How I Discovered Lost Wax Casting

I stumbled across lost wax casting while searching for organic jewellery online. Most of what I found didn’t resonate with me at all, so I started looking into making my own. There wasn’t much out there that felt like what I had in my head.

The first technique I came across was electroforming. It felt more like a science experiment than jewellery making, it involved a very messy setup, and the copper would turn customers’ skin green. Not great. On top of that, something just felt off about working with chemicals and dunking electrically charged wire into a bucket of liquid… not really the kind of creativity I was looking for. Then I found lost wax casting and my creative world changed.

Why lost wax casting felt different

What I loved straight away was the variety of tools that could be used in the craft. Jewellery artists all over the world were using completely different approaches, from carving tools to soldering irons to alcohol lamps. Everyone had their own style, and no two pieces ever looked the same. That kind of creative freedom was exactly what I was looking for!

I also preferred it over silversmithing, which I found required a proper studio, gas, open flames, and more space than I had. Lost wax casting meant I could start from a corner of my living room with a soldering iron and a clear idea of what I wanted to make.

What the process actually feels like

Lost wax casting is genuinely therapeutic. You put on some music, get into the process, and let the design take shape in your hands. The wax is forgiving, the tools are simple and easy to use.

Basically, you build up layers in wax, carve textures, and shape the piece until it feels "just right", then you send it off to a casting house. For me, I personally send my pieces interstate. About a week or two later it comes back in solid metal, raw and rough, with sprues still attached and plenty of finishing work to do. That finishing stage, sanding, polishing, and refining, is where the piece really comes to life.

How it became a business

A few years on from that first experiment in my living room, I’m now teaching others how to make rings, pendants, and necklaces using the same method. It’s allowed me to focus on the parts I actually enjoy, designing, creating, and building a brand, while outsourcing the parts that don’t need me, like the metal pouring.

That’s one of the best things about this process. You don’t have to do everything yourself. You design, you sculpt, you send it off, and a professional casting house handles the dangerous part. You get your pieces back ready to finish and sell.

Why lost wax is such a good starting point for beginners

You don’t need a studio, a kiln, or expensive equipment. You don’t need prior experience with metalwork or any jewellery making. You just need a small workspace, a soldering iron, some genuine jewellers wax, and a willingness to experiment.

If you’re curious about wax carving, I've put together a free lost wax jewellery tools guide to serve as a starting point for beginners who want to make jewellery at home using the lost wax process. It breaks down exactly what you need to get started at home. And if you want full step by step guidance, my online lost wax jewellery course covers everything from your first wax design to working with a casting house and finishing your pieces.

Frequently asked questions

What is lost wax casting?

Lost wax casting, also called investment casting, is a jewellery making technique where you sculpt a design in wax, send it to a casting house, and get it returned as a solid metal piece (bronze, brass, silver or gold). The casting house creates a mould around your wax model, melts the wax away, and pours molten metal into the space left behind.

Is lost wax casting hard to learn?

The wax carving and sculpting side is very beginner friendly. You don’t need any experience with metalwork to succeed. Most people make something they’re genuinely proud of within their first few sessions.

Do you need a studio to do lost wax jewellery making at home?

Not at all. A desk and a few basic tools is enough to get started. I started in a corner of my living room and built a business from there, you don't need much at all!

What tools do you need to start lost wax jewellery making?

• A soldering iron
• Genuine jeweller's wax
• Basic file
• Ring sculpting mandrel
• Ring sizing mandrel
• Ring sizing loops
• Craft knife

My free lost wax jewellery tools guide has the a proper wax carving tool list for beginners with direct links to suppliers for Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Europe & the UK.