Recommended Tool List

For those looking to get into lost wax casting or lost resin casting we have put together a list of tools that we use, and would recommend. 

If you have any questions please refer to our Youtube Channel as we may have a video reviewing the product, or something similar. 

[Updated on Sept 2023. If links are no longer available please email info@clearmindcasting.com. By purchasing tools using some of the links below we will receive a % of the sale price.]

Mold Making

One of the great things about the casting process is the replication and reproduction process. One of the ways you can do this is through vulcanized or RTV molds. 

Through this process you can take a metal, wood, plastic, or other object, mold it and inject wax to make multiple models. If you arn't sure which mold type is best for your process you can watch our video about the two most popular options here. 

For vulcanized molds here are some of the tools we would recommend:

• Spru Former
  
• Mold Frame
• Vulcanizer 

 When it comes to injecting your molds there are tones of options on the market including manual hand pump and automatic. The wax injector we have in our studio runs off a standard 2 gallon tank air compressor.

 

Spruing

Once you have all of your waxes or 3D prints you are ready to spru all of the pieces together in a tree. Traditionally this would be done with an alcohol lamp and a spatula but we would recommend getting a wax pen to make things go faster.

• Wax Pen
• Flask Base
• Small Spru Wax
• Flexible Spru Rod

If you work primarily in 3D prints you can print all of your items in a preassebeled tree like in this video. 

Investment Mixing & Investing

Once you have your tree together you are ready to invest your flask. We have done a whole video covering what investment is and the things you should know before you purchase. For those doing lost resin casting we recommend Prestige Optima, R&R Plasticast, or another investment type suitable for 3D prints and plastics. For those doing lost wax casting R&R Ultravest was our previous go to, but as 3D printed components require a special investment we now use Optima or Plasticast for all model types including our wax and organic material models.

You will need an assistance method to get rid of all bubbles in your mixture. This is why we recommend a two in one vacuum like the Kaya Cast (which removes bubbles from your investment and also vacuums your flask when pouring metal).

Casting

 Once everything is ready and you have finished your burnout you are ready for casting. If you need more information on burnout you can see our video here.

 

For casting we recommend the Kaya Cast and have done a full review of the casting unit here. You will also need a way to melt your metals. For small batch castings you might be able to get away with a Smith Little Torch but for regular casting we recommend an electric furnace like the Ventura-Melt. We specifically recommend the Ventura-Melt as, unlike with other electric furnaces, you do not need to remove the graphite crucible from the furnace and can pour the metal as if it were a coffee pot. See our full review on the Ventura-Melter here. (Please note it has been re-branded since our review). 

Finishing and Polishing

Although great detail can be achieved with lost wax casting and lost resin casting you still will need to take your pieces through a series of grinding, sanding, and polishing to get the best effect. This can be done manually or via an automated process. 

For a manual approach we suggest the Foredom Flexshaft for a solution at the bench, or one of Arbes enclosed polishing units for bigger collections.

For an automated approach after grinding off your sprus and other "blemishes" you can use tumblers to take your pieces from a basic casting to an almost high polish.