10/15 - 11/05 Wax Working for Jewelers (4 weeks)

Tuesdays, October 15 - November 5, 2024 (4 weeks) 
3:00 - 5:30 pm PDT

Instructor: Jennifer Stenhouse

In this 4 week live online workshop, you will learn the fundamentals and some useful tricks for designing and creating wax models for lost wax casting for the comfort of your own home! The ancient technique of lost wax casting is used to create unique jewelry pieces, is widely used for mass-producing jewelry and jewelry components.

Students will be introduced to the casting process and explore a variety of wax types and techniques in order to understand how to prepare ideal waxes for casting. Projects will include pendants, rings, and charms. Demos and discussions will also touch on ways of creating stone settings in wax and having molds made for multiple castings.

At the end of the class, students have the option to:

• Send finished waxes to us for casting in sterling or bronze. This has an additional casting and shipping fee. Students may send their waxes that translate in metal up to approximately 1oz each in sterling and bronze.
• Cast it yourself if you have the equipment.
• Send out to a casting business of your choosing.

Prerequisites:

Intro jewelry skills are helpful. Returning students are welcome.

Desired previous skills:

Basic jewelry skills, saw, file, solder, and finishing.

Topics will cover the types and use of tools and equipment to carve waxes to create successful models for casting, waxes and properties, design elements that relate to better cast objects, and how to work with the jewelry industry will also be discussed. The primary focus will be on creating original models.

All classes include the video recording, which you will have access to for 60 days after the class. Zoom link and instructions for joining the call will be emailed 1 day (24 hours) prior to class.

The class supply list is below and contains links to buy the supplies you need.

Supply List for Students

The links below will take you to RioGrande.com or other suppliers. To see prices for precious metal items, you need a free Rio Grande account. Students in the Rio for Schools program enjoy wholesale benefits for six months (instructor code = RFSLMF). This site may contain Amazon and other affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link, at no cost to you, we may receive a small commission on qualifying purchases.

Recommended Materials & Tools:

• Students are recommended to have a sample kit of waxes to work with.
• #2 spiral saw blades
• Alcohol lamp – This item will ship empty. You will need to get denatured alcohol at a local hardware store.
• Wax working tools
• Wax file
• Wax burs
• Max Wax Pen

Additional wax working tools can be found, ordered, created, or purchased locally.  These will be discussed thoroughly on the first evening of class. Help support your local merchants! The tools listed below are helpful for working in your studio and at home to create the wax models:

• Dental tools
• Exacto knife/tools
• Sharp pointy tools
• Coarse wood files
• Piece of scrap brass
• Old broken drill bits
• Nylon hose/fabrics
• 400 grit wet/dry paper
• Craft sewing needles
• Linoleum carving tools
• Watertight container to store waxes

Hot tools

Many people like to use dental tools with an alcohol lamp with denatured alcohol. Denatured alcohol may be purchased from your local hardware store. If you prefer to work with an electric pen there is the battery-powered Max Wax Pen. Also, an electric dental wax working pen is available on sites like eBay or Amazon for about $45. We will discuss this further on the first evening of class.