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The Methods Involved When Doing The Lost Wax Casting Jewelry

By Stephen West


Lost wax casting is one process in which a sculpture of the duplicate metal will be casted from its original sculpture. Some of the commonly used materials for this include bronze, brass, gold, or silver. Depending upon the sculptors skills, the achievement of intricate works can be done with this method. Nowadays, this process have been made already with different foundries. Also, the steps being used have fair standards, specifically the sculptures of bronze.

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 your molding. Begin on carving your preferred piece of hard modeling wax. You may choose your own shape. If possible, create only a very simple one, especially for beginners, and avoid those difficult ones. When you make your own model, some tools may be used such as a precision knife and a Dremel. Attach three to four sprues for providing channel for the waxes when these are melted.

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 the jewelry. The metal of your choice will then be placed to a pouring crucible then it will be melted in foundry. The time and as well as the temperature depend on what kind of metals being used. After the metal is poured into the molding, use the centrifugal machine to cast it. These machines are commonly used by 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.

Finishing the jewelry. Get the angle grinder and cut the sprue lines. Hand held grinders can be used as well for faster operations because these are much stronger. After doing the firing process, the material maybe dirty and dingy so better use metals specific washers when cleaning.




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