Non-brittle red pitch is extremely easy to work and is less toxic than black pitch with better results. It provides firm support for chasing, yet is soft enough to allow embossing of a shallow relief using repousse. It's melt temperature is low enough that it can be safely manipulated and shaped by hand. It can then be placed in the pitch bowl and heated slowly in a 250-300F oven. Red pitch does not have to be burned off.