What's your favorite wax-carving tool/tip?

Daverham - Tuesday, April 20, 2010 - 4:15pm

I've been experimenting with carving wax, working on some projects and I keep having little moments that seem like miniature breakthroughs. Recently:

- Carving wax can be assembled with Super Glue. This makes for tidy joints without the fillet (think prongs), and at very least can hold your parts together while you weld them with a hot pen.
- I've been playing with a piercing hot-wire "spot weld" technique that promises to bridge the gap between the super glue and a good, solid connection.
- Gravers work wonderfully on wax! A flat one is great for cleaning up those lumpy, "welded" seams
- A hot pen really is a lot better than the ol' knife-in-the-alcohol-lamp technique (I resisted for years).
- Wet/dry sandpaper seems to work on wax fairly well.

I'd love to hear about it if you have any tips on:
- Finishing the wax. Any sort of brush or buff that works to tidy things up?
- Any paint-on coatings or fillers to smooth everything out?
- Any little tool or process for making great wax models?

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Id like to know techniques

visitor - Tuesday, April 20, 2010 - 4:33pm

Id like to know techniques for getting a smooth finish on the wax. I use two methods but always open to better ways
1) Play a blow torch over it quickly and repeatedly but turned down to a flicker

2) Paint turpentine on or use white spirit as a cheaper version. If the piece is small enough you can dunk in white spirit and swish around.

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Old school

dowpat - Tuesday, April 20, 2010 - 7:15pm

I do not do wax casting anymore and I am sure there are lots of new and improved methods. Here are (2) old ones that I used when I did jewelry (about 10 years full time in the late 70’s).
(1) When ever possible use the same tool to make the wax that you will use to clean the finished casting up.
(Burs, drills, files etc)
(2) If you want to make a high polished ring or other item use a small torch to flame polish the wax.
(We put the ring on our finger and passed the torch over it quickly, this kept us from burning the wax. Watch your ox/gas mixture so you don’t leave and soot on the item.)
Hope this helps.

Pat

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I used to use a Q-tip

Rich Waugh - Tuesday, April 20, 2010 - 7:46pm

I used to use a Q-tip moistened with propylene glycol to buff my wax models for a gloss finish. The propylene glycol acts as a lubricant for the buffing and as a wetting agent when investing the wax, too. RV water tank antifreeze is propylene glycol.

Rich

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Finishig Wax

visitor - Tuesday, April 20, 2010 - 10:38pm

Use a old stocking from the missus, it work well as a smooth sand paper.

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Dentists tools

B.J. Severtson - Wednesday, April 21, 2010 - 6:42pm

I got lucky a few years ago and purchased a set, 32 pcs, of dentists tools. The pic are useful as hot wax tools. but the off set chisels in a variety in sizes are wonderful. Some I made into miniature knives.

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I love the tip about putting

Daverham - Thursday, April 22, 2010 - 9:05am

I love the tip about putting a wax ring on your finger while you flame polish... that will keep you careful!

While hunting around on Rio Grande I discovered "disclosing wax" - anybody used that? Sounds like a nice creamy wax filler. I suppose you could maybe use beeswax that way too. That's probably cheaper.

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I use a stocking and Lighter

docone31 - Tuesday, April 27, 2010 - 9:08pm

I use a stocking and Lighter fluid. It smooths the wax for casting.
Now, if I could just get less blow outs.
Practice makes perfect.

In the beginning was the Floyd, and the Floyd was with him.

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I have another one: I had

Daverham - Sunday, May 2, 2010 - 4:49pm

I have another one: I had read that you can rub talcum powder into your model to make shallow, scribed lines more visible. I'm working on a very nice ring for a client right now, wanting things to line up with perfect symmetry, etc. So I am measuring, scribing (usually, I'm an eye-ball-it kind of guy). I put some light scratches in the wax to measure off some spacing. Couldn't see them, so I gave the Baby Gold Bond a try. Works great! Those little lines stood out in bright white contrast, very easy to see. Great tip. I'll be using this frequently, I think.

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Well, my Wolf Touch Up Wax

Daverham - Thursday, May 6, 2010 - 4:18pm

Well, my Wolf Touch Up Wax arrived. It's hard as a rock. I was expecting a nice soft, cream wax for smoothing onto a nearly-finished model. I don't see how this is any different than my little pile of scrap carving wax, which I would melt into small holes and imperfections. Any insights into using this Wolf stuff?

Also: After a couple weeks experience (experiments), I'd suggest using the foam-tipped cosmetic applicators/swabs instead of the cotton Q-Tips when applying your wax-smoothing solvent of choice. The cotton ones leave behind a web of bothersome little fibers.

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