Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Jewelry Making Supplies and Jewelry Making Basics Explained Part 2 (jewelry silversmith blanks)

(jewelry silversmith blanks)

Lost-wax casting involves a number of steps. If followed properly and with precision the artist will find the process enjoyable. (jewelry silversmith blanks)Before you begin, you will need to come up with an idea for the piece of jewelry. Generally, the sculpture of the piece is created using wax though some prefer having a metal master copy in case of mistakes. You are going to create the mold using the original. (jewelry silversmith blanks)The molds used for casting jewelry allow a great amount of detail. When the mold is finished, you are going to fill it with wax to create a wax copy which will then be coated with sand and silica.(jewelry silversmith blanks)

This ceramic shell will then be heated so that the wax is melted out. The wax can be reused so make sure to safely collect it during this step. The ceramic copy will be hollow and you will have to test it for holes before pouring the molten metal. (jewelry silversmith blanks) Afterwards, you will lightly hammer the ceramic shell away to reveal the finished product. The end result of the Lost-wax process is usually very detailed and exact creating a beautiful piece. (jewelry silversmith blanks) Casting jewelry can be a profitable business depending upon your skill level and creativity. This skill is diminishing as the jewelry companies switch to computerized and automatic means of creating their pieces. (jewelry silversmith blanks)

While this move is smart for the jewelry business as it reduces the production cost, the end result lacks a certain desirable element that hand made jewelry posses. (jewelry silversmith blanks) Casters will be able to use the mold created during the Lost-wax process a few times before a new mold has to be made. Extra care and attention has to be paid to polishing any imperfections or patching any variants during the casting process. Several things can go wrong during casting especially when you remove the mold so take care to be extra careful and attentive during this time. (jewelry silversmith blanks)
Casting jewelry is a valuable skill to master and if you plan on making any money from your home foundry , this is a good place to start.

(jewelry silversmith blanks)

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