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Making
the mold from an original work of art: This step is the most
important. All the details that appear in the original have to be transferred in
this mold.
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Making the wax casting:
The molten wax is poured into forms of layers. This wax model is an
exact duplicate of the original.
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Chasing the
wax: The wax is pulled from the mold and re-detailed by hand.
This produces the original artwork, but each piece is slightly different.
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Spruing:
Wax rods and pouring cut are attached to the wax casting in the
right positions to assure a full pour.
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Casting the Ceramic Mold: In a temperature of 72-Fahrenheit degrees the
wax is dipped into investment liquid several times. A fine powder is
applied. On the second dip course ceramic sand will be applied. This step is
repeated several times increasing the coarseness of the material to create the
ceramic mold. Between each dip the
ceramic layer must dry before another layer is applied.
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Burn-Out:
The ceramic shell is placed in a kiln and fired. When the shell bakes and the
wax is melted from the shell, this creates a hollow ceramic mold,
therefore the term of therefore the term of "Lost Wax."
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Casting:
The mold is removed from the kiln and immediately the molten bronze is poured
into the shell. At the time the bronze temperature is 2100 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Break Out:
After the casting has cooled for several hours, carefully the shell is broken
away leaving the unfinished bronze.
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Sandblasting:
Any fragments left are removed by sandblasting, and the
sculpture carefully inspected.
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Assembly::
At this point all the pieces of the sculpture are welded together by the
skilled craftsman.
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Chasing:
All the weld marks are embraced and re-detailed.
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Glass
Beading:: This is similar to
sandblasting; the glass is extremely thin to ensure an even bronze finish.
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Patina:
The bronze is first heated, and then the skilled artist applies the patina
chemical.
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Waxing:
The wax is applied by hand with heat to ensure a beautiful, lustrous
patina