Lost Wax Casting Step 3 of 9 Dewaxing the flasks
March 12, 2010 - 4:32 pm
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
Duration : 0:1:23
[youtube R76FEI79b9c]
March 12th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
It’d cut down on …
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.
March 12th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
I’m using Kerr …
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.
March 12th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
We use a burn-out …
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.
March 12th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
If you leave the …
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.
March 12th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
Wow, the investment …
Wow, the investment plaster isn’t adversely affected by the steam? That surprises me (but I know nothing about this)