Lost Wax Casting Step 3 of 9 Dewaxing the flasks

Preparing for lost wax casting, step 3: steaming out the wax from inside the hardened plaster investment.

Feathered Gems Jewelry has documented the entire process of casting Braille charms for Seedlings Braille Books for Children.
Music: Polovtsian Dances by Borodin

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• lost wax casting
• jewelry making
• silver
• wax
• steam
• Feathered Gems
• FGems

[RCFrizz]

A Stranger in Paradise!

I remember this "delightful melody" from the old commercial which featured the ersatz Mr. French yapping about modern music really being written by the "great masters."

Regardless, this is a well-done series. You should see if PBS is hiring.

[FeatheredGems]

@RCFrizz

Actually the music is "Polovtsian Dances" by Alexander Borodin. :)

[ragemanchoo82]

We use a burn-out oven to de-wax our flasks. We do it overnight, on a timer. It seems like that steam method would only work for certain designs, otherwise some wax would be left trapped inside.

BTW what kind of plaster were you using in the video? Ultra-Vest? That's what we use.

[FeatheredGems]

I'm using Kerr Satin Cast 20. It's what my local casting supplier sells.

The steam dewaxing will work for any design that can be burned out. When you burn out wax, it doesn't all burn inside the flask--just the last little remnants. Dewaxing just melts the wax so most of it drips out of the flask first. This makes less smoke when the flasks are burned out in the kiln.

[RCFrizz]

@FeatheredGems Grrrr! I know, but don't you remember those commercials? The opening line went something like this:

I'm sure you recognize this delightful melody, A Stranger in Paradise. But did you know this is actually the Polovtsian Dance number two by Borodin?

[ragemanchoo82]

It'd cut down on smoke, I hadn't thought of that. It would make more sense for shops that have to burn-out during business hours.

[TheCaelestis]

If you leave the flasks over the steam for too long, the investment will start to degrade. But for the length of time it takes to melt out most of the wax, (usually about an hour) it's OK. Investment is a lot tougher than regular plaster.

[jimsterJ]

Wow, the investment plaster isn't adversely affected by the steam? That surprises me (but I know nothing about this)