It doesn't carve too bad at all (don't tell my knuckle that got bit by the knife). Wood, of course, is different than stone. I carved this while it was still a bit green. I have a chunk that is getting drier and I am afraid it will be a bit harder to carve.
For pewter, I have gotten some lead-free pewter from some online vendors that sell it to mold for pewter spoons, buttons, etc. for reenactors. I also have used lead-free solder that is used for plumbing water lines.
Isaac