Lost Wax Jewelry Casting Process - How silver jewelry is made

As many of you know, in making silver cow jewelry, I send it out to a small company in Maine to get the original model reproduced. I don't make the multiples myself because it's a labor intensive process and requires a lot of equipment. I've been on the search for a good video that explains the lost wax casting procedures and found this one is a good fit. It is from another jeweler showing how he reproduced a couple of wedding rings, but the process is still the same. It does lack, however, in some captions that I think would be helpful to explaining how it's done, so I will sum it up in a nutshell here:

1. You start with an original model (either out of wax or a metal model).
2. Make a mold of that model.
3. Inject that mold with hot wax to make replicas of the model.
4. Put all the models onto a 'tree'. The base of the tree is on raised circle called a button.
5. Surround the tree with a can and investment (plaster).
6. Heat the can and investment so the wax evaporates. Then you are left with a negative space.
7. Heat the appropriate amount of metal and fill the negatives space in the tree.
8. Dissolve the plaster in water and cut the metal pieces off the tree.
9. Finish and polish.

Friday's art video - How to add charms to a charm bracelet

Want to know how to add charms to a bracelet yourself? I've created this short video to show you how to do it in just a couple of minutes with a few tools.

Friday's art themed website: MAKE BEADED JEWELRY

For anyone that has ever wanted to make your own jewelry, beaded jewelry is a great way to get started. The website All About Beading is a great resource to start leaning how to make your own jewelry. There are multiple projects that detail the materials and tools needed to make your own bracelets, earrings, and necklaces. It even gives step by step instructions, most with pictures or diagrams. A suggestion here as well: do you have a beading supply store close to you? Many of these stores will also provide help when you purchase your jewelry making supplies from them.