Someone recently asked me how carving wax starts out.  First of all, there are a number of varieties to choose from.   Your specific application and personal preferences will naturally influence which type you choose.  Some artists prefer to add material to their model as they create it. I, however, almost always work subtractively.  Carving wax is primarily purchased in thick […]

Since his retirement my father has plunged into a long dormant pastime.  When I was young I can remember spending time in the basement with him, building bird houses and partaking in other simple wood working projects.  On his own he made some lovely furniture, a few pieces of which grace my home today. Within […]

As a bench jeweler I have spent countless hours with a torch in hand soldering and occasionally fusing silver and other non-ferrous metals. A few years back I was struck with the inclination to work larger. Therefore I enrolled in a welding class to explore the various processes of welding steel. There are three methods […]

In my last two articles I discussed tool making for wax work and machining. This article will focus on methods of modifying the tools we already own in order to enhance our precision. Sometimes the proper tool demanded by a project is one that you need to craft yourself! For meticulous sculpting in metal, rubber […]

Of the many facets involved in jewelry making, artistry is the most important element. A wide variety of technical skills must also be honed and developed as well. In my previous post I wrote about tool making in regard to wax carving. Today I will discuss the cutting tools used for machining on a lathe. […]

Virtually any jewelry supply catalog has a variety of wax carving tools to choose from. However the vast majority of them are exceedingly large. These are wonderful for roughing out a design quickly. Although, they make it virtually impossible to achieve fine detail or navigate the awkward angles sometimes required by a complex piece. Only […]

Few tools can claim such a fascinating history as the B.C. Ames lathe that I have used regularly in my business for many years now. The machine began it’s long life in the B.C. Ames factory in Waltham MA where my grandfather, Harry Kotowski, worked. This company primarily produced precision gauges that were know to be […]

There are numerous processes by which jewelry is made. The work in my collection is crafted either through fabrication or the lost wax casting process. This article will outline some basic techniques used to work with non ferrous metals. Non ferrous metals include brass, silver, gold, platinum and those that do not contain iron and […]

Over the years I have found that one of the most commonly misunderstood methods of jewelry making is the lost wax casting process. I am frequently asked exactly how casting works. One popular misconception is that the mold is made in wax. Naturally questions soon follow regarding the ability of this material to withstand heat […]