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What is wax carving?
Wax carving differs from other jewellery making techniques. Instead of adding decorative elements to a foundational piece, you will start with a piece of wax and saw and file it down into the shape you want.
Through lost wax casting, your piece will then be cast into a number of metals such as gold, silver and platinum.
Which kind of wax is best for you?
Wax tubes: If you’re creating a ring then wax tube is the best choice for you. 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.
Wax blocks: Making a pendant, brooch, or large charm? Wax blocks will work well when you want to create a raised relief pattern that would be difficult to create using sheet metal alone. As 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.
Wax wire: Although you may have been slowly taking away wax to reveal your design, you can also add some finishing flourishes using wax wire. Wax wire comes in a variety of shapes such as round and square. These lengths of wax wire are pliable and can be used to add decorative elements to your overall design.
What are the different colours of wax and what are they used for?
- Gold Wolf Wax™ is designed for 3D wax milling machines, as well as traditional wax carving methods.
- Green is hard wax, with no flex. It is for highly intricate carving.
- Blue wax is regular grade wax, which is highly flexible and can be used for creating extremely thin wall sections. You might want to start out with blue wax.
What are the top 12 tools for wax carving?
- Wax Saw Blades – Essential for easily cutting through wax blocks, tubes and wire.
- Professional Wax Ring Stick – Accurately resize the inside diameter of a wax ring model before casting.
- Wax Files – File wax and particularly difficult areas.
- Heat Pen – Quickly carve, repair or add detail to your wax designs.
- Wax carving tools – You may need a variety of shaped tools to create the perfect design. These tools will help you create any shape you want in your wax.
- Modellers Scalpel – A pen-style cutting tool to add fine detail cutting.
- Spirit Lamp – Use to heat your wax carving tools, which will make it much easier for you to use them to carve wax.
- Scalpel Blades – Make sure you use scalpel blades of a high quality, for precision work.
- Scalpel Handle – Get a handle for your scalpel blades, suited for safe and quick removal of your blades.
- Wax Detailer – Achieve even more detail in your waxes. Flexible tips will help you with hard to reach places.
- Ring Mandrel Sleeve Set – An ideal tool for creating wax ring moulds hands-free.
- Electric Wax Carver – A great addition for your work bench, an electric wax carver will help you with controlled movements for wax carving. You can adjust the heat to low or high depending on the type of work you are doing.
- Sanding Mandrels – These create a smooth finish on the inside of rings that you have carved with wax.
Head over to our website for more information about getting started with wax carving.
Charlotte Murray