FREE Intro to Wax Jewellery Guide
This is the process I use to make silver and gold jewellery from home using wax, while outsourcing the metal pouring to a professional casting facility.
This guide covers:
- Basic tools for wax sculpting & metal refining
- What a beginner wax workspace looks like
- How wax turns into metal
- Finding a casting facility
the purpose of this guide
The lost wax process can feel confusing when you're first starting out, so the purpose of this guide is to simplify the process and show you how it works and what to expect. Hopefully by the end you’ll feel excited to start learning and creating with me.
How Lost Wax Casting Works
Lost wax/investment casting is the process that turns your wax model into solid metal. But don’t worry, you don’t need to do any of the metal pouring yourself.
Here's how it works:
- Your wax design is sent to a local professional casting facility
- The wax is attached to a “wax tree”
- Investment is poured around the wax
- The wax is melted out in a kiln
- Molten metal fills the hollow space
- Your design turns into solid metal
- The raw piece is returned to you for refining and polishing
Finding a Casting Facility
To find a casting facility near you, search "jewellery casting services" or "lost wax casting" and your location on Google. And if you're not sure where to start, don't worry. Inside my lost wax jewellery course I'll show you exactly how to find one, what to look for, and how to work with them confidently. I also have casting facility recommendations ready for Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, UK and Europe.
How Much Does Casting In Metal Cost?
All casting facilities are different, but generally you’ll be charged for two things:
• The metal used
• A casting service fee
Different metals sit at different price points:
• Bronze / Brass → lower cost, great for starting out and experimenting
• Silver → generally affordable, good for beginners to intermediate
• Gold → higher cost, usually used once you’re more experienced
Smaller brass or bronze pieces can cost under $20 AUD to cast, depending on size and your casting facility.
I always make sure my pricing covers casting costs and leaves room for profit.
For example, sterling silver designs can cost me around $30–$60 AUD to cast, depending on design and thickness, and can sell anywhere from $120–$550 AUD.
In my wax jewellery course I cover how to communicate with casting facilities, get quotes, and estimate your wax-to-metal transformation costs so you’re not going into the process blind.
What You Can Create
You can create rings, earrings, pendants, bangles and all kinds of accessories with wax. The only thing you are limited by is your imagination. Go as big and bold or as subtle and elegant as you like.
Wax jewellery gives you the freedom to create designs that would be extremely difficult, or even impossible, with traditional jewellery making techniques. Organic textures, molten forms, chunky details and sculptural shapes are all possible with wax.
Sculpting Organic Designs In Wax
Wax gives you the freedom to create unique designs using a soldering iron and various tools to add texture, patterns and organic details. Wax sculpting is also very forgiving, making it a great option for people who don’t consider themselves naturally artistic.
ORGANIC DESIGN IN METAL
Every detail you create in wax will translate once cast into metal, allowing you to create pieces that feel unique with every design and truly one of a kind. This is what makes lost wax jewellery so special, it doesn’t look mass produced.
UNLIMITED DESIGN POTENTIAL
You can get really creative with your wax designs and include stamping, moulds and even fingerprints. The only limitation is your imagination.
your designs don't have to be loud & bold
You can create ANYTHING with wax. Your designs certainly don't have to be loud, bold and chunky like mine are. They can be simple, elegant and timeless if that is more your style.
setting up your workspace at home
In the first photo is one of my very first benches. It was filled with lots of random tools I thought I needed, but didn’t. The second photo is the simple IKEA desk setup I now use daily for wax carving. Because you're not using heavy-duty equipment, you don’t need a huge amount of space for this craft.
All you need to start:
✓ Good ventilation/airflow
✓ Decent lighting
✓ A small workspace
✓ Basic wax sculpting tools
✓ Your imagination
Bench Equipment for Wax Sculpting
You really don't need much to get started, here's what I recommend as the bare minimum.
- Vice (or something to rest your mandrel on while you work)
- Baking tray (to catch your wax debris)
- Soldering iron with an adjustable temperature
- Soldering iron cleaning pot
Wax sculpting tools
I recommend starting with wax sculpting tools before jumping into metal refining tools. It’s a cheaper and less overwhelming way to start, and allows you to experiment with wax before committing to casting pieces in metal.
My recommended beginner setup:
- Jewellers wax
- Masking tape
- Ring mandrel
- Ring sizing loops
- Sandpaper/sponges
- Craft knife
- Files
- Paintbrush
Metal Refining Tools
When you feel comfortable enough to start sending your wax designs to a casting facility, you’ll need some basic tools to refine and polish the metal once it’s returned to you. The good news is these tools are affordable, and you don’t really even need to buy them straight away.
My recommended beginner setup:
- Rotary tool
- Rotary tool desk mount
- Jeweller’s saw + regular metal blades
- Ring clamp
- Sanding drums
- Sandpaper
- Soft hammer
- Polishing buffs
- Polishing compound
- Toothbrush
Where to Buy tools
You don't need to buy everything at first. Start with just the wax sculpting tools and get comfortable with the sculpting process. You can always grab the metal refining tools later when you're ready to start sending your pieces to be cast into metal.
Because my students are based all over the world, it's hard for me to provide one universal shopping list here in this guide. Inside the course I've put together direct product links for Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, UK and Europe so you're not guessing what to buy.
SUPPLIERS FOR JEWELLERY MAKING TOOLS & WAX
✓ Purchase tools from reputable jewellery making tool suppliers
✓ Only buy jewellers wax from trusted jewellery making tool suppliers
✓ Some basic tools can also be purchased from Amazon if they have good reviews (with caution)
You’ll love this process if you:
✓ Want to create high quality, unique jewellery from home
✓ Want to make jewellery that stands out, not boring or mass produced
✓ Don’t want to work with open flames or high risk equipment
READY TO START LEARNING?
Start this course with no jewellery making experience, and by the end you’ll have a thorough understanding of lost wax jewellery making and the skills to confidently sculpt and create your own dreamy designs from home.
discount CODE: WAX20
Apply the code at checkout to receive $20 off your purchase!
Online Lost Wax Carving Jewellery Course for Beginners
Learn to create jewellery from home with no previous jewellery making experience. This isn't a "copy these designs and we're done" course. I designed it for people who want to build real skills and develop a strong understanding of the lost wax build-up technique using a soldering iron and jeweller's wax. By the end of the course, you'll understand the techniques behind the craft, including the methods I've personally developed and refined over years of creating jewellery. My goal is to give you the confidence to design and create your own pieces, not just recreate the projects taught throughout the course.
What You'll Learn
✓ All tools and wax types for carving, refining and stone setting
✓ How to set up your workspace at home
✓ Everything you need to know about working with casting facilities
✓ How to sculpt and carve rings, earrings with hooks and organic pendants
✓ How to clean, sand and polish your metal designs
✓ How to set stones in metal after casting (bezel, prong and cast-in-place)
✓ How to accurately size your jewellery and create your own sizing chart
What You'll Get
✓ 100% online learning, but it will feel like I'm right there with you
✓ Learn from anywhere in the world
✓ Learn at your own pace with lifetime access
✓ High-quality video lessons
✓ Downloadable PDF guides
✓ Private Facebook group (500+ students)
Everything You Need to Get Started
This course is designed to be your complete guide to wax carving and sculpting. I've packed years of knowledge and experience into one place, covering everything from setting up your workspace and choosing the right tools, to carving, casting, refining, polishing and stone setting. You'll have a course you can return to whenever you need a refresher or want to learn a new technique.