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Builder Last Online: Mar 2021
Model Scale: 1/8
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Started: 09-07-07
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Hey gang, here's the tutorial I promised on how to use wax to make the
casting
numbers on the model parts.
A good, hard wax can be used like molten plastic but will handle a lot easier. The same technique is used by dental lab technicians to fabricate all of the cast metal parts like dental crowns and bridges. Don't worry if you can't get this technique down right away. Like every good technique, there is a learning curve. It just requires some practice. You can basically use any kind of wax you can find. The harder the better but even hard candle wax will work and that's fairly cheap and available. Check out places like hobby lobby or Michael's where they sell candle making supplies.
Picture 1 shows the wax dripping instruments. They're both basically the same but just different sizes for different amounts of wax to be dripped. You can make these easily enough from broken dental instruments that you can get from your dentist or you can bend a piece of steel rod, contour the tip and insert it into a pin vise
or other holder. The
thinner
you make it, the smaller the drop of wax the instrument will carry so you may want to make several different sizes depending on what you're trying to accomplish.
Picture 2 demonstrates the start of the procedure. As you can see, we've added a torch which can be either propane or butane. The flame should be blue not yellow. Also stay away from candle flames because it produces too much soot which will dirty up your wax. If you have a gas stove, that would work well also. Heat your tip in the flame and touch it to the wax. You should be able to pick up a drop of wax. You may want to experiment with the heating time which is really no longer than a second or two to see how the wax behaves. Practice that until you can pick up a nice drop consistently.
Picture 3 is next. Then put your instrument into the flame for a microsecond and touch the area you want to wax to go. This part also takes some practice until you get your consistency just right. Continue adding wax to your model part until the area is a bit larger than you want if you're making numbers. If you're using the wax as a filler, add until the area is slightly over filled.
Picture 4 is what your waxed area should look like, i.e. a blob of wax on the part.
Picture 5 - Next, you're going to cut the wax down with a chisel or knife to a uniform thickness or height. If you're filling a small area, you'll trim the wax as close as you can and use a piece of nylon cloth or silk like you would use sandpaper and finish the area. For numbers, don't cut the wax too low.
Picture 6 - At this point, we trim our wax "blob" until it's a rectangle with the knife or chisel.
Picture 7 - Here's where the fun starts. Using magnification, you remove the excess wax with a sharp dental pick or bent needle in a holder or pin vise
by gentle
scraping
until only the number is left. If you make a mistake, redrip the wax, trim and try it again.
Picture 8 shows what's left after you remove your wax from around the numbers. When you're done, prime and paint. Your numbers should look fairly good.
In order to do this subject justice, it really should be done on video which unfortunately at this time I can't do. I will however at some point when I figure out how to do it, I'll add it to the tutorials. Ask all the questions you want. I'll try to clear up any confusion you may have.
numbers on the model parts. A good, hard wax can be used like molten plastic but will handle a lot easier. The same technique is used by dental lab technicians to fabricate all of the cast metal parts like dental crowns and bridges. Don't worry if you can't get this technique down right away. Like every good technique, there is a learning curve. It just requires some practice. You can basically use any kind of wax you can find. The harder the better but even hard candle wax will work and that's fairly cheap and available. Check out places like hobby lobby or Michael's where they sell candle making supplies.
Picture 1 shows the wax dripping instruments. They're both basically the same but just different sizes for different amounts of wax to be dripped. You can make these easily enough from broken dental instruments that you can get from your dentist or you can bend a piece of steel rod, contour the tip and insert it into a pin vise
or other holder. The
thinner
you make it, the smaller the drop of wax the instrument will carry so you may want to make several different sizes depending on what you're trying to accomplish. Picture 2 demonstrates the start of the procedure. As you can see, we've added a torch which can be either propane or butane. The flame should be blue not yellow. Also stay away from candle flames because it produces too much soot which will dirty up your wax. If you have a gas stove, that would work well also. Heat your tip in the flame and touch it to the wax. You should be able to pick up a drop of wax. You may want to experiment with the heating time which is really no longer than a second or two to see how the wax behaves. Practice that until you can pick up a nice drop consistently.
Picture 3 is next. Then put your instrument into the flame for a microsecond and touch the area you want to wax to go. This part also takes some practice until you get your consistency just right. Continue adding wax to your model part until the area is a bit larger than you want if you're making numbers. If you're using the wax as a filler, add until the area is slightly over filled.
Picture 4 is what your waxed area should look like, i.e. a blob of wax on the part.
Picture 5 - Next, you're going to cut the wax down with a chisel or knife to a uniform thickness or height. If you're filling a small area, you'll trim the wax as close as you can and use a piece of nylon cloth or silk like you would use sandpaper and finish the area. For numbers, don't cut the wax too low.
Picture 6 - At this point, we trim our wax "blob" until it's a rectangle with the knife or chisel.
Picture 7 - Here's where the fun starts. Using magnification, you remove the excess wax with a sharp dental pick or bent needle in a holder or pin vise
by gentle
scraping
until only the number is left. If you make a mistake, redrip the wax, trim and try it again. Picture 8 shows what's left after you remove your wax from around the numbers. When you're done, prime and paint. Your numbers should look fairly good.
In order to do this subject justice, it really should be done on video which unfortunately at this time I can't do. I will however at some point when I figure out how to do it, I'll add it to the tutorials. Ask all the questions you want. I'll try to clear up any confusion you may have.
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