Lost Wax Casting: Koi Cuff Bracelet (cont'd)

I was able to dedicate a lot of carving time to this bracelet over the holiday season (I love that my office shuts down for Christmas!).  The bracelet is coming along nicely and I've spent many hours carving, digging, and scraping away wax.  I'm still pretty timid with the tools so I end up making multiple passes over the entire bracelet, slightly deepening the grooves each time.  Not very efficient but I'm getting good practice, that's for sure.

The right-side koi is beginning to take shape

Another 3 hours spent adding details such as scales and fins

The wax model is almost ready for casting. I've spent a considerable amount of time hollowing it out and taking down the thinnest sections of the bracelet to about 1.2 - 1.5 mm. Before the holidays the wax model weighed 33 grams. Now it weighs 15 grams, and will be even lighter once I cut out the bridge and create the opening in the bracelet for my wrist. The weight in sterling silver is approximately 10.4 x the weight in wax so there is definite incentive to get this piece lighter.

In the right-hand photo you can see the neat texture that my instructor suggested I add to the inside of the bracelet. It took about 45 minutes just to do that detail alone but it really gives the bracelet a nice finished look without requiring me to file the finished piece from the inside.