Precision Lost Wax Casting

Abstract

The limits of precision casting were explored experimentally at the Bronze Casting Workshop at Wilhelminaoord, the Netherlands, by making wax models, moulds and lost wax castings using essentially early metalworking conditions. Geometrically patterned models of Dark Age type dies were used to make wax patterns to simulate one of the finest detailed objects to come from excavation, the Tjitsma die. Examination of mould surfaces and castings by scanning electron microscopy showed that the limiting surface resolution of lost wax casting in bronze was the finely textured dendritic cast surface. The mould surfaces had taken the geometric pattern of the original wax models very well, although there is a fine particulate texture to the mould surface, but this is far finer than the limiting dendritic surfaces of the cast bronze.

Keywords

• gold
• bronze
• jewellery
• casting
• early middle ages
• sweden
• the netherlands
• united kingdom