Since my passion for wax carving is expanding every day, I have realized a big drawback is an uncomfortable place to do the carving. I am working in my unconditioned garage and that does create some problems with wax in hot weather. But it is not just the temperature control. I do a lot of the dirty...

When I spend some time doing Internet research outside of my own comfort zone I find figuratively tons of interesting information. In the “old” days I would go to the library to learn new things but the internet brings it all to me. (I’ll expand on libraries and the Internet some other time.) I cont...

It was about time to give my HotWork cart a real test. I have gathered most of the materials I need to start heating and casting silver and other metals. I need a little practice before I jump right into doing casting so this weekend I set up my propane torch and decided to "condition" my small melt...

Did you know that Lost Wax casting is a very good method of making metal parts for model building? Since you are reading this in a workshop blog, I am pretty sure you do. Well, that thought has always been a part of my intense interest in the process. Yes, I will be making the pretty stuff, but I am...

I think it is the smell of having fun or maybe the kiln's heat is getting to me... I just ordered a bunch of "stuff" needed to start cooking my own lost wax casting flasks in my shop. It seems like I could continue to add "nice to have's" to my wish list of tools and supplies almost forever. My need...