I did a lot of investigation into using rubber molds to increase my production. I think that process is likely in my future, but the key word here is future.
I am being put off by the high entry cost for the necessary equipment compared to the amount of use it will receive at this point. The minimum $2000 investment justification can not be made. That includes the molding system and the wax injection equipment.
All subject to change of course.
My CNC designs are not hard to duplicate but it is time and machine wear consuming to mill out a new pattern each time. The real chore is duplicating the hand carved items. The mill will take between two to four hours to carve a new piece, but by hand I will spend two to four days. It's about a ten to one difference in time alone.
That's just the carving time. Creating the design is a totally different animal. Creating is different than production. The rubber mold system and wax injection is all about production. The key thought is that it is production that is sold and creates the cash stream to pay for more creative effort.
I have geared up my casting to four molds at a time. That is the limit of my kiln. My thinking is that I am really not big enough equipped to be a high volume production studio. I have to do some pondering on how big do I want to let this operation become.
It is a comfort to know I can make some money. I am just no where close to getting out of the initial red ink though. I do it because I like being creative and so I don't want to reduce the time to be creative. All work and no play sort of thing.
I think I will be able to manage growth and enjoyment if I don't let growth become the single reason driving force.