© Susan Geissler 2024 Built by andrephoto.com
Susan Geissler
2.Wax Room
Once the moulds have been
made of the original clay scul-
ptures, the molds are lined
with a thin coat of wax.
4.Shell Room
The waxes are then dipped
into a liquid slurry which dries
like a ceramic, thus creating
a hard shell containing the
waxes.
5.Burnout
The shells are then heated,
causing the wax to melt and
exit the shells (the “lost wax”
process).
7.Breakout
Once the shells have cooled, they
are hammered off the bronze and
any remaing shell fragments are
ground off the metal.
10.Metal Chasing
The weld lines are now ground
away, so that the sur-
face of the bronze is nice and
smooth.
3.Wax Check
The wax is then removed from
the molds, checked for accu-
racy, and the surfaces are
refined, if necessary.
The Foundry Process
A Long Journey
from Clay to Bronze
It is not only the cost of bronze
that makes sculpture so
expensive. It’s also the
labour. Frequently people don’t
realize what a lengthy,
labour-intensive process it is.
Read more....
click images for more photos
© Susan Geissler 2024 Built by andrephoto.com
1.Clay Models
After final touches and
refinements, the clay models
are ready for the foundry.
2.Wax Room
Once the molds have been
made of the original clay scul-
ptures, the molds are lined
with a thin coat of wax.
4.Shell Room
The waxes are then dipped
into a liquid slurry which dries
like a ceramic, thus creating
a hard shell containing the
waxes.
5.Burnout
The shells are then heated,
causing the wax to melt and
exit the shells (the “lost wax”
process).
6.Metal Pouring
Molten bronze (1900-2100
degrees) is now poured into
shells and left to cool.
7.Breakout
Once the shells have cooled, they
are hammered off the bronze and
any remaing shell fragments are
ground off the metal.
8.Sand Blasting
The bronze is now sand-
blasted to remove remaining
shell fragments.
9.Welding
The various chunks are
welded together.
10.Metal Chasing
The weld lines are now ground
away, so that the sur-
face of the bronze is nice and
smooth.
3.Wax Check
The wax is then removed from
the molds, checked for accu-
racy, and the surfaces are
refined, if necessary.
11.Final Patina
It is now ready to go to
the patina shop for final
coloration.
The Foundry Process
A Long Journey
from Clay to Bronze
It is not only the cost of bronze
that makes sculpture so
expensive. It’s also the
labour. Frequently people don’t
realize what a lengthy,
labour-intensive process it is.
Read more....
click images for more photos
