Casting lace

[Debemilyerin]

Hi I wonder if anyone can help. I am trying to cast a piece of lace fabric but need to stiffen it with wax first. What is the best melting wax for keeping as much of the fine detail as possible?
I will then send it to be cast. All help appreciated please.

[Dennis]

Rather than run wax on it, you might decide to have a thin layer of silver electro-formed on it. This would stiffen it sufficiently to make a silicone mould for wax. Alternatively it could end up stiff enough to use as it is, but of course it then could not be soldered.

Another idea would be to stiffen it with spray lacquer in order to make a mould, or simply burn it out. Talk to your caster too, because they will have ideas of their own. Dennis.

[CJ57]

I really have no idea about this but from a fabric point of view would spray starch not keep the integrity of the pattern in place whereas other forms might clog up the pattern. Your caster would probably be the best source of information as Dennis has said.