| Lost Wax Casting is known as Cire Perdue | | | | plaster mold is complete and finished, |
| in French. It is a process in which an | | | | molten wax is poured into the mold till |
| artist's sculpture is used to cast | | | | it gets an even coating all around the |
| bronze. The Lost Wax Casting method is | | | | mold. The thickness of the wax coating |
| also known as Investment Casting in the | | | | is around 1/8 inch. This process is then |
| modern industrial world. This is a very | | | | repeated until the desired thickness is |
| ancient method used for casting small | | | | achieved. |
| bronze sculptures, but today it is used | | | | Removal of wax replica: The hollow wax |
| to make many different artifacts and the | | | | replica of the original art work is then |
| process varies from foundry to foundry. | | | | removed from the mold. The original mold |
| Today this developed method of Lost Wax | | | | can be used for making more wax |
| Casting is used to make articles like | | | | replicas, but due to the wear and tear |
| fine jewelery, show pieces, dental | | | | of the original mold the reuse of the |
| restoration, a few specific industrial | | | | mold is limited. |
| parts and also some machine tools. | | | | Softening: Each wax mold is then chased |
| Process of Lost Wax Casting: | | | | or softened using heated metal tools. |
| Rough Sculptor making: A creative artist | | | | The metal tools are rubbed around |
| makes an original sculptor or mold or an | | | | portions that show cracks or the joining |
| artwork by using raw material like wax, | | | | line of the mold, where the pieces have |
| plaster of Paris or clay. A mixture of | | | | come together. Separately molded wax |
| oil based clay and wax is preferred as | | | | pieces are then heated and attached. The |
| these materials retain their softness. | | | | finished mold is then dressed in order |
| Final Mold Making: A mold is then made | | | | to hide any imperfections. The final |
| as per the original sculptor. The mold | | | | piece then looks like a bronze |
| is made up of two pieces and a key with | | | | sculpture. |
| shim is placed between the two pieces | | | | Making paths for molten bronze: It is |
| during construction so the mold can be | | | | also known as "spuring", in short the |
| put accurately back together. Molds are | | | | wax copy is then branched with treelike |
| generally made using plaster or | | | | wax, so that the molten bronze reaches |
| fiberglass or any other material that | | | | the right parts and also it helps the |
| may be suitable. An inner mold of latex | | | | air to escape. The critical and careful |
| or vinyl or silicone is put pup preserve | | | | spuring begins from the top of the wax |
| the details of the original art work. | | | | copy. The top of the copy is attached to |
| Generally, the original art work made of | | | | by wax cylinders to different points on |
| plaster mold cracks and breaks during | | | | the wax copy. |
| the initial phase of deconstruction. | | | | Slurry, burnout, testing, pouring, |
| Many a times, numerable molds are | | | | release, metal-chasing, and painting are |
| required to get the exact replica of the | | | | the final steps in the process of Lost |
| original art work. | | | | Wax Casting. |
| Filling up the mold: Once the latex and | | | | |