Pewter has some negative connotations. Let me explain a bit about pewter and why I choose to use it:

• Pewter is not the name of one alloy but rather the name of a family of alloys which all have a high percentage of tin. You can think of pewter in a similar way to steel which is a family of alloys with a high percentage of iron. 

• I use a lead-free alloy of 92% tin, 6.5% antimony, and 1.5% copper which I purchase from a manufacturer in Rhode Island. This alloy is food-safe and hypoallergenic. 

• In the past, it was not uncommon for pewter alloys to contain lead, either inadvertently due to impurities, or purposefully as a cost-saving measure or to change a physical property of the alloy. These days with modern metallurgical techniques lead can be removed. 

• Pewter has a low melting point compared to other metals. Pewter melts at ~500°F compared with sterling silver which melts at ~1,640°F. This makes casting pewter much safer and easier when compared to other metals, so scrap never goes to waste! 

• Pewter is fairly soft and easily formed when compared with other metals which makes it very enjoyable to work with. It is also food safe, hypoallergenic, and has a very nice weight to it. 

• Modern pewter also has a leg up on other alloys in that it is much more resistant to corrosion and tarnishing. Pewter will stay bright much longer than sterling silver.

• I use thicker gauges of metal and a durable burnished finish which will hide scratches and small dents. When treated with care, pewter can last life times. I think any scratches or dings it collects during its life do not detract from the object's beauty but shows that it has been used and enjoyed.