The artist creates a sculptural model. This is generally made of clay. Sprues and gates, a network of wax pipes are attached to the wax pattern. These pipes will allow the wax to escape when, eventually, it is melted away. During the pouring process, the pipes will also spread the molten metal evenly throughout the mold.

The model is placed into a bed of flexible rubber which is held in place by a rigid outer casing. An impression of the model results; this is called the Mother-mold. Many copies can be made from this mold.

After closing the mold, hot wax is poured into it. Great care is taken during this crucial stage to insure a perfect reproduction of the initial sculpture. The result is a pattern, called the wax pattern. After opening the mold, the hardened was is hand finished with faithfulness to the original, incorporating the artist's signature, a cast number, and a foundry seal.

A series of sprues and gates are attached to the wax pattern, allowing the hot wax to escape, and eventually liquid bronze to be poured into the mold.

We now dip the wax in a liquid binder solution that hardens around the wax while drying. This material is called "slurry". Several coatings are applied and each coating is completely dried prior to the next. The slurry coats go both inside and outside the wax. This forms a shell around the wax that will allow the sculpture to be hollow. This mold is called an investment mold.

Many coats of sand are applied to the slurry coating; this will eventually build up a thick strong mold.

The investment mold is heated; the wax melts and flows out from the sprues and gates. This leaves an open space in the investment mold. This is why this method of creating a mold is called the "lost wax method". Now we can pour the Bronze into that open space in the investment mold.

Molten bronze (over 2,000 degree Fahrenheit) is now poured into the investment mold, filling the space left by the "lost" wax.

When all is cool, the investment mold is broken and the metal appears: the bronze and its sprues and gates are an exact reproduction of the wax.

The process of hand finishing the bronze to perfection is called "chasing". The network of sprues and gates is removed and the surface of the bronze is chiseled and filed so that no trace of the sprues and gates can be seen.

The process of hand finishing the bronze to perfection is called "chasing". The network of sprues and gates is removed and the surface of the bronze is chiseled and filed so that no trace of the sprues and gates can be seen.

When the chasing is finished, chemicals called "oxides" are applied to the surface of the bronze; creating an aged appearance. This is called a patina.

After the patina, the artist selects the appropriate base for their bronze. Hot wax and or a protective chemical coating are applied.