Customer Reviews

Handbook of Lost Wax or Investment Casting

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Sopcak's "Handbook" is oriented more to the equipment than the processes. From building a kiln and a variety of casting machines, to vacuum investment and all the way through to rubber molds, for the craftsman on a budget, there's an inexpensive altrnative to commercial equipment laid out in detail. While spartan in execution, most essential processes are covered in enough detail for a rank beginner. For an experienced caster, some of the ideas presented may be helpful for problem solving or experimentation.

I have a one man foundry for ceramic shell lost wax casting of sculpture. There are many challenges and opportunities to do things better. This book did not help because it is for the jewelry maker who is doing lost wax casting and not for the foundry casting art sculpture.

The pictures and illustrations seem to be from the 40's and the book is for the person who is experienced and equipped as a machinist.

This is a grouping of articles that were published in the 60's and or 70's If my memory serves me. As I no longer have my magazines i can not check. It has been updated only in the safety warning area due to the asbestos that was suggested in the original articles. You really don't have to be a machinist or have a ton of tools to make the stuff in the booklet. You will need a basic knowledge of shop/metal work and have access to some hand tools, power tools do make it faster and some what more fun. To borrow a phrase MORE POWER!!!! If you go over the list of material at the end of each section. you will be able to come up with substitutes for the asbestos at your local ceramic supply. Also remember that the fire bricks and even the new replacements for asbestos have dangers. So take the necessary safety steps.
There are a number of things to make in the booklet that are low cost versions of fancy items that cost big bucks.I own it.

may not be a big book, gives the equipment needed to make things easy, tells how and why in an easy step by step method, explains how to mix investment with a vaccume to reduce and eliminate bubbles, using wax extruder to create wax sprues and for jewelry, gives instruction for making your own burnout oven using readily available materials, very informative

I am very pleased with the contents of this book. It has detail in other aspects of casting/investment molding that I am finding helpful. The oven design is small and must be monitored personally but it has the detail for increasing size and adding a simple temp. controller to make it easier to use.