Re: 15mm figures. - and a Question of Composition

>Ground spake thusly upon matters weighty:
>
>> In the UK we use a very low-lead (and high-tin) mix - less than 5%
lead.
>> This gives a hard, shiny casting, though still with enough
malleability to
>> work with. Eureka use a much higher lead alloy , hence the matt
finish.
>> The metal we use is relatively expensive, but good to cast and work
with
>> and looks nice - we could drop to the much cheaper high-lead grades
and
>> actually save ourselves on cost, but we like the present results and
think
>> the customers do to.
>
>Hmm, I assume that wasn't a backhand at Nic since I'm thinking the
>Eureka figs use a higher lead grade?

No, it wasn't intended as any kind of criticism of Nic or the Eureka
ranges
(which are excellent), but yes, they do use a higher-lead grade, as do
many
other manufacturers in all countries; and yes, this is a (considerably)
cheaper but more malleable metal. We've tried many grades, but always
come
back to the C90 that we use - though expensive per kilo it is actually
lighter (ie less dense) than a high-lead alloy, and we get very few
rejects
or miscasts, so it makes casting more efficient -overall it all balances
out. GeoHex, on the other hand, use a completely lead-free pewter, and
get
good results with it, but we've always found that stuff to be a bit of a
pig to work with. Guess it all boils down to what the individual caster
is
happiest with!

Jon (GZG)