What you need to know about wax carving？

What is wax carving?

Wax carving is different from other jewelry making processes. Instead of adding decorative elements to a base piece, you start with a piece of wax and saw it into the shape you want.

Through lost wax casting, your piece will be cast in a variety of metals such as gold, silver and platinum.

Which wax is best for you?

Wax Tubes: If you are making a ring, then wax tubes are the best choice for you. Wax tubes can be cut down with a wax cutting saw blade and the excess can be kept and reused. Make sure the wax tube you choose has a hole in the center so that you can easily size the ring using a professional wax ring stick when carving the ring.

Wax blocks: Making pendants, brooches or large charms? Wax blocks work well when you want to create raised relief patterns, which are difficult to create using only metal plates. Wax slabs can be used to depict more natural scenes since wax can create curves and softer shapes. Think of traditional relief sculptures and how good they would feel to the touch. With a wax slab, the right wax carving tools, and some focus, you can create entire scenes of flowers, animals, or sculptures.

Wax wire: While you may have slowly removed the wax to reveal your design, you can still use wax wire for some finishing touches. Wax wire comes in a variety of shapes including round and square. These lengths of wax wire are flexible and can be used to add a decorative element to the overall design.

What are the different colors of wax used for?

• Gold Wolf Wax™ is designed for use in 3D wax carving machines as well as traditional wax carving methods.
• Green wax is a hard wax and is not flexible. It is suitable for highly complex sculptures.
• Blue wax is a normal grade wax that is highly flexible and can be used for very thin wax walls. You may want to start with blue wax.

What are the 13 most commonly used wax carving tools?

1. Wax Saw Blades – Essential for easily cutting through wax blocks, tubes and wire.
2. Professional Wax Ring Stick – Accurately resize the inside diameter of a wax ring model before casting.
3. Wax Files – File wax and particularly difficult areas.
4. Heat Pen – Quickly carve, repair or add detail to your wax designs.
5. 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.
6. Modellers Scalpel – A pen-style cutting tool to add fine detail cutting.
7. Spirit Lamp – Use to heat your wax carving tools, which will make it much easier for you to use them to carve wax.
8. Scalpel Blades – Make sure you use scalpel blades of a high quality, for precision work.
9. Scalpel Handle – Get a handle for your scalpel blades, suited for safe and quick removal of your blades.
10. Wax Detailer – Achieve even more detail in your waxes. Flexible tips will help you with hard to reach places.
11. Ring Mandrel Sleeve Set – An ideal tool for creating wax ring moulds hands-free.
12. 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.
13. Sanding Mandrels – These create a smooth finish on the inside of rings that you have carved with wax.

Wax carving is an important skill that offers a wide range of creative possibilities and is the basis for producing high quality custom jewelry pieces.