The Lost Wax Method of Casting
After I complete my sculpture in plasticine clay, the work that goes into creating a bronze is only 30% complete. Now the casting process begins.
- First we cut up my sculpture into smaller pieces.
- We then make a rubber mold of each piece.
- From the mold we make a wax replica which we refine to correct any flaws.
- We then make a ceramic mold from the wax replica. This mold takes over a week to build through several applications of clay slurry.
- The ceramic mold is placed in a kiln to burn out the wax inside (hence the name LOST WAX)
- Next, we pour molten bronze, heated to 1900 to 2200 degrees, into the ceramic mold.
- After the newly poured bronze cools, we chip away the ceramic mold.
- We then sand blast the remaining bronze.
- After welding all of the pieces back together, we eliminate all welding marks and recreate any of my markings lost during the process.
- The final step is to add the patina, or coloration, using layers of oxides and acrylics, heat applied with a blow torch.