Modelling Wax in small slabs

  • Microcrystalline wax (brown)
  • Flat slabs weighing approx. 50 gram
  • Size approx. 75mm X 105mm X 6mm
  • Wax modelling instructions
  • Postage to anywhere in Australia included in price


    • In response to several requests I have produced these small slabs complete with instructions available by mail order to buyers within Australia.

    You can get 
    3 for $8 
    or 8 for $19

    Modelling Wax Mail Order Form (for Australia only)
    Mail to:  Kim Devenish  PO Box 213 Foster Victoria 3960

                                    Please supply    3   items.. I enclose cheque or money order for:    $8

                                    Please supply    8   items.. I enclose cheque or money order for:    $19
     

    To be delivered to:  (Your name)        ..........................................................

                                     (Your Address).............................................................

                                                             .............................................................

                                                              .............................................................
     
     
    Special properties of microcrystalline wax:
    This substance is the ideal modelling material. The special properties of this kind of wax make it an incredibly versatile material for creating all kinds of crazy and delicate 3 dimensional shapes for Sculpture, Jewellery, Model making or Engineering, which would be impossible to achieve with clay or plasticine. It has a finer crystal structure than candle wax, making it bendable. It does not dry out like clay. It does not stay soft like plasticine.

    Working in modelling wax:
    The ideal state for working with microcrystalline wax is when it is soft and warm.
    Warming is best done by placing the wax near a heater or in a sunny spot for a few minutes, or by immersing the slab (inside its sealed bag) into warm water for a while. Once warm, your hands will keep it warm and malleable. As it returns to"room temperature" the wax becomes strong and hard.
    The wax can be worked by hand, or a variety of household implements can be used as modelling tools - knives- (long handle and short blunt blade is ideal), spoons, nail files, etc. There are no rules and everyone has their own preferred technique. The wax surface can be smoothed by: rubbing with finger, partial melting of surface with flame, rubbing with sandpaper dipped in turps, etc.
    This modelling wax takes on a variety of qualities depending on its temperature:
    Molten - melted in saucepan, it can be poured into molds, painted or dripped onto surfaces, capable of picking up extremely fine surface detail  (dont let it get so hot that it starts to smoke; dont drip it onto bare skin)
    Hot - can be spread like icing
    Warm -  can be kneaded like plasticine, sticks to itself
    Warmish - strong, can bend and flex without snapping, sticks to itself, can be worked in finer detail, can be sliced with a warm knife
    Cool -  becomes strong but less flexible, can be carved, written into or drawn into, pieces can be welded together with hot knife
    Cold - Put into fridge, it becomes very hard, allowing very fine detail to be carved into surface

    Lost wax foundries build a heat resistant mold around your wax model, melt the wax out and pour molten metal into the space where the wax had been, then break off the mold, leaving a "one-off" metal casting of your original wax shape. Small pieces are best handled by jewellery casting establishments, while larger pieces can be taken to sculpture casting establishments.
     
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