Wax carving is used in manufacturing and jewelry making. It involves shaping wax into a design to create a mold for a prototype. There are two approaches: carving a solid mass of wax or layering smaller sections. Waxsmiths may work in manufacturing or with small jewelers.
Wax carving is a process that is used in creating a number of manufacturing settings including jewelry making. The basic process involves using specially formulated waxes designed for the purpose of creating a mold which is used to prototype a new part or component. Special tools are used to shape the wax into a design which can then be used as a template for the final design, making it possible to fit and adjust the carving to compensate for any flaws before the prototype is actually cast. Traditionally, these tools are used by hand, but there are also wax carving tools designed for use with equipment that makes mass production of various goods possible.
There are a couple of different approaches to wax sculpture. One strategy involves creating sculptures with the use of special tools to literally carve a design out of a solid mass of wax. This approach offers the advantage of being able to create highly detailed models which are eventually used to create the prototype and any molds used for casting a large number of duplicate elements. Because the wax used for this approach is typically hard, the tools used are somewhat similar to those used in wood carving projects.
A slightly different approach to wax sculpting requires more of a layering effect. With this strategy, smaller sections of wax are modeled, which then join together to form the base model. Several people may be involved in creating the wax pattern, each working on specific aspects of a basic design. Typically, the assembly process will also allow design details to be refined before the actual mold or prototype used for mass production is created. This approach can work very well for creating a wide variety of items, including jewelry, figurines, and a number of other smaller items.
Individuals who engage in wax carving are sometimes known as waxsmiths or wax carvers. Along with formal training, it’s not unusual for carvers to learn the trade by engaging in an apprenticeship. A waxsmith may find work within a larger manufacturing facility, working with others to create the designs in wax while awaiting the actual manufacturing process. Because wax carving can also be used to produce one-of-a-kind designs and products, it is also possible to secure work with small jewelers and other commercial establishments that produce limited edition pieces.
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