The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
  

  -----

Melting Tin

how to you recommend melting about 22 pounds of tin that needs to be put into a plaster mold? are there any commercially available products that will allow me to accomplish this?

Cindy Echevarria
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA
2000

---

2000

Hi Cindy,

There are many products available, it depends how many times you want to melt this amount of tin. A 40 lb Electric Melting pot is going to cost about $450-00, and you would need to be fairly strong to lift and pour it.There is no reason that you could not melt this quantity on a gas range in a heavy (preferably stainless steel)pan, make sure the handles are strong enough.Tin starts to melt at around 460F but your going to need to pour it at around 570 °F.Best to warm the mold first to ensure good surface and detail replication. Whatever you do, don't get any liquids (water,coffee etc)near a pot of molten Tin.

If you want to do this on a commercial basis, best to contact in PA Nathan Trotter & Co. Inc in Exton., they are a supplier of Tin Casting Alloys.If you get no joy from them,or want more info on tin casting/melting post a response here.

Good Luck.

Simon Fox
- South Korea