Complex casting project. Elk.

Discussion in 'Lost wax casting' started by LJLundgren, Nov 25, 2021.

  1. LJLundgren

    LJLundgren Copper

    So I’m sculpting an elk, and as it gets closer to finished I’m wondering what on earth I’m going to need to do to get this molded and transformed into wax. I’ve molded and cast animals before but I’ve never done one with antlers like this. Any recommendations on how to do something like this? Specifically the antlers? DA0A760D-D1CC-470D-AA9C-E2A90DA248AF.jpeg 03C29635-5A38-4187-A22D-BB798728ADBF.jpeg

    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 feet on these pads, the plan will be to weld the pads to the base and blend it in after casting. Is that a good idea?
     
    Mach likes this.
  2. That's a nice bit of work! I can't help with the moulding, but I am keeping watch for the replies. Good luck.
     
  3. Oldarm

    Oldarm Silver

    Now you have my attention too! Somebody is going give you the heads up on the conversion process for this, trust me. Can you show us one or two or three snaps of your earlier work? I for one would really like to take a peek. John.
     
  4. rocco

    rocco Silver

    My experience with any sort of a lost wax process is rather minimal so take this for what it's worth, how about molding the antlers and the body separately and then join them back together before investing the wax?
     
  5. amber foundry

    amber foundry Copper

    That's a very nice piece of work, can you advise the size of it please ? Are you wanting to keep the original piece after moulding ? There are several ways I might go about moulding this but would normally have the piece in front of me to make a final decision.
     
  6. Mantrid

    Mantrid Silver

    the easiest way i think would be to remove the antlers and make separate moulds of them. then join everything back together at the wax stage. if you want to do one mould the it would need about 4 pieces, one for each side of the body, one for between tghe antlers and one for between the legs. Ill see if i can dig out some photos of what i mean.
    Regarding the feet, the usual way is to place on a stone base. to do this is to have some rods sticking out from a couple of the feet which can be threaded and bolted through two holes in the stone. another good way is to sculpt some landscape around the beast and attach to the stone base in the same way. If you do want to stay with the metal base then just make it from wax and attack your wax elk to it before investing
     
  7. Mantrid

    Mantrid Silver

    the cat was cast as one piece with base attached
    ca_34.jpg

    I made the mould for this bronze age horse in six pieces. Two piece for each side and two pieces between the legs
    IMG_3075.JPG

    IMG_3123.JPG

    IMG_3120.JPG

    The dog I was able to do in two pieces of silicone and a four piece plaster mother mould for support
    IMG_1323.JPG
     
    Last edited: Nov 27, 2021
    Bldr J, DavidF and John Gaertner like this.
  8. Jason

    Jason Gold

    Love those horse photos...

    I would cut those antlers off for sure. Remember, all you have to do is get them close. The real shaping is going to be done once you are in bronze with the grinder.
     
  9. mytwhyt

    mytwhyt Silver

  10. Mantrid

    Mantrid Silver

    thats exactly what it is. It isnt my work. A guy in germany sculpted the horse and i made a mould and cast it in bronze for him. He made the rest, chariot and sun disc. but he thought the horse was a bit to complex for him to mould.
     
  11. Mantrid

    Mantrid Silver

    photo of the original
    Trundholm Sun Chariot Photo 1.jpg

    Finished cast
    IMG_3310.JPG

    details of the head
    IMG_3311a.jpg
     
    Last edited: Dec 6, 2021
  12. Xellish

    Xellish Copper

    Nice to see some metalurgy from my parts of the woods. Fun fact: there is a photo of the wagon on our 1000 DKK note.
     

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