Cutting wax parts

Techniques & Exercises

 Cutting parts off of a wax model can be done in lots of different ways. You can use a saw, a rotary tool, a hobby blade or a hot tool. The different techniques will each yield a different result - some with more kerf (the amount removed by the tool) than others.

Hot tools may also cause drips, which can be undesirable. whichever method you choose, just know that you'll be able to fix any damage incurred during the removal process. It just takes a little more wax, a little more time, and a little more patience!

Removing a part of the sculpt

! Warning – Be careful when using hot electric tools and working with open flames. Read all safety instructions that come with each device and any fuels.

The goal is to remove the bottom of the torso, leaving a flat bottom and clean edge.

  1. Heat a blade tool

  2. Press it into the beltline of the model. Note how the surface melts around it and adjust your cutting so that you don’t cut above the belt.

  3. Continue cutting through the model until you’ve remove the bottom of the torso

  4. Using a cold tool to scrap the remaining surface flat across the bottom.

  5. Add wax or refine the edge so that it looks clean across the bottom of the torso.