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Sheen
26-12-2020, 11:41 AM
Hi, have recently been looking into wax carving. it's not that easy to find the right information to get started. but i thought i would post what I've found so far.

Emilie shapiro who wrote a wax carving book (now out of print) has produced a series of 10 dollar videos in lockdown. i'm going to be watching a couple of these as i think they will be really good value. https://emilieshapiro.com/collections/classes
i took Sandy's wax charm making class which i enjoyed. She is doing about 10 different classes at 45 euros each https://www.waxcarvers.com/
There is Beginners wax carving class with Rebecca Steiner on https://jewelleryschoolonline.teachable.com/courses/293483/lectures/4513157 i can't remember the price. they also have a free wax ring course and a pay for stone setting one £79.
I also recommend Kornelia Jewellery on You Tube https://youtu.be/QXcA173eerE

Books are hard to come by, most of them are out of print and therefor expensive, there is going to be a new one published in Mar, and also i heard about those two that have now been reprinted. unfortunately the postage from america is really expensive otherwise i would have bought them already.
BOOK 1) "Basic Wax Modeling - An Adventure In Creativity" by Hiroshi Tsuyuki
https://www.artisanideas.com/product/...​
BOOK 2) "Practical Wax Modeling - Advanced Techniques for Wax Modelers" by Hiroshi Tsuyuki and Yoko Ohba https://www.artisanideas.com/product/...

Sheen
26-12-2020, 11:43 AM
Walsh's have a really good supply of differant waxes and tools.
Cooksons has a wax kit, and waxes

Dennis
26-12-2020, 12:49 PM
Hi Sheena,
On the whole a kit can start you off, but will leave you with a bunch of things which prove to be useless. So it is best to use the kits shown as a guide, but buy the tools individually as needed. As you say, Walsh are very good on this.

You will also need to decide on a heat source, other than your mini torch, for melting wax onto a tool, for repairs, or additions to your wax.
This can be a spirit lamp, a refillable butane Bunsen burner, or simply an electrically heated wire, either mains or battery. Hard choices and lots of money.

I have never done much wax carving, because as a hobbyist I try to take on work which I can do by myself, and I am averse to casting with molten metal at home.
So I only bought the simplest and cheapest of tools for a few attempts to prove that I can. My dragon shows the stalagmites of wax I built up by dripping molten wax from a carver.

The wings were made from wire and sheet, added after casting. The stones were mounted back to front to make the eyes more threatening. Dennis.

Sheen
26-12-2020, 07:22 PM
Hi Dennis, hope you've enjoyed boxing day. I bought the cookson kit during the last sale. Usually I don't buy kits preferring to collect tools but wax carving is such a confusing business that I just bought one. As it is I have used everything :) this is one of my rings just before I tacked the pink to the blue wax and hollowed it out. I am going to do more wax carving in the new year as it's a good alternative for me while I can't really use a hammer. Your dragon eyes as super fab. I haven't made anything as big as your dragon yet

12803

Dennis
26-12-2020, 10:24 PM
Looks lovely so far Sheena.. Hope you will show it cast.
Once Josef worked out for us how much it would shrink when cast. Here's the link: https://www.cooksongold.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8909
Happy new year, Dennis.

Sheen
27-12-2020, 12:00 PM
I'll post it once it's cast, but it'll be a while. I think it might be best to make a wee load of things then send them to the caster. I've read that thread already :) like to know exactly what I'm doing.

Dennis
27-12-2020, 12:45 PM
I know and I did try to take your advice to wear a mask and eat a mince pie, Sheena, but it didn't end well-sorry. Dennis.

Sheen
27-12-2020, 01:09 PM
I know and I did try to take your advice to wear a mask and eat a mince pie, Sheena, but it didn't end well-sorry. Dennis.

I have to see the photo as evidence as I'm unconvinced that this could possibly have ended badly, sorry.

Dennis
27-12-2020, 04:13 PM
Well not that badly in the scheme of things, but I did get the filling all over the mask.