How to Use a Carver to Make Jewelry

Jewelry can be made in two ways: building the pieces and assembling them separately or by carving a mold from wax which is then used to cast the jewelry in a single piece. The following steps will show how to carve a wax mold to make jewelry.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Use a variety of tools to carve wax. The tools don't need to be hardened steel. Bronze is a good choice because it retains heat well enough to make the wax softer but doesn't heat up enough to burn your hand easily.
2. Shape the head of the tool correctly. This should not be needed for regular engraving tools, but many wax carvers (even professionals) make their own tools from ordinary items such as coat hangers, old files and nails. The tools should never need to be sharpened more than once.
3. Heat the carving tool. Many tools have their own heating element, but most professionals use a propane torch with quick temperature control options.
4. Push the head of the carving tool gently with the crook of the index finger. Handles and metal gravers should not be needed for wax carving because the wax is so soft. This type of carving can be faster than using a scraper.
5. Carve a flat-bottomed hole to hold cabochon stones. Use a tool with a burr at the correct depth to allow the tool to sink to the correct depth. Hold the tool at a right angle to the wax being carved and only carve outwards.