Q: Carving Crisp Channels in Green Wax

Hello Group,

I am working on "engraving" a fine pattern into a wax model for a
wedding band. The design is made up of more or less even width
grooves about 0.020" wide and 0.020" deep. I find that if I am
careful with a #6 graver I can get decent straight grooves, but
sweeping arcs are very difficult as the graver tends to "dig" into the
wax in difficult ways.

Any tips for a novice wax carver?

Thanks,
-Galileo

Galileo wrote:
Hello Group,

I am working on "engraving" a fine pattern into a wax model for a
wedding band. The design is made up of more or less even width
grooves about 0.020" wide and 0.020" deep. I find that if I am
careful with a #6 graver I can get decent straight grooves, but
sweeping arcs are very difficult as the graver tends to "dig" into the
wax in difficult ways.

Any tips for a novice wax carver?

I can´t imagine "sweeping arcs". Perhaps You post a link to an image
of Your wax mold.

--
Heinrich Butschal
Beratung, Projektmanagement
http://consulting.butschal.de

"Heinrich Butschal" wrote in message
. ..
Galileo wrote:
Hello Group,

I am working on "engraving" a fine pattern into a wax model for a
wedding band. The design is made up of more or less even width
grooves about 0.020" wide and 0.020" deep. I find that if I am
careful with a #6 graver I can get decent straight grooves, but
sweeping arcs are very difficult as the graver tends to "dig" into the
wax in difficult ways.

Any tips for a novice wax carver?

I can´t imagine "sweeping arcs". Perhaps You post a link to an image
of Your wax mold.

I do not have a good wax mold at the moment. I am currently trying to
get controlled arcs on flat wax and having trouble with that.

This figure I found on-line,
http://www.lindaclifford.com/Jewelry/SFBX11.jpg

has "sweeping arcs" similary to what I would like to engrave into my
wax model, only I would like to carve at a smaller scale.

I have seen very fine patterns done in cast jewelry, so I am assuming
that it can be done. However, I am finding the graver a clumsy way to
go about doing it.

Thanks,
-Galileo

Galileo wrote:
"Heinrich Butschal" wrote in message
. ..
Galileo wrote:
Hello Group,

I am working on "engraving" a fine pattern into a wax model for a
wedding band. The design is made up of more or less even width
grooves about 0.020" wide and 0.020" deep. I find that if I am
careful with a #6 graver I can get decent straight grooves, but
sweeping arcs are very difficult as the graver tends to "dig" into
the wax in difficult ways.

Any tips for a novice wax carver?

I can´t imagine "sweeping arcs". Perhaps You post a link to an image
of Your wax mold.

I do not have a good wax mold at the moment. I am currently trying to
get controlled arcs on flat wax and having trouble with that.

This figure I found on-line,
http://www.lindaclifford.com/Jewelry/SFBX11.jpg

has "sweeping arcs" similary to what I would like to engrave into my
wax model, only I would like to carve at a smaller scale.

I have seen very fine patterns done in cast jewelry, so I am assuming
that it can be done. However, I am finding the graver a clumsy way to
go about doing it.

So I suggest one of two ways:
one way ist to make a "rhino -3D" and give it to a digital graver :-)
the other way is to buy a hard wax an grave it with a millig cutter, only sharp
nooks I would correct with a small knife.

--
Heinrich Butschal
casting technologies
http://butschal.de/werkstatt