Bronze Casting Cheatsheet
The Lost-Wax Casting Process
This is a complex process that requires a foundry and professional equipment.
Step # | Action | Description |
---|---|---|
1 | Create the original model. | Usually made of clay, wax, or plaster. |
2 | Make a mold of the model. | A rubber mold is created to capture the detail. |
3 | Create a wax pattern. | Molten wax is poured into the rubber mold. |
4 | Chase the wax. | The wax pattern is refined and details are added. |
5 | Spruing. | Wax rods (sprues) are added to the pattern to allow metal to flow in and gases to escape. |
6 | Investment. | The wax pattern is dipped in a ceramic slurry to create a shell. |
7 | Burnout. | The ceramic shell is fired in a kiln, which hardens the shell and melts out the wax. |
8 | Casting. | Molten bronze is poured into the hollow ceramic shell. |
9 | Devesting. | The ceramic shell is broken away from the cooled bronze. |
10 | Metal Chasing and Finishing. | The sprues are cut off and the metal is cleaned, sanded, and polished. |
11 | Patination. | Chemicals are applied to the surface to colour the bronze. |