Introduction to Lost Wax Casting

Jennifer Stenhouse, Instructor

Suggested Materials

Students will be providedwith some tools and equipment necessary to do the lessons in the studio, but students have to provide metal to cast.

All supplies and suppliers will be discussed on the first day. There is no need to have all of the list on the first day. Many of the tools have very inexpensive alternatives that will be discussed. The cost for the class can vary depending on a student’s projects and budget. Normal average cost for the class is around $50-75.

Students may work in bronze of sterling silver during the class. Information on metals, alloys, and purchase options will be discussed in class. No need to have it for the first weeks of class. Students wanting to cast in silver are encouraged to bring clean scrap sterling silver from previous projects, or fine silver coin available from local coin shops.

The tools listed below are helpful work working in the studio to create the wax models. These tools, resources and options will be discussed on day one in class. If students have their own jewelry tools, they are encouraged to bring them to work with.

Suggested tools for the class are listed below:

Box for supplies

SmallWater tight container for storing waxes for travel

miscellaneous wax assortment

Metals: Scrap Sterling to cast or fine silver coin, bronze alloy

Your basic jewelry making/fabrication tool kit: including saw, pliers, files and sandpaper

Wax working tools: Exacto knife/tools, Lino cutting tools, Dental tools, 6-8” Course hand files or rasp,Wax bursSpiral wax jewelers saw blades, small pieces of fabric (hose, jeans, velvet)

Optional inexpensive stones to set

Demonstrations and discussions topics:

  1. Intro to class, waxes, supplies, resources
  2. Demo of wax carving and models, tools and options
  3. Successful wax model design
  4. Fluid dynamics
  5. Demo and spruing wax models
  6. Demo and investing wax models.
  7. Loading a kiln and burnout
  8. Demo of centrifugal casting. Bring Sterling if desired to cast.
  9. Finishing metal castings

Reading

Practical Casting, Tim McCreight

The Complete Metalsmith, Tim McCreight

Modeling in Wax for Jewelry and Sculpture, Lawrence Kallenberg

Local Casting Services

PanurgicCasting, Portland OR

James Magetteri, Edmonds WA