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I recently got some pewter minis and I have some questions, as I usually only work on plastic ones. I have found the flash lines very difficult to remove with my current tools (Exacto knives), and are there special paints I should use? I currently have some Citadel Paints and primer, but I don't want any of the paint chipping. If you have recommendations/tips for tools and paints, please post! Also, is there anything else I should know?

First off, make sure to wash the minis in soap and water. I use a mixture of my exacto knife and a metal file for pewter to remove mold lines. Make sure to prime your miniatures and after that I use citadel paints or any other kind, as long as it is primed it should be ok.

Just chiming in to say I empathise with the troubles you have with pewter, I really don't like it and only got into the hobby once they became far less common, with good plastic becoming the dominant material. I will say, a good rattle can primer is generally recommended for them, whereas vallejo poyurethane airbrush primer is best for plastic and resin and doesn't work as well on metal.

A knife is capable of shaving away white metal and scraping/burnishing down minor mold lines, but files and/or sandpaper are a godsend, if not an absolute necessity. I like a nice, smooth surface to work on, so I usually hit the whole model with steel wool, as a final step, to even out minor surface pitting and remove oxidation after I use the heavier abrasives to refine the shape.

As mentioned, the key to painting metal models is a solid first layer to work from - give them a quick wash (rinsing and drying thoroughly) and use an actual primer (plain old enamel spray paint holds up pretty well on plastic, but doesn't bond well to metal). After that, paint as you would any other model. Varnishing at the end is highly recommended, as is general care in handling - the metal is both heavy and malleable, meaning that toppled models are liable to deform to the point that practically no paint has a chance of keeping its hold.

Take the above advise, and also, wash them after the clean-up, because your fingers get oil, and grim on the models, metal needs all the help it can get to stick primer to it! Wash them in dishwashing soap, warm water, use an old toothbrush to scrub them all down. Rinse in HOT water then let them dry completely before spraying the primer.
I suggest not handling the actual model much at all, primer them, then handle them by the bases, use blue tack and a wine bottle cork to hold the model for painting, that way you don't touch it. Metal has been difficult to get paints and primers to stick.

All great ideas, mine are just the way I do it. I think that half of successul figure painting is having the tools to clean and prep them, the brushes, paint,s and primers are easy to get, then the battle is discovering techniques and applying them... gosh I'm carrying on with a silly rant...

Thanks for the advice everyone!

People naturally have preferences for what material to work with, and an unfamiliar substance takes a bit of learning. Take heart from the fact that hundreds of thousands of wargamers have successfully made armies with millions of metal miniatures.

Most Warmachine minis are made out of white metal and the game is very, very popular. You shouldn´t be afraid of pewter, it´s a little different than plastic, but in no way better or worse as long as painting is concerned.