Lost Wax Casting Guide

The process of lost wax jewellery casting (simplified)

• Use a soldering iron and jeweller’s wax to create your ring or pendant design
• Send your wax model to a casting house to have it turned into solid silver, gold, brass or bronze
• The casting house pours the molten metal for you
• They ship your raw metal pieces back
• You sand, polish, and set any stones

What is a casting house?

A casting house aka casting facility is a professional company that turns your wax jewellery models into solid metal designs. They use professional casting equipment to ensure precision, durability, and quality in the final result. Many jewellers rely on casting houses so they don’t need to invest in expensive equipment or deal with the casting process themselves (it's tricky).

How does lost wax casting work?

Lost wax casting (also known as investment casting) involves creating a mould around your wax model, heating it so the wax melts away, and then pouring molten metal into the empty space. Once the metal cools, the mould is broken away, revealing the metal version of your original wax design. This process allows for really detailed, organic jewellery designs.

Can you cast jewellery at home?

Technically, yes… but it’s not as simple as it sounds. Casting at home requires specialised equipment, technical knowledge, and strict safety precautions. A proper setup includes a burnout kiln, a casting machine (centrifugal or vacuum), protective gear, and good ventilation. Without the right setup, it’s very hard to get consistent, high quality results. And it can also be extremely dangerous.

Should you cast jewellery at home?

For beginner jewellers, casting at home usually isn’t practical. The upfront cost, space, and safety requirements can be a lot. Mistakes with temperature or pouring can easily ruin a piece, waste materials and turn into a total catastrophe. That’s why it's very common to outsource casting instead.

Why outsourcing lost wax casting is a great option

Outsourcing metal casting, especially in the beginning, saves time, money, and effort. Setting up your own casting setup can cost thousands, while a casting house removes that huge upfront cost. Casting houses also produce consistent, high quality results, so you can focus on designing, refining, and selling your jewellery instead of troubleshooting casting issues. It also removes the risks that come with handling molten metal and heavy duty equipment.

How to find a casting house near you

Start with a Google search using terms like “lost wax casting jewellery [your location]”, “investment casting jewellery services [your location]”, or “custom jewellery casting [your location]”. If you can’t find one locally, don’t stress. A lot of jewellers ship their wax models interstate. I personally ship mine from Queensland to Lenrose in Victoria, and it’s still far more cost effective than setting up casting at home.

How much does lost wax casting cost in Australia?

There’s no one straight answer, it depends on your design, size, and metal choice. If you’re just starting, work with cheaper metals like brass or bronze. I’ve made rings for as little as $18 AUD, and some silver pieces around $30 AUD. Prices vary a lot between casting houses, so it’s worth getting a few quotes. Just keep in mind that cheaper isn’t always better, quality can vary too.

Things to consider before casting

• Metal prices change daily, so always check current rates
• Always request a quote before committing
• Casting houses charge more than raw metal value due to labour, refining, and overhead (rightfully so, they're worth every penny)

Tips for getting started with outsourcing casting

• You might need to ship interstate, this is normal
• Always get a quote and understand all fees
• Start with only 1-2 pieces first (trust me on this)
• Avoid gold in the beginning, it’s a very expensive metal to work with
  
• Keep designs lighter and simpler when starting out, you'll need much less wax than you initially think

Learn How to Outsource Jewellery Casting

If you’d like to learn how to outsource your castings with more confidence, you can get instant access to my mini online course covering everything you need to know about outsourcing lost wax casting, including casting facility recommendations, pricing, shipping wax models, casting costs, common mistakes, and more.