The Methods Involved When Doing The Lost Wax Casting Jewelry

By Stephen West


A process at which the duplicate metal sculptures are casted from original sculptures is referred to as lost wax casting. Brass, silver, bronze, and gold are the most common examples of materials which are widely used. The achievement of the intricate works will be highly dependent on a sculptors skills and also by applying this method. These days, there are already a lot of different foundries the process has. The steps are having fair standards, especially bronze sculptures.

The process of casting jewelry involves making some jewelry pieces and this would include pouring liquid metal alloys into a molding. Since before, the technique has been utilized already and even until now, this is still being utilized widely, usually by the home crafters and the craftsmen when making original jewelry pieces. So whenever you have decided on starting to create your own piece, follow these methods in lost wax casting jewelry.

Crafting the molding. Start on carving hard modeling wax pieces which are based on your desired shape. One suggestion in this method is creating only a very simple piece. Do not start on the complex if you are still a beginner. When making your model, commonly used tools would include Dremel and precision knife. Attach 3 to 4 sprues because these will provide the waxes channel for it to melt out.

Attach your molding into the base of the sprue by the use of a small amount of a melted rubber. This process will allow the wax top be melted from the bases bottom and then leave your mold. Place the flask at the top of sprue base and make sure that there is a distance for about quarter inch in between the flask wall and model.

Investing your molding. Make sure that the wax model stand is secured to the bottom of a casting flask using an amount of melted wax. Be sure to pop up the model to the flask. With this method, your product will now be ready for the casting process. Mix the dry ingredients in water. Follow carefully the instructions being provided in your purchased mold investment.

Placing the investment of mold inside the vacuum chamber so that air bubbles will be removed. But if you cannot acquire the vacuum sealer, just leave the mixture for several minutes, typically between 10 to 20. If there are some air bubbles, there may possible some holes on your final product. And after drying the mold, put the flask on the kiln with 600 degrees Celsius. Remove it after and check for any obstructions on the molds bottom part.

Casting your jewelry. The metal you have chosen is then placed into pouring crucible then is melted in a foundry. Both time and temperature are dependent on the metals being used. After pouring the metal into molding, cast it by the use of centrifugal machine. Centrifugal machines are used very commonly by those professional makers.

The metal should be cooled first, usually for five to ten minutes then dunk it slowly to cold water. The time also depends on the melted metal. Tap gently the mold by a hammer to break any excess plaster.

Finish your jewelry. Get an angle grinder in cutting lines from the sprues. Hand held grinders are recommended for use than angle grinders since these are more strong. In the firing process, the metal may surely be dingy and dirty. So use some specific washers of metals.




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