Posted by Jack Davis on December 15, 1998 at 19:26:23:

In Reply to: Re: Topic:Autoclave principals for Dewaxing? posted by David Eichenebrg

Regarding your comments, and thank you very much for them: In reading "Methods Of The

Modern Sculptor" by Ron Young and Robt. Fennell(which by the way, is a fine reference) they speak of using a pressure canner at maybe 15 lbs of pressure or an autoclave that maybe can produce 100 psi. Apparently the psi of something 15+ psi will keep the wax from swelling in size as the heat and steam will evacuate the shell without cracking. A pressure pot tested to 110 psi with an adequate heat- friendly seal, a steam pressure control valve and a maximum blowoff relief valve installed by a qualifed welder or machine shop should be plenty safe when operated and controlled below 60 to 80 psi. I can come up with all the mentioned articles. I understand the safety precautions, and I am getting them from everywhere, but physicians and factorys have been using them for years with little incident. If this is a prospective no-crack method and it is cost effective, maybe we should all have one. The larger shell casting factorys speak of using them.

Hopefully the lower psi, and safety features will change your opinion of the use of one.

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