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mlcorson mlcorson is offline
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Default Real leaves dipped in metal

On Dec 10, 3:28 pm, Nancy2 wrote:
Sorry to jump in here without any history in the group, but does
anyone know if the process to make leaves permanent (veins of real
leaves are made semi-transparent through a filigree process-they are
dipped in liquid metal and every leaf vein becomes visible) is one of
those dangerous-chemical-bath-metal-process things that the ordinary
lay crafter can't do at home?

If anyone has knowledge or experience of this process, I'd appreciate
some input here in this group. Thanks!

N.


This is a process called "lost wax" casting. The leaf is carefully
cast into a plaster mold. Heated until the leaf is burned out and
molten metal (silver, gold, bronze) is applied by a centrifugal
casting machine. The fragility of the leaf makes the initial molding
somewhat difficult, but with practice the result are repeatable.
Simplified explanation.
Google "Lost Wax".
-M