Techniques & Exercises

 Here is a selection of exercises to try out different techniques.

Using hot tools to add wax to wax

In order to add wax to wax, you have to heat your metal tools to collect wax and apply it to your model. Aside from building up wax, you can also scribe it on to your model by loading the wax up on a hot blade and drawing out your details.

Using wax sticks to quickly build up wax

Wax sticks are great for building up a lot of wax in a short period of time. This is especially useful if you’re starting your sculpt in wax instead of from a wax casting.

Cutting wax parts

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!

Welding wax parts together

Smoothing out rough textures

You can use a number of items to achieve this goal. Firstly, you’ll want to make sure you smooth out rough bumps, textures and shill lines with a few cold tools. I like to start with a very light scrape with a dull hobby blade or other flat bladed tool, then move to a spoon type tool, careful not to let any edges catch on the model- smoothing it out further.

You may also want to use the alcohol torch to slightly heat the wax at this stage (you can squeeze a plastic bottle to make a flamethrower).

Sculpting wax can also be sanded and buffed, so an alternative method is using sandpaper (wax will clog the paper, so be aware) in successive grits until you get it smooth enough for your liking.

Polishing wax

The final step is a good buffing with a fine cloth to get it to shine. I use a lens cloth I got at the dollar store.

Former toy designer and YouTuber Robert Tolone suggests lemon oil (furniture polish) and fine steel wool. Others have used Goo Gone (citrus oil) and a white Scotchbrite pad to the same effect.

The makers of Azbro Wax recommend that you use water as your last polish to get the haze off from other solvents.

A tooth sculptor who goes by “The Tooth Doctor” recommends applying soap to a wet nylon cloth or even wet cotton balls to achieve a high polish.

Free Sculpt!

Now’s your chance to put them all together.

Creating wax parts from scratch