Free beginner tool guide
The tools you need to sculpt wax jewellery and refine it in metal at home, all in one simple PDF.
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The lost wax process
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Sculpt in wax
Sculpt your designs with a soldering iron and jeweller's wax on a table. No studio needed.
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Cast in metal
Use a local casting facility to transform your wax design into metal for a small fee.
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Refine at home
Clean, sand and polish your raw metal designs to make them shine. Set stones when you feel confident.
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Wear or sell your creations
Wear or gift your one-of-a-kind designs, or start your own jewellery brand.
Jewellery making FAQs
Common questions people ask before they start.
How does lost wax casting work?
- Sculpt your design in wax.
- Send your wax design to a casting facility in your country. No casting facility nearby? You can post it to one.
- The wax is attached to a "wax tree" and investment is poured around it.
- The wax is melted out in a kiln and molten metal fills the hollow space.
- Your design turns into solid metal and the raw piece is returned to you for refining and polishing.
Can I start jewellery making with no experience?
Yes. You can start as a total beginner. The course is also designed to grow with you, for when you start getting more comfortable and want to refine your pieces and try basic stone settings.
Do I need a studio to make jewellery?
No. You just need a space to work, like a table, desk or bench.
What tools do I need to start wax sculpting?
- Jeweller's wax
- Soldering iron
- Soldering iron cleaning pot
- Cleaning sponge
- Sculpting mandrel
- Ring sizer mandrel
- Ring sizing gauge
- Files
- Wire brush (for cleaning files)
- Craft knife
- Sanding sponge
- Paintbrush
- Regular lighter
A full tool list with supplier recommendations for Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Canada, the UK and Europe is included in the course. If you're in Australia, you can grab a wax sculpting kit to get started straight away.
What tools do I need to sand and polish raw metal?
As a minimum, I recommend:
- Dremel rotary tool + flex shaft
- Rotary tool mount (to hold the Dremel up at your desk)
- Sanding drums / emery mandrels
- Polishing buffs
- Polishing compound
- Soft hammer
- Wooden ring holder
- Dish soap
- Toothbrush
What safety gear do you recommend?
I always wear a respirator mask (a general 3M mask) when working with wax. When metal refining, I wear the mask plus general safety glasses.
What equipment do I need for my workspace?
- Table or desk
- Chair
- Baking / oven tray
- Bench vice
- Mandrel holder blocks (optional)
How much does it cost to cast a ring?
Casting costs vary depending on the size and thickness of your design, as most casting facilities charge per gram of metal used. The chunkier and heavier your piece is, the more it will cost. For silver, this is often around $6-7 AUD per gram, plus a small casting fee of around $5-8 AUD, but this depends on the facility.
How do I outsource jewellery casting?
Once your wax design is ready, you send it to a casting facility. They handle the casting (molten metal pour), then return your piece in a raw state ready for you to clean up and finish. I teach you exactly how to find a casting facility, what to ask, and how the whole process works inside my online course.
What are the benefits of outsourcing casting?
- Trial casting with small batches at a time.
- Only pay for the metal you use.
- Spend more time on the fun part, sculpting and designing.
- You still do the sanding, polishing and stone setting yourself.
- Get more of your time back if you run your own jewellery brand.
- No ongoing maintenance costs for casting equipment.
- No new skill to learn, which can take months.
Can I cast jewellery at home?
Technically yes, but I don't recommend it. Here's why I don't cast at home:
- Investment casting is very technical.
- High risk working with kilns, open flames and molten metal.
- Dealing with bad pours and rework.
- Needing to work in big batches at a time.
Outsourcing means you can skip all that and focus on designing and finishing your pieces.
Do you offer online jewellery making classes?
Yes. I offer a beginner-friendly online course that teaches you how to make jewellery using the lost wax process step by step. It includes supplier links for tools across Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Canada, the UK and Europe, plus access to a private Facebook group of students worldwide.
Do you have in-person workshops?
While I do have a studio in Yandina on the Sunshine Coast, I don’t have capacity for in-person lessons at the moment. My online course thoroughly covers everything I’d teach you in person, and a whole lot more.
What students say
★★★★★ 4.9 from 109 reviews
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★★★★★
Best course ever!!!
"I did this course about a year and a half ago and have since learnt how to make and sell my own jewellery."
Kirra Australia -
★★★★★
Wonderful, detailed, honest and approachable course!
"This course is an absolute must have for anyone starting lost wax jewellery making."
Kari Australia -
★★★★★
Cassandra's course is amazing!
"Sooo much information, clear video tutorials and pdfs to go with for future reference."
Nina Australia -
★★★★★
Great course, packed with valuable info!
"Covers so much for creating wax jewellery with a more organic style. Highly recommend it!"
Ines United Kingdom
Meet your guide
Hey, I'm Cass
Here's why I think you'll love this way of making jewellery as much as I do:
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Sculpt unique designs
Go as simple or as bold as you like. There's no limit to what you can create.
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Less space required
You don't need a big workshop or room for casting equipment. A table is enough.
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More time on the fun part
Casting is a long, technical process. Outsourcing it means you spend your time sculpting and designing, not handling hot, heavy equipment.
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Work in small batches
Casting facilities cast lots of people's pieces together, so you can send just one or two rings and only pay for those.
Like any new craft, there's a learning curve. Every beginner makes a few mistakes along the way, and with silver and gold, some mistakes can be costly. I designed this course to help you avoid them and fast track your learning, so you move past the 'rookie' stage a lot faster and start creating your dreamy jewellery sooner.
$249.00 AUD
Payment plans available
- Learn at your own pace
- Instant & lifetime access
- Ongoing support
- Available worldwide