Want more tech tips?
Wolf's Precision Wax Carvers booklet contains lots of technical information and over 140 photos and illustrations. This booklet is free with a set of Wolf's Precision Wax Carvers, or can be bought separately. Ordering info here.
For information about Kate Wolf's line of carving waxes visit: Wolf Wax by FerrisTM
I use GRS's Benchmate collar to hold the #30 handpiece of a Foredom TX Flex Shaft
stationary (the TX has great torque and excellent speed control). To avoid crushing the #30 handpiece, use a piece of PVC pipe as a shim to evenly distribute the pressure. The angle of the spinning wax can be easily adjusted. Make sure all nobs are well tightened.
Use 90º Tool #2 or #10 to (C) open up the bezel. Use 90º Tool to cut out side of bezel. Pivot 90º Tool while cutting to slope surface of wax. Use Rounding Tool #13 or #14 to (D & E) round out edges. Use undercutting tool #15 to (F) hollow out under seat of stone. Smooth and polish surface of wax.
Scrape the surface of each flower with 90º Tool, or Knife, making flowers the same thickness.Use Detailing Knife #7 (I) and 90º Tool #10 with safety edge against surface of hard gold wax to clean up in between petals.
UseHollower #8 to (J) scoop out the petals of each flower.
To avoid chatter: hold tool firmly in both hands and support tool close to the wax that is being cut. Adjust the angle of the tool to find the optimum cutting angle, and to get rid of chatter. Adjust the speed of rotation and pressure of tool on wax to ensure effective cutting. (The object is to cut the wax, not melt it.) Use safety glasses and a dust mask!
Apply Wolf Relief Wax™ (G) with heated dental tool or wax pen. Wax pen should be hot enough for Relief Wax to flow, but not hot enough to melt the carving wax. Hint: Temperature will affect viscosity of Relief Wax. For best results practive on a piece of scrap wax to find ideal temperature/consistency.
Use Detailing Knife #7 to again (K) touch up overall shape of flowers. Pick up small amount of Relief Wax and (F) add a bead of wax to each flower. Another cool technique is to hover a very hot pen tip above the surface of the Relief Wax to round out the surface. Practice techniques on piece of scrap wax first.
