The Truth Every Wax Carving Jewellery Designer Needs to Know About Wax

Genuine Wax vs. Fake Wax: Why It Matters in Jewellery Making

I know when you’re just starting out, it can be tempting to cut corners and save a few bucks on things like tools and wax. Believe me, I get it - I’m all about doing things on the cheap (within reason) while still achieving high-end results. But when it comes to jewellery making and lost wax carving, there’s no exception: your wax MUST be genuine.

Why?
Because if you don’t use genuine wax, you have no idea where it was manufactured or what’s actually in it. Sure, that cheap wax might seem like a bargain, but if it’s that cheap, they’re obviously cutting some vital ingredients that make the "good stuff" high-end. They’re cutting corners, and if you do the same, you’re the one who pays the price.

The reality is this...
Cheap wax doesn’t behave the same way. Instead of forming soft, dreamy blobs you can shape with ease, it runs like water and often leaves burnt black bits all over your wax model. This leads to impurities in your castings, and trust me, that’s a headache you don’t want. For the sake of saving a few dollars, it’s really not worth it, especially when you’re working with silver, gold, or any precious metals.

You’re a jewellery designer now!
It's time to take your craft seriously. Think of it like this: Do you think Louboutin makes shoes out of the cheapest materials? Of course not! They use high-end materials because they’re a luxury brand, not some cheap knockoff. You’re the same - your work deserves the best materials to match the skill and artistry you bring to the table. Even if you’re a beginner! Actually, especially if you’re a beginner - because if your tools are difficult to use and just aren’t cooperating, I guarantee you’ll give up on this whole wax thing immediately. It’s just impossible to move forward with subpar tools and materials.

The bottom line...
If you use cheap wax, it will melt too quickly regardless of the temperature on your soldering iron, leaving you with no ability to build up wax on your design. It will harden too quickly and crack easily because there’s nothing in the wax to hold it together. You’re going to struggle - and anyone who says otherwise has clearly never experienced the benefits of genuine wax. They’ve probably just learned to live with the struggle.

Creating jewellery should be fun, exciting, and fulfilling, not frustrating. If your work feels tough and difficult all the time, it’s a sign that something’s off - and your career as a designer will be short-lived if you keep pushing through that kind of pain.

So, the moral of the story is this: don’t cheap out on your wax. Avoid stores that offer ‘genuine’ wax at suspiciously low prices (you know the ones I mean). This isn’t about me trying to sell you wax, it’s about you getting the quality materials you need to succeed. You can cut corners in other areas of your jewellery making process, but for the love of jewellery, please don’t cheap out on the core of your craft - WAX!

Check out this short video I made, demonstrating affordable and authentic wax!