Why Not Wax?
Something folks who don’t work with metal clay often ask is, “Why not just cast it?” They ask this is genuine puzzlement. This was part of the sentiment expressed on Orchid recently in thread on BronzClay that I posted about in the Why BronzClay? just a little below this one.
So let’s talk about Why not wax? Why not cast it? Here are some pros and cons of lost wax casting vs. working with metal clay.
Lost Wax Casting
pros
- can easily make many copies of one original, in any metal
- wax is very inexpensive, costs less than metal clay
cons
- wax carving seems to have a longer learning curve than metal clay
- lost wax casting is a very technical skill that may not appeal to every artist
- investment plaster contains silica, a health risk
- equipment is expensive
Metal Clay
pros
- shorter learning curve than metalsmithing or wax work
- uses simple, affordable tools
- can be worked in a number of ways — as fresh clay, leather hard, after firing
- is simple to fire, no investment needed
cons
- requires a kiln, the most expensive tool needed
- is more expensive than wax
- each original takes just as long to make as the last, not really a production method
- is so fun and addictive that you’ll need to keep buying it ; )
What do you think?
8 comments Elaine | Bronze & Copper Clay
Totally agree. I would add in ” metal caly pros” that you can use molds made from the first greenware if you want to product a lot.
I did sculpt in wax before I was introduced to silver clay…
I would add to the mc pros: instant gratification. Casting wax requires sending the item to a caster (or having all the equipment…) and it surely does take at least one day to make. It’s just too much work and time involved. Silver clay takes 2 hours tops, bronze clay… 6 hours? Depending on the schedule, of course…
I also find that sculpting in silver clay is less messy and easier.
Why not, exactly! I just received my new kiln yesterday. Getting the rest of the tools and PMC3 today. Why I didn’t pursue this earlier, I have no idea. I learned to do lost wax casting at school 2 years ago, and had no desire to invest in all the equipment required to do that. (You need some type of kiln for that too!) But I did like how you could be more creative with carving the wax. PMC gives you that creativity without all the messy investment and vacuuming (and silica). And if you want to make multiple pieces, just make a silicone mold from it. Way easier than making a mold with a vulcanizer!!! With lost wax casting, if it doesn’t turn out, you no longer have the wax model and would need to start the whole process over. I think not! I hope that PMC lives up to my expectations. I’ll find out this weekend. To say I’m excited to try this is an understatement!
I am a potter as well as a maker of jewelry and I have used both the lost wax technique and making the components from wire and metal clays.
I love metal clay, and there are such a range of molding compounds these days that I am wondering, other than cost, why lost wax casting would be preferred. I have also made molds from fine porcelain that can be used with molten metals (provided good release compounds are used.) These do require more polishing than lost wax due to the release compounds, but provide for an infinite number of repeat castings if required.
PMC is fun and fast. A real artist will invest the time and effort to do things “the old fashioned way,” but not always. It is good to have alternate routes to a finished product. I like/love PMC but still find myself using wax when I want to get lost in the art of production, (by this I mean producing art, not necessarily making a production line). Use whatever makes you happy.
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