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Fine Art Castings
by the...
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Also
known as investment or precision casting process. |
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Was
used in ancient times from China to Egypt to cast exquisite objects
which are now displayed as artifacts in museums. |
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"Lost
Wax Process" permits intricate and precise reproduction of large
and small objects. |
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Jewellers
and dentists use the "Lost Wax Process" to produce small intricate
castings. |
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In the hands of a skilled foundry, fine details will be faithfully
reproduced. |
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The
artist supplies Artcast with an "original". |
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The
Original can be almost any material - clay, plasticine,
plaster, wood, wax, styrofoam, etc. |
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Unless
the original is wax or in styrofoam, a rubber mold is
made. |
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Rubber
compound is poured in liquid form at room temperature
over the original where it flows into every surface detail. |
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After
the rubber cures, the original is removed and molten wax
is poured into the rubber mold to produce a wax duplicate.
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This
wax duplicate is later melted and poured out prior to casting.
Hence the term "Lost Wax Process". |
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Wax
bars are fused to the wax duplicate to make-up the sprue
system. |
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After
dewaxing, the sprue system channels the molten metal into
the mold cavity. |
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The
sprued wax duplicate is coated several times with a ceramic
slurry and stucco, to build up the thickness until the piece
is encased in a strong shell. |
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The
ceramic shell is heated using steam to melt-out the wax.
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The
shell is then cured in a furnace and preheated in preparation
for casting. |
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The
molten metal is poured into the ceramic shell. |
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Upon
cooling, the ceramic shell is chipped off and the sprue
system is removed. |
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Each
location where the sprue system is attached is re-textured
to restore it to the original texture. |
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For
the final finish, the sculpture may be either polished
or patinated as desired. |
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