10 replies to this topic

[72moonglum]

So, a new question. I've recently come across a few miniatures which are really nice and old. Only problem is that their legs are bent a little too far forward or a little too far back. These are a giant and a good sized human. Is there any way short of using brute force to bend metal? Applying heat for example or putting them on low heat in the oven? Any sugggestions welcome!

Thanks
Mark

[Metalchaos]

I don't think that heating pewter is a good idea. It has a low melting point around 170-230 °C (338–446 °F), depending on the mixture. I'm not sure about that but I think that if you heat your mini this could alter and weaken its molecular structure.

I would gently but firmly bend it back in place. You may hear the metal crack but I'm almost sure it will not break.

Think safety first, use gloves and protection googles.

[Pole]

I generally just bend the metal back into place with as little force as is required. You can also drop the mini into just boiling water for a few mins and then bend them (Wear Gloves!). It won't make it much easier but it does seem to lessen the cracking sound or feeling.

[Dr.Bedlam]

DO NOT use heat to bend metal. This trick works with plastic, because plastic SOFTENS.

Lead and pewter, as any caster can tell you, does NOT soften. It hits the melting point and pretty much goes straight from SOLID to LIQUID, particularly older miniatures with a high lead content. Still got some scars on my fingers where I tried this trick, way back in the day. Oven mitts were not sufficient protection.

I regret to inform you that brute force may be your only option. If it breaks or cracks, use filler or greenstuff and repair.

[MonkeySloth]

If it's really bad, and the metal looks week, I just cut and pin to fix the issue.

[Dr.Bedlam]

Just for the sake of being pedantic: Molten lead (and to a lesser extent, molten pewter) will ADHERE to any porous surface, and VENT ITS HEAT directly into that surface, particularly if it conducts heat better than air does. Molten lead and pewter are STICKY. Like glue.

Human flesh is porous, and conducts heat quite well, all the way up until it becomes black and crispy.

Like I said, just don't do this.

[Lastman]

A few decades ago I thought I'd be able to bend a skeleton after heating it with a soldering iron. It melted so fast...

I still have that "figure" which is now a skeleton head on a pile of ooze.

[72moonglum]

True tales of tragedy, but life lessons to be sure! Thanks for all the tips guys, I'm going to just see if I can use whatever muscle power my noodle arms can manage to gather and see if I can bend them. I've got a man sized figure with thick legs that I probably could just bend, but the other one is a giant and pretty thick. I might have to pump a little iron before I try him.

[TaleSpinner]

Warmth/heat DOES actually aid a bit in bending tin alloys, as it seems to reduce the amount of cracking you will get. HOWEVER, I am talking about the kind of heat you will get by placing the mini uner a couple of 75 watt light bulbs for 10 minutes, NOT the kind of heat you get with an oven, torch, or soldering iron, as has been previously stated.

Andy

[dks]

If the problem with the giant is that it is too thick to bend, can you cut away part of the metal until it is thin enough to bend?
How are you at resculpting, or at least patching? If you can't bend the giant's legs as they are now, maybe you could cut into the front/back of the legs (whichever side is the "outside" of the excessive angle), bend the remaining metal, and then patch the gap. If it's just the ankles that are at the wrong angle, this could work fine. But you wouldn't want to introduce a new angle into a part of the leg that should be straight (shin or thigh).
Good luck,
Derek

[Hot Lead]

A little heat from boiling water won't make the metal melt, but it probably won't get it hot enough to help bending either. You can always try a judicious application of a hair dryer.

Also, be careful when bending old minis. Some of the old alloys got brittle with time, depending on the specific mix of metals. Grenadier was pretty notorious for it - I've snapped a few 80's Grenadiers off at the shins with too much pressure!