Lost wax casting Mon, 18 May 2026 13:54:02 +0000 Mon, 18 May 2026 13:54:02 +0000 The Home Foundry http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?forums/lost-wax-casting.13/ Mon, 02 Mar 2026 01:05:57 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/create-your-own-suspendaslurry.3105/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/create-your-own-suspendaslurry.3105/ invalid@example.com (Cameron) Cameron
For pouring lost pla castings out of bronze, primarily. Sculptures for my kiddos...]]> 3 Fri, 20 Feb 2026 17:13:39 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/cement-shell.3075/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/cement-shell.3075/ invalid@example.com (Meteor Monowatt) Meteor Monowatt


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Lost wax investment casting
Book by C. W. Ammen

"Cement Molds

Cement investment molds are made in either two-part, cylindrical metal flasks or in rosin-paper flasks.
The investment cannot be poured; it must be tamped down around the pattern. The investment consists of 10 parts (by volume) of 100- mesh silica sand to one part Hi-Early cement.

The pattern should be made of three parts pine rosin (by weight) to one part victory wax....

Cement shell]]> 3 Tue, 27 Jan 2026 20:59:47 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/dog-sulpture-revisited.3092/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/dog-sulpture-revisited.3092/ invalid@example.com (Mantrid) Mantrid
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Although I was happy with the Dog the rest I wasnt satisfied with. The bronze mass at the base of the hind legs was supposed to represent a water splash and the green slate base was the water the dog was running through. I had two castings of this dog unfinished so I thought I would try to improve the impression of the dog running through water.

To do this I used the same green slate but...

Dog Sulpture Revisited.]]> 17 Sun, 25 Jan 2026 01:27:05 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/bronze-surfer.3031/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/bronze-surfer.3031/ invalid@example.com (OmniVarious) OmniVarious Had an issue with vacuuming the investment and it shows in the result. Lots of little bronze balls to clean up all over!
I will start chasing it tomorrow most likely.
I either need to get a deeper vacuum pot for sucking down investment or make shorter parts!
After chasing the board will rest on the back end and...

Bronze Surfer]]> 9 Sat, 24 Jan 2026 17:53:54 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/latest-bronze-effort.3095/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/latest-bronze-effort.3095/ invalid@example.com (OmniVarious) OmniVarious The whole thing was a near disaster though, and after the pour I was convinced it would not come out, but it was nearly a flawless cast when I cleaned it...

Latest Bronze Effort]]> Fri, 19 Sep 2025 00:24:23 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/wire-rod-reinforcement-of-mold.3040/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/wire-rod-reinforcement-of-mold.3040/ invalid@example.com (Dick Morris) Dick Morris
They were investment cast using 3D printed castable resin. The "wax" was actually created in three parts because of size limitations of my printer. The two end halves and center were printed separately, the center had sockets that the end pieces fit into. The joints were sealed with wax. There were no problems...

Wire rod reinforcement of mold]]> 3 Wed, 17 Sep 2025 23:39:47 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/i-just-hvent-been-doing-enough-naked-women-lately.2352/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/i-just-hvent-been-doing-enough-naked-women-lately.2352/ invalid@example.com (Mantrid) Mantrid
https://www.female-anatomy-for-artist.com

Very useful. A paid site but much cheaper than hiring a model
Only taken a few days to get to this stage.

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Its only about 10 inches high and should be a straight forward casting.]]> 74 Mon, 11 Aug 2025 01:15:47 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/its-raining-kilns.3026/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/its-raining-kilns.3026/ invalid@example.com (Tobho Mott) Tobho Mott
Occasionally one will come up that's way outside my price range, and maybe worth it to the right pottery enthusiast, but even those aren't so often. I know they're out there, sitting in basements gathering...

It's raining kilns]]> 3 Sat, 28 Jun 2025 20:14:24 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/steam-or-furnace-de-wax.3014/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/steam-or-furnace-de-wax.3014/ invalid@example.com (OmniVarious) OmniVarious I have thought about using the steam method for de-waxing, but on looking do not really see any comparison conversations.
I am curious, if the steam de-wax process is used, if the investment mold can be allowed to cool off after de-waxing and cast it on another day after a proper burn it out?
It seems like there would...

Steam Or Furnace De-wax?]]> 5 Sat, 28 Jun 2025 19:21:35 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/casting-failures-galore.2988/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/casting-failures-galore.2988/ invalid@example.com (OmniVarious) OmniVarious I have a belt buckle project I designed for a friend when he retired. I showed it to him after I carved it out of blue wax and he was absolutely tickled about it. I am (sort of ) casting it in Sil Bronze.
I have never been so glad I made a silicone pattern of a 'one off' object!
I am on my 6th attempt.
The failures have ranged from my vac pump failing WHILE turning around with the molten metal to pour, to the bottom of...

Casting Failures Galore!]]> 10 Sun, 04 May 2025 14:39:17 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/need-some-info-on-burnout-furnace.2298/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/need-some-info-on-burnout-furnace.2298/ invalid@example.com (flask_copper_man) flask_copper_man You can tell I am very new to casting.
Thank you
Renny]]> 6 Mon, 28 Oct 2024 19:42:26 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/complex-casting-project-elk.2051/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/complex-casting-project-elk.2051/ invalid@example.com (LJLundgren) LJLundgren View attachment 18632 View attachment 18633

also. I don’t like welding the animal feet directly to the base (I don’t think it looks good) so I’m sculpting these...

Complex casting project. Elk.]]> 12 Sun, 18 Aug 2024 22:23:27 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/fer-de-berlin-berlin-iron.2891/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/fer-de-berlin-berlin-iron.2891/ invalid@example.com (tim0090) tim0090
does anyone know how to cast extremely intricate iron??]]> 5 Tue, 23 Jan 2024 04:41:06 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/silicon-bronze-castings.2546/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/silicon-bronze-castings.2546/ invalid@example.com (Michael Nepsund) Michael Nepsund 34 Fri, 19 Jan 2024 16:21:57 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/defaults-in-bronze-castings-any-idea.2788/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/defaults-in-bronze-castings-any-idea.2788/ invalid@example.com (prométhée) prométhée
I have a very recurrent defaults on my bronze castings, and have no idea where it comes from.
I added 6 photos, the 1 is a photo of the global peace, the 2 is a zoom on the hairs of a perfect casting, and all the others are zooms on hairs that have porosity. I have casted tens of these and very often, I have very good results except on that part of the hairs (which is at the very bottom of the mold). I use a vacuum table.

Thanks in advance for your help !]]> 3 Sat, 04 Nov 2023 21:53:04 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/arizona-lost-wax-artist.2670/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/arizona-lost-wax-artist.2670/ invalid@example.com (Al2O3) Al2O3
I asked him if he did his own foundry work. The answer was no, and what respect he had for the artisans who do, and asked if I had such an interest and I told...

Arizona Lost Wax Artist]]> 3 Fri, 14 Jul 2023 19:45:51 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/bronze-garden-lights-zapins.2430/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/bronze-garden-lights-zapins.2430/ invalid@example.com (Zapins) Zapins
I also got some of that plasti-paste II stuff to try out as a mold backing instead of fiber glass (yuck). I'll be molding it all up soon and will post some pics.
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Bronze garden lights - Zapins]]> 10 Sun, 18 Jun 2023 13:05:16 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/choosing-the-right-wax.2564/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/choosing-the-right-wax.2564/ invalid@example.com (Forrest99) Forrest99
I began lost wax in high school - I had an amazing teacher - and I remember the wax that we used was red but it was also very controllable. The only wax I have been able to find is Ferris #6, blue sprue wax, both of which tend to just run (almost no control) or the hard blue carving kind. I want to be able to shape and gradually build...

Choosing the Right Wax]]> 13 Sun, 28 May 2023 02:08:55 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/making-a-magpie.2355/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/making-a-magpie.2355/ invalid@example.com (DJN Holistic) DJN Holistic
Approaching for a landing seems like a cool pose to do.

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I've started off by drawing a basic diagram to check my proportions against. Going for a 50cm wingspan, which is roughly life...

Making a Magpie]]> 77 Wed, 10 May 2023 00:43:55 +0000 http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/coral-pinnicle-with-shark-and-conger-eel.2035/ http://forums.thehomefoundry.org/index.php?threads/coral-pinnicle-with-shark-and-conger-eel.2035/ invalid@example.com (Mantrid) Mantrid I still have a few coral pieces to add and the shark and eel needs finishing with more detail but i think im nearly there.
This is my most complex piece to date. I will have to dismantle it and mould each piece of coral seperately, and do a three part mold for the shark and a two or three part for the core of the coral pinnacle.
Heres...

Coral pinnicle with shark and conger eel]]> 75