Making the Wax Mold

Weeks makes his bronze sculptures by the lost wax method. The foundry applies red wax on the inside, the side that touched the clay, of the rubber mold. He says that any sculpture he makes that is larger than roughly the size of a fist is made hollow, while any sculpture smaller than that is poured solid. Therefore, the thickness of the applied wax onto the rubber form determines how thick the walls of the sculpture are. After removing the plaster and rubber molds, just the wax form is left, which should exactly replicate the clay form. Then, additional utility forms in wax, like a pour cup, sprues, and vents, are added to aid in the bronze pouring process. Yellow ceramic slurry is applied, or invested, over the entire wax form and allowed to cure.