Once the model is finished, a rubber mold is made.  The model is packed in a special rubber inside an aluminum frame and put in a vulcanizer, which heats the rubber to allow it to melt and completely surround the model and then cures it.  The solid block of rubber is then cut away from the model, a task that requires a lot of skill and patience, and the mold is ready.

 

The mold is used to make many wax models of the piece, which will be used for casting.  The wax is injected into the negative mold, which forms a positive when the wax is removed from the rubber.  Though the wax is injected by a machine, each wax must be inspected for flaws before going on to be assembled into a tree for casting.

 

As casting is a labor- and time-intensive process, setting up wax trees needs a steady hand to put as many pieces on a single tree as possible.  The waxes are affixed to the tree with a small amount of melted wax, and must be held securely so they do not seperate from the tree during the next step, investing.

 

 

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