How To Cast Jewelry In 7 Steps

By Kristin Arzt

The possibilities of what you can create with wax, fire, and molten metal are endless. Cast jewelry and sculptures from wax to capture fine details in your piece. Casting jewelry is cost and time effective, and it gives you the ability to make multiples of the same piece. Lost wax casting is an art form that humans have used for thousands of years to create unique pieces of jewelry. We have been pouring molten metals into cavities shaped in stone, plaster, sand, and even bone since the time we learned to melt metals.

Wax casting is not necessarily an art form that you can do on your own without proper guidance. Taking a class ensures safety under the guidance of a skilled instructor, and is more cost-effective than purchasing all of the necessary equipment. And, there is no prior experience necessary!

We jumped into a Casting Wax To Silver class to get the run-down on how it’s done. Cast Jewelry is not just for adults! We also offer it during our Youth Summer Camps.

SHOP CASTING WAX TO SILVER

Tools You’ll Need

Prepared wax form to be cast
Metal- your choice of bronze or silver
Investment
Flask
2.5” rubber base
Rubber mixing bowl
Volumetric flask for water
Vacuum chamber

Kiln for burnout
Small round crucible for centrifuge
Flux
Small torch
Safety gear: leather gloves, protective glasses
Bucket with water
Big steel tongs to pick up hot flask

Step 1: Carve and Shape Wax

Carve your project in wax. Different types of wax can be used for your desired outcome. Sculpture wax is soft and can be shaped like clay, while some wax is harder and can be used to achieve textures in cast jewelry.

Step 2: Attach Sprues and Base

Attach sprues and weigh your wax model with the sprues attached. Melt wax onto the button of your flask base, and attach your wax model to the base.

Step 3: Invest

Measure the ratio of investment powder to water based on the weight of your model. Add the investment to water and mix until smooth (think pancakes). Place the investment mixture in a vacuum chamber for about 30 seconds, then pour it carefully into your flask. Let it dry overnight.

Step 4: Wax Burnout

Place your flask in the kiln to remove the wax and prepare your flask for casting. Timing and temperature will be adjusted according to the size of your flask. Then, gear up! Put on your safety glasses and gloves before handling your hot flask.

Step 5: Casting

Lock the centrifuge, place your flask in the cradle, and push the crucible up against the flask. Preheat the crucible, then pour your pre-weighed metal into it. Using an oxy-acetylene torch, melt the metals in your crucible and occasionally stir with a stirring rod. When the metals are completely melted, unlock the centrifuge, activating it, and flood the molten metal into your flask. The centrifuge will spin for about one minute. Remove your flask from the cradle using tongs (it’s hot!).

Step 6: Quench

After your flask cools and is no longer glowing red, pick up your flask with a pair of tongs and completely submerge it in the quenching bucket until the bubbling stops. Try to keep your flask horizontal so your casting does not slip out and fall to the bottom of the bucket. Scrape the soft investment out of the flask and extract your casting.