The Lost Art of Lost Wax Castingby Leon HarrisThese days, most jewelry is made by machines that pour and press metal into perfectly molded shapesand sizes that retailers can sell for less (thanks,ugg boots, mass production). And while some consumers haveno problem with wearing the same ring or brooch that hundreds or thousands of other women aresporting, there are still a few out there who prefer the old-school method of jewelry-making. Lost waxcasting is not necessarily easy,www.moncler-paschere.net,24515, and it does require some equipment and know-how to pull off. But withjust a few simple steps you can have the unique jewelry you desire. And the best part is that you can doit all in your own home. Herersquo;s how.1. The model. Yoursquo;ll want to start by creating a wax model of the piece you intend to create.Whether yoursquo;re forging a simple, chunky ring or a masterpiece of delicate web-work for apendant, yoursquo;re going to need the right type of wax. It comes in a variety of densities,23414, so youshould probably try some soft and some stiff to find the one that works best for your particularstyle, although likely you will use different levels of firmness for your various projects.2. The sprue. Once the model has been perfected (and you should perfect it since if all goes well,your final product will look exactly like the model), you need to prepare for the molding process.This is done by setting your piece on a pedestal, more or less. Yoursquo;ll attach a thin pole of wax tothe piece (choose a location that wonrsquo;t interfere with any pattern you have on your work). Thisis called the sprue. The other end attaches to a base, virtually suspending your model in midair.3. The mold. Your base will attach securely to a small chamber (like a cup) that surrounds themodel, leaving only the top open. Now itrsquo;s time to mix the mold. The molding material is up toyou, but most people prefer a plaster mold. It is not only relatively cheap and easy to make, themix is readily available at craft stores and online. Plus, it hardens quickly and is heat resistant,which will become important in a moment. For now,49733, simply mix and pour.4. The metal. When your mold has set,ugg boots sale uk cheap, yoursquo;ll need a way to get the model out and the metal in.So the next step involves drilling or digging a channel down to the model. As soon as you seewax, you can put the plaster mold into an oven (or kiln) with the channel facing down. The waxwill melt and drip out, leaving an empty chamber in perfect negative of your model. When thisis done, you are ready to pour the metal. You can either melt your scrap in a forge or with ablowtorch. Centrifugal casting is the most common (and least expensive) method of pouringthe molten metal and it involves a makeshift centrifuge comprised of a drum that holds a swing-arm with a housing assembly on the end. Yoursquo;ll secure your mold in the housing, attach thecontainer with the molten metal so that a hole links up to the empty channel in the mold,23858, andthen spin the arm so that the centrifugal motion forces the metal into the mold.5. Final touches. Once the metal has been ldquo;pouredrdquo;, yoursquo;ll immediately cool the mold to setthe metal inside. Then itrsquo;s just a matter of cracking the mold to get your finished piece. Ofcourse,48962, yoursquo;ll have to remove the molded metal sprue and do some grinding and polishing toget it gleaming, but yoursquo;ve just created your own jewelry the same way other artisans have forthousands of years. And itrsquo;s one-of-a-kind.Leon Harris writes for Pennsylvania Precision Cast Parts, a leading medal casting manufacturerspecializing in investment castings. At PPCP you are sure to find the highest quality products at a rapidturnaround.