The process of carving a custom wax, and pouring precious metal to occupy that space, creating that Family Heirloom
a one-time reproduction process in which a wax object is impressed into sand or surrounded with a special refractory plaster to make a mold. Molten metal is then poured into the sand or plaster mold, displacing and burning the wax.
A process of casting wherein a wax model is encased in an investment, which is agitated mechanically or put into a vacuum to remove air bubbles. After the wax is burned off in an oven, a cavity remains, which is filled with molten metal through an opening. The investment is broken away from the hardened metal, which is then ready for polishing or ornamentation. For large scale production, numerous identical wax models are made by pouring molten wax into a rubber mold.
A technique adapted from metalworking. The object to be fashioned in glass is modeled in wax and encased in clay or plaster that is heated. The wax melts and is released through vents or "gates," also made of wax, which have been attached to the obj ect before heating; the clay or plaster dries and becomes rigid. This then serves as a mold, into which molten or powdered glass is introduced through the gates. If powdered glass is used, the mold is heated in order to fuse the contents. After annealing the mold is removed from the object, which is then finished by grinding, fire polishing, or acid etching.
Depending on the final form of an object and the type of metal or glass to be cast, the lost wax casting process has numerous variations and refinements. In its simplest form, a wax model of the object to be cast is produced and is invested in a mould that is usually made of a plaster type mix. Depending on the material to be cast, this mix recipe will differ. A wax extension is left protruding from the top of the mould, usually in the form of an upturned cone shape. The whole mould is then turned upside down and placed in a burn-out kiln where the mould is heated until the wax model inside melts and runs out of the extension and cone; hence the wax is 'lost'. Whilst still hot, the mould is removed from the kiln, packed in wet sand (in case the mould cracks) and the molten metal or glass is poured into the cavity left by the wax via the cone and extension cavity in the top of the mould. Once the molten material has cooled, the mould is smashed from the cast at which point the sculpture can be cleaned and dressed as required. more...
See - Investment Casting.
A method of manufacturing jewelry that duplicates a design made of wax in a metal such as gold or silver. A wax model is suspended in a canister that is then filled with a plaster like substance called an investment. When the investment hardens the wax is then burned out and lost, hence the name of the process. The cavity remaining in the investment is an exact duplicate of the original wax and is then filled with molten metal. When large quantities or intricate designs are being cast, the use of centrifugal force created by spinning the canisters in a drum will force the metal into the thinnest cavities allowing fine detail reproduction. When the molten gold cools and hardens the investment is broken and a duplicate of the wax remains cast in metal. LOUPE A hand held magnifying glass used by members of the jewelry industry to examine diamonds and gemstones. Loupes are available in different levels of magnification. A ten-power loupe, which magnifies an image ten times, is used for diamond grading. A diamond graders loupe is corrected for color and distortion.
The object is modeled in wax and cased in a ceramic or plaster mold. The mold is heated and the wax flows out; powdered or molten glass is poured into the mold.
Lost wax casting is a process of casting metal in which the original model is sculpted in wax. The wax is then enclosed in clay and the wax is melted out, making a hollow mold. The mold is then filled with molten metal. The clay is broken off and the cast metal remains. This method of casting has been used for at least 4,000 years.
An object is made of wax and coated in clay. When the clay is fired, the wax melts and is drained away or evaporates leaving an exact impression of the object in the hardened clay, which is then filled with molten metal.