Lost-wax casting

photo Lost-wax casting

Description

For rogata or lost-wax casting, a shape made of wax is surrounded with a casting material which is mixed with sand or clay, in order to make a mold. Then, the mold is heated until all the wax melts out of it. Next, molten metal is poured into the mold, which is destroyed when the metal cools. Since the wax that originally filled the mold disappears, only the metal piece remains.
This technique can be used to make more complex forms than other mold-making processes, which forms pieces as smooth as wax.

Production

  1. 1.Wax is shaped into the desired shape.
  2. 2.A hole, where the molten metal will be poured in, is created at the bottom of the wax.
  3. 3.The wax form is enclosed so that casting material can be poured around it to create the mold.
  4. 4.After melting the wax, molten metal is poured in and the casting material is removed.
  • "What Are Traditional Crafts? -A Guidebook to Seeing, Learning, and Enjoying-" Edited by the Japan Kogei Association Eastern Branch. Published by Unsodo Reference artworks