Posted ByDave SynderInvestigate the enthralling procedures of glass casting. Glass casting employs more glass and the end product is bulkier than common glass fusing, which is typically flat. These portions posses extra depth and height. Sometimes referred to as kiln casting, in these methods hot glass is permitted to solidify in a cast.
Jewelry designs don’t come when you summon them. They pop into your head when you’re driving down the street, or talking on the phone. Ideas come in the middle of the night or first thing in the morning when you wake up. So carry a little book, a design diary, to capture your ideas when they come to you. A quick sketch will do. Your diary doesn’t have to be anything fancy, just a simple little notebook small enough to carry wherever you go. With a design diary, when you sit down to work, you will always have ideas.
Students will create a piece of work choosing their own design either from a pattern, drawing or photograph to transform from a wax model into a sturdy and beautiful bronze artwork. Designs are carved in wax, then centrifugally cast in this non-toxic, beautiful and hard alloy. Students can make a pendant, earrings, charm, small statue or key fob.
One of the most ancient methods is the Lost-wax or investment casting method. The Lost-wax method is known to date all the way back 4000 years ago. Although this method was used by every ancient culture that worked with bronze, and it was the Greek who perfected the technical proficiency of the Lost-microfusioni a cera persa method. The Lost-wax method is the method used by the Roman civilization to create bronze gods and leaders. The word Roma was derived from the Roman era and is used to describe how pieces of a bronze sculpture fits together.
Once the various pieces are completed they are carefully assembled to form the final wax model. Using the flame of a lamp the connecting points are heated do that they can be melted together. With the artist’s finger, the arm joint with smoothed to fit with the torso and the torso smoothed to fit with the base .Once completed the wax model are placed into water to ensure that they do not loose shape in the Indian sunny climate.
I have taught many jewelry students basic sawing techniques and dealt with many colorful excuses why they should not attempt to learn the new skill: ‘I don’t want to,” I might cut myself,’ ‘I’m too old,’ ‘I might inhale metal dust.’ I respect each and every excuse and realize metalwork is not for everyone. There may be lots of valid excuses, but there are just as many more reasons to learn the skill, refine the techniques, and show the world what you can do.
Then we bake the shell until the wax melts, creating a hollow ceramic mold. We remove the mold from the kiln and pour 2,100 degree bronze into the shell. Once the bronze cools, we carefully strip the ceramic shell from the bronze. Our artisans then re-detail any weld marks to ensure quality.
Metal casting supplies often dictate what the caster can and can not do. Keep this in mind as you plan your next project as adjustments might be needed to your plan.