No carving – just freeform wax building with a soldering iron Duration: 2 hours Level: Beginner-friendly – No prior experience needed Focus: Creating unique ring or pendant designs using the build-up wax technique with a soldering iron, incorporating both traditional claw and organic claw settings (stone-in-place) WHAT’S PROVIDED Wax soldering irons (temperature-controlled) Assorted casting wax sticks and sheets Ring mandrels, acrylic sheets, masking tape Assorted stones suitable for stone-in-place casting (e.g., lab-created, nano, CZ) Wax sculpting tools, scalpel, tweezers Demo pieces for inspiration WORKSHOP STRUCTURE Welcome + Introduction Brief intro to lost-wax casting and the build-up method Safety with wax soldering irons Overview of suitable gemstones for stone-in-place Show examples of finished claw and organic claw wax builds Demo: Basic Claw Setting Using Wax Build-Up Step-by-step demo of building a simple 4-prong claw setting using wax and a soldering iron Discuss structure, symmetry, stone height, and attachment to ring/pendant base Tips for stability and successful casting Hands-On:Participants begin their own piece using a ring mandrel or flat acrylic sheet base. Choose a stone and begin building up a basic claw setting around it. Demo: Organic Claw Setting + Freeform Techniques Demonstrate using wax flow to create whimsical, freeform or asymmetrical claw-like shapes Emphasize creative expression: curved prongs, multiple stones, layering texture Tips on blending structure with artistic flair Hands-On:Participants create their own organic piece — this could be a nature-inspired ring, pendant, or abstract setting using melted wax and wax additions. Individual Build + Refinement Participants refine either one or both of their settings Add extra support, smooth joins, refine claws, check stone stability One-on-one support to troubleshoot and enhance design Finishing + Next Steps Final touch-ups: check thickness, stability, proportion Note: This session focuses on wax design only. Casting, polishing, and delivery of your finished pieces will be handled by me after the workshop. If you want to learn jewellery-making journey? Let’s create something beautiful together how to polish and finish your pieces, please book the polishing course.
