The Reid Technique

Welcome to the Reid Technique, the simpler route to small castings in bronze, brass, gold and silver.

The Reid Technique is supplied as a kit containing the necessary equipment and materials (including the special ceramic fibre furnace) to allow a craftsperson to make their own small castings (up to 800 grams, 7" high) in bronze, silver, gold, brass (in fact, any non-ferrous alloy) within their own workshop. The method is based on a ceramic shell lost wax system that has been scaled down and simplified to allow the very accurate casting of metals having a melting point up to 1200 C.

The process has been designed to be as safe as possible. However,it should only be used in areas with good ventilation, and, of course, eye protection must be used during the casting process.

An overview of the lost wax process
This ancient technique, here brought up to date using ceramic shell, first requires the making of the desired object in wax (by hand modelling or casting into moulds). This wax is then covered ('invested' ) in some fire-proof material, and the whole heated to red hot. At this point the wax is melted out ('lost'), leaving a cavity in the ceramic which is an accurate negative of the original. When molten metal is poured into this it takes up the shape of the previous wax. On cooling, the investment is broken away to reveal the accurate casting.

The Reid Technique Kit contains

the high insulation furnace and dome

gas burner, hose and regulator

easily removable reducing ceramic first coat slurry

high strength suspended ceramic back up

mullite stucco sand

dewax dome and stand

soft modelling wax

harder casting wax

ceramic sealing paste

gloves and tongs

plaster button cup mould

bronze slugs

a detailed manual

Once connected to a small propane cylinder (available from your local Calor dealer in the UK), you have everything you need to make your first castings

Replacements for the consumables in the above, can be made available by post for constant resupply

The Technique in pictures

Price: £475. 00

Orders: Contact David Reid fax 47 22 44 11 39 email davidj at c2i.net (at=@)

Full instructions are included in the Manual provided.

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