How do I choose the right wax for my jewelry design?
Make sure the designer you work with is familiar with all the methods available for creating of the wax for your special design. Ideally, your chosen custom jeweler would have examples of each and could suggest which would be best for you. Whichever method you choose, always make sure you carefully look at the finished wax before casting.
Why set gemstones in wax?
One of the most revolutionary advance in recent years, apart from the Laser soldering, is the method of “Setting Gemstones in Wax”. It has ‘freed’ up many impossible designs and allowing the manufacturer to forge ahead and create many difficult setting projects.
How to properly place stones in wax?
When placing stones in wax, Do not let any of the girdles touch! As this will lead to a shattering of the stone during the unrush of hot gold. As the gold is entering the flask this sudden rush of gold will disturb the stone in the investment and jar it a bit loose. Do not let any of the girdles touch!
What is lost wax casting jewellery making?
One of the oldest methods of jewellery making around, lost wax casting dates back to the 3 rd century BC. Having been lost and rediscovered many times throughout history, the lost wax casting process is still used today for casting metal alloys.
What is wax jewelry casting?
Lost Wax Jewelry Casting Lost wax casting jewelry, also known as investment casting, is a process of metal casting in which molten metal is poured into a predetermined mold, which was previously created using a wax model that has since been melted and drained out.
What is wax stone setting?
by Gerry Lewy. One of the most revolutionary advance in recent years, apart from the Laser soldering, is the method of “Setting Gemstones in Wax”. It has 'freed' up many impossible designs and allowing the manufacturer to forge ahead and create many difficult setting projects.
What is wax stone?
Definition of wax stone : a lump of mixed earthy matter and mineral boiled in copper vats to separate the wax in the production of ozocerite.
How do you set stones in hard wax?
Gemstones are often set by gently pressing a heated wax pen tip on the top of the stone. The gemstone is heated and slips easily into the setting. The process works great for most settings. In prong settings, the prongs must be pre-notched in the model so the waxes have the appropriate notches.
How do you use wax setters?
To use them, you just heat them up carefully until they soften - usually with a torch played gently over. Overheat them and they scorch, bubble, smoke and burn - which renders the burned stuff useless. You can break the wax into smaller lumps (with a hammer) quite easily as it is fairly brittle.
How do you do wax casting?
2:489:34How to Do Your Own (DIY) Lost Wax Metal Casting - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipArea though the general steps for metal casting using the lost-wax molding process is to make aMoreArea though the general steps for metal casting using the lost-wax molding process is to make a composite mold mold of your object. So you can then make a wax casting.
How do you flush set stones in wax?
1:4314:10Flush Setting Tutorial - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd then some kind of lubricant for your rotary tool I like these wax or a life of course works wellMoreAnd then some kind of lubricant for your rotary tool I like these wax or a life of course works well too. I also need to use visual aids so make sure you have that and of course the point furniture.
How do you make a wax bezel set?
0:252:25How to Make Bezels (Without Spending All your Time on the Floor)YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo all I'm gonna do is take a little bit of my red sticky wax. This is like spax. But almost allMoreSo all I'm gonna do is take a little bit of my red sticky wax. This is like spax. But almost all Studios use it to pick stones up and put them in their settings. And end stuff like that but honestly.
Can you cast with the stones in the wax?
Stones can also be set in wax, then cast in place! That's right. Some stones can withstand the burnout process and having molten metal poured around them. You can also set up waxes for easy setting after casting, using bezels, prongs and other setting techniques.
What is wax used in gold Jewellery?
Silicone Silicon Jewellery Casting Wax.
What do you need for wax carving?
Double Ended Wax File | This is probably the most basis and useful tool while carving wax. You can use it for everything from carving, shaping, texturing and even fine details.
How do you use wax jewelry molds?
0:181:54How to Make Your Own Jewelry : Jewelry wax molds - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHold it for a few seconds depending on the size of the piece or whatever you're working with. PullMoreHold it for a few seconds depending on the size of the piece or whatever you're working with. Pull it off you then want to let it cool you can see it's still pretty molten in there.
What wax do jewelers use?
One of the main brands that jewellers use is Ferris. Ferris wax comes in four different colours (with green and blue most used). Green: A very hard wax, it can’t be flexed. Ideal for sharp edges and for intricate carvings and delicate engraving. Purple: General purpose, hard with some flexibility.
What is a file a wax?
File-a-wax - Some waxes e.g. beeswax are too soft to carve and shape and are problematic to try to use in warm temperatures so file-a-wax products were developed. These are designed specifically for jewellers to use to file and shape. One of the main brands that jewellers use is Ferris. Ferris wax comes in four different colours (with green ...
How is a master piece of jewellery made?
The ‘master’ - your finished piece of jewellery - is put into a silicone mould and vulcanised using heat and pressure. Once cool, this is then cut out of the silicone and the mould is now in two parts. When the mould is used, wax is injected into it so that the piece can be attached to the wax tree for casting.
How long has wax carving been around?
Wax carving is an ancient tradition in jewellery making going back 6000 years. Starting with a lump of jewellers wax; you saw and file it down into the shape you require like a sculptor working with stone.
What is wax carving?
Wax carving is a great technique to learn to add to your jewellery making skills because it is a fantastic way to experiment with an affordable material. You can also to make more organic shapes that are hard to achieve with traditional sheet metal and wire. Beginners Wax Carving course from Jewellers Academy.
Why is it called a lost wax casting?
The wax is burnt out, leaving a cavity in the cast (this is why it is called lost wax casting because the wax is lost in the process . Molten metal is poured into the cast. The metal is cooled and the investment cast discarded.
What is the best color for jewelry?
Purple: General purpose, hard with some flexibility. Blue: Less hard and more flexible than green or purple. Good for rounded surfaces and less intricate designs. This is a popular choice with jewellers and the one we suggest you try first. Turquoise: Displays exceptional surface finish, especially in recessed areas.
What is wax sculpture?
3. Wax sculpting. In this method, an artist, not only carves, but adds intricate details by applying warm wax to the piece, going back and forth until she’s satisfied.
Is Calla Gold a brick and mortar store?
Unlike typical Santa Barbara jewelry businesses, Calla Gold has no brick-and-mortar location.
What is wax wire?
Wax wire comes in a variety of shapes such as round, square, oval, and star shaped. These lengths of wax wire are pliable and can be used to add decorative elements to your overall design. Note: At Cooksongold, we stock Green and Blue wax. Green is hard wax, with no flex and is for highly intricate carving.
How to make a bond between wax and repair wax?
To create the best possible bond between the wax block/tube and your repair wax, make sure you heat the original wax first. This will help the crystalline structure of the wax re-bond as it cools and dries, making the bond between the two waxes much stronger.
What is a bench mate and wax trimmer?
Wax trimmer and bench mate: When used in conjunction with a bench mate and your pendant drill a wax trimmer will allow you to create a completely flat surface or create your own lathe in order to speed up wax carving.
Why use wax sheets?
Because you can create curves and softer shapes in wax, wax sheets can be used to portray more natural scenes. Think about traditional cameos and how tactile they can be. With a wax sheet, the right wax sculpting tools, and some dedication you can create entire scenes of flowers, animals, or sculptures.
Is wax carving difficult?
When you first start out, the whole process of wax carving can be incredibly messy, slow and difficult. But don’t let that put you off. Remember that the three-dimensional, curved designs you’re working towards may not be perfect in reality so don’t expect that of yourself when you first get started.
Do you need brute force to carve wax?
There is no need for brute force in wax carving. In fact, it’s all about finesse. So, take your time and slowly carve and scrape away at the wax. The slower and more controlled you are in your approach the more likely it is that you won’t make a mistake and start over.
Can you cut wax tubes down?
The wax tube can be cut down using a wax cutting saw blade and the excess can be kept and reused. Make sure you pick a wax tube with a central hole in the middle so that when it comes to sizing the ring as you carve, this can be done easily using a professional wax ring stick.
How to cast lost wax?
Carry out these steps to complete the lost wax casting process: Put the required amount of silver in the crucible, remove any existing solder and cut any pieces of scrap so they all fit comfortably. Grab a pinch of powdered flux then sprinkle over the top. To compensate for the sprue, add an additional 10g of silver.
How to get wax out of a flask?
Leave the flask to dry overnight – then peel away the rubber base where you fill find the wax sprue. With the sprue at the bottom, place the flask in the kiln to allow the melted wax to get out. Set the kiln between 150 and 200°C and leave for an hour. After the hour has passed, turn the heat up to 400°C for an hour and 30 minutes.
What is lost wax casting?
Lost wax casting, also known as cire perdure, is an ancient process where metal alloys are made into a design from a wax mould. Throughout the years, the lost wax casting process hasn’t just been used for jewellery, it was also used to make sculptures and ornaments. Also, one of the main advantages to lost wax casting is the fact ...
How to cast a ring?
Interested in giving it a go yourself? Follow our lost wax casting process steps below to find out how (using a silver ring as an example): 1 Using a wax tube, cut out the shape of a standard ring. Then, outline the pattern on the ring with a scribe, to provide a guidance on where the first cuts are going to be. 2 Next, file the wax to the shape you require using a special carving file. Top tip: remember that you can file the wax down quite thin as silver weighs 11 times more than wax. 3 Once the wax has been filed to your requirements, it’s time to attach a wax sprue to the ring. To do so, hold the sprue over a low flame until it starts to drip and then quickly place it on the ring in the heaviest area. 4 Weigh the ring and make a note of how much it weighs. In order to calculate the amount of silver you need, consult these equations: for silver – calculate the weight of the wax multiplied by 11 and plus 10g to accommodate for the weight of the sprue. 5 After calculating how much silver is needed, fix the ring and the sprue to bottom of the flask – with a gap of at least 5mm between the edges and the top of the flask and the ring.
