkage and vent thin sections well.
Type 1 Casting Pewter chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Sb | 6 – 8 | 7 |
| Cu | 0.25 – 2 | 1.5 |
| Pblead-free limit for food-contact pewter | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Bi | ≤ 0.08 | |
| As | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Fe | ≤ 0.02 | |
| Zn | ≤ 0.01 | |
| Cd | ≤ 0.01 | |
| Snbalance tin | ≥ 90 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on Type 1 Casting Pewter?
Files, tumbles and buffs to a bright silvery lustre; antique/oxide patinas, lacquer or electroplated Ni/Ag/Au are common — anodising is not applicable.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Solder & Low-Melting Alloy Type 1 Casting Pewter in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- B560 Type 1
- Also called
- Casting Pewter
How much does Type 1 Casting Pewter cost?
Type 1 Casting Pewter is a high-cost solder & low-melting alloy ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Type 1 Casting Pewter — frequently asked
What is Type 1 Casting Pewter used for?
Type 1 Casting Pewter is typically used for figurines and statuettes, jewelry and buckles, decorative hardware castings and award and trophy castings. In short: fine-detail pewter casting alloy; rubber and silicone mould friendly; low-temperature pour, 280–320 °C.
What is the yield strength of Type 1 Casting Pewter?
Type 1 Casting Pewter has a typical yield strength of 34 MPa (4.93 ksi) and a tensile strength of 58 MPa (8.41 ksi) — stronger than 78% of solder & low-melting alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 2 listed tempers.
Is Type 1 Casting Pewter easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated very good (72/100, better than 80% of solder & low-melting alloy grades). Turns and drills effortlessly at high speed with sharp, high-rake HSS tools and kerosene/soluble-oil lubricant; avoid dull tooling that smears the soft matrix.
Can Type 1 Casting Pewter be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). Not arc-welded — repair and assembly are done by soft soldering or torch fusion with matching pewter rod and rosin/organic flux at 250–300 °C.
What surface finishes work on Type 1 Casting Pewter?
Files, tumbles and buffs to a bright silvery lustre; antique/oxide patinas, lacquer or electroplated Ni/Ag/Au are common — anodising is not applicable.
Can Type 1 Casting Pewter be formed, bent or molded?
Pour at roughly 280–320 °C into vulcanised-rubber, silicone, plaster or steel moulds; excellent fluidity for 1 mm detail, but allow ~1 % shrinkage and vent thin sections well.
What is the maximum service temperature of Type 1 Casting Pewter?
Type 1 Casting Pewter is rated for continuous use to about 95°C (203 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between Type 1 Casting Pewter-F and Type 1 Casting Pewter-CF?
F is the default condition — standard condition for pewter castings poured into rubber, plaster or steel moulds; no heat treatment applied. CF: pick for thin, highly detailed multi-cavity parts; centrifugal filling gives finer grain and slightly higher strength than static pouring. Yield strength is 34 MPa in F versus 38 MPa in CF.
How much does Type 1 Casting Pewter cost?
Type 1 Casting Pewter is a high-cost solder & low-melting alloy ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- ASTM B560 — Standard Specification for Modern Pewter Alloys — ASTM International (2019)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials (Tin and Tin Alloys) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Specialty Handbook: Tin and Tin Alloys / ITRI technical data — ASM International / International Tin Association (2001)
- Casting pewter ingot datasheets (foundry/craft alloy suppliers) — various (2024)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.