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Thread: Wax Carving Resources

  1. #1
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    Default Wax Carving Resources

    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.teacha...ctures/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/...

  2. #2
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    Walsh's have a really good supply of differant waxes and tools.
    Cooksons has a wax kit, and waxes

  3. #3
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    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.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Dragon Brooch.jpg  

  4. #4
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    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

    Click image for larger version. 

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  5. #5
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    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.

  6. #6
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    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.

  7. #7
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    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.
    Last edited by Dennis; 27-12-2020 at 12:53 PM.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dennis View Post
    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.

  9. #9
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    Well not that badly in the scheme of things, but I did get the filling all over the mask.

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