Sometimes also referred to as ‘investment casting’, lost wax casting is a process that sees a single metal object cast using a wax model. The process is extremely versatile and allows the artists to achieve really detailed results.
Lost wax casting sees a mold built around a wax model that is then sacrificed later on in the process.
Once the mold investment is in place and set, the wax is then melted away to create a cavity into which the glass or metal can go into. The method of casting is great for capturing really fine details in both glass and metal.
Lost wax casting is a process that has been used for many thousands of years (since 3000 B. C.) for the purpose of visually showing religious events or ancient culture throughout history.
The ancient process is still used around the world today for both making pieces of fine art and in the manufacturing process.
The high accuracy and precision that it delivers make it the perfect tool for producing objects that have close tolerances, intricate detailing, and/or thin walls.
It is used to create various parts for a whole range of different industries, including the medical industry, the agricultural industry, and the transportation industry.
The process allows for both really simple and highly complex objects to be made from a wide range of metals.
The most basic lost wax casting method involves a number of key steps. The first of these is creating a pattern and a mold and then pouring liquid metal into that mold.
Once set, the solid metal casting will need to be extracted and finished to get the desired result. It is a completely customizable process whereby different metals can be cast into various shapes, sizes, and more.
The steps involved in the process are detailed below, although some larger-scale lost wax casting processes may differ slightly.