Lost Wax Casting

Lost Wax Lost Wax casting is an ancient technique that has been used for thousands of years to make three dimensional pieces of jewellery with beautiful texture and shape. This technique allows for designs that aren’t possible to fabricate from flat metal, the only restrictions are your imagination and your budget!
Beginners and advanced students are welcome in these 6 Week Block Classes or Lost Wax In Three Classes.

The Lost Wax Casting Process - Simplified

A piece is first created in wax.
The wax model is secured inside a plaster mould.
The mould is heated in a kiln so the wax melts and burns away, leaving a hollow cavity in the exact shape of the original piece.
Molten metal is then poured or injected into this cavity.
Once the metal has cooled and hardened, the plaster mould is broken away to reveal the cast piece.

The cast metal can then be finished like any other jewellery piece — filed, drilled, soldered, textured, and polished.

Please read our detailed course outlines below and email us with any questions.

6 Week Block Course Outline In this class students learn the fascinating lost wax casting process, creating their jewellery pieces in specialised jeweller’s wax before sending them away to be professionally cast in metal. Casting requires specialised equipment and kilns, so we work with a professional casting service to bring your wax designs to life. Week 1 – Introduction to Hard Wax Students begin by carving a ring from hard jeweller’s wax. Hard wax can be shaped using carving tools, files, drills, and gentle melting techniques. This first project is about experimenting and learning how the wax behaves, so students are encouraged to explore different textures and shapes. There is no pressure to have a finished piece in the first class, but if something is completed it can be sent away for casting. Week 2 – Developing Hard Wax & Introducing Soft Wax Students continue working on hard wax rings while being introduced to soft modelling wax. Soft wax is flexible and mouldable — a little like beeswax or plasticine — and can be rolled thin to capture textures or shaped into delicate forms such as petals or organic shapes. It easily records fingerprints and marks, making it a wonderful material for expressive and personalised designs. Week 3 – Finishing Cast Pieces Some students may start to receive their first metal castings back. At this stage you’ll learn how to cut off the sprue (casting channel), then file, sand, and polish your work. Students will also continue developing their wax designs and may begin experimenting with relief carving in flat wax blocks. Week 4 – Developing Your Preferred Wax Technique By this stage students usually discover which type of wax they enjoy working with most. The remainder of the course focuses on developing skills in your preferred material and exploring more refined designs. Because castings return at different times depending on the metal and design, students will often be working on a mixture of wax pieces and finishing metal pieces throughout the class. Weeks 5–6 – Refinement and Advanced Techniques Students continue designing and producing wax pieces while finishing cast work as it returns. Advanced students may begin exploring more complex designs, including stone settings or cast-in-place gemstones. Tutors support students in refining both design and craftsmanship, helping them push their ideas further. Lost Wax classes run as mixed-level sessions, so beginners and experienced students often work alongside each other. This creates a supportive learning environment where new students can see what becomes possible as skills develop. Materials & Costs The class fee includes: All wax materials (hard and soft) Sandpaper and basic finishing materials Courier costs for sending work to the caster Casting and metal costs are not included, as these vary depending on the size, weight, and metal chosen for each piece. Tutors can estimate these costs before pieces are sent away so students can make informed decisions. Please see our Tikanga page for details about our values around student experience and respect for materials.

Lost Wax in Three – Hard Wax or Soft Wax This short course is designed as a focused introduction to either hard wax carving or soft wax modelling, depending on the class offering. It’s ideal for beginners wanting to try the lost wax process or for makers who want to deepen their skills in one particular wax technique. Week 1 – Introduction & First Wax Piece Students are introduced to the lost wax casting process and begin creating their first design in either hard carving wax or soft modelling wax. Hard wax classes focus on carving, drilling, filing, and shaping wax into ring forms or sculptural designs. Soft wax classes explore moulding, forming organic shapes, and capturing textures in thin sheets of wax. Students are encouraged to experiment and become familiar with the unique qualities of the material. Week 2 – Developing Designs Students continue developing their wax pieces and may begin a second design. Tutors will guide students in refining shapes, adding detail, and preparing work correctly for casting. Finished wax pieces will then be sent away for professional casting. Week 3 – Finishing Cast Work This class comes after a 2 week break, so cast pieces have been returned. Students will learn how to remove the sprue, file, sand, and polish their metal pieces. If castings have not yet arrived, the final class focuses on completing wax pieces and preparing them for casting. By the end of the course, students will have a clear understanding of the lost wax process and the confidence to continue exploring wax carving or modelling in their own jewellery practice.

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