Here are some places you can learn jewellery casting in Australia. This is by no means a complete list, This is a work in progress that is updated weekly.
I have shown bias towards gem clubs in compiling this list of where to learn jewellery casting, but there are many individuals who offer training and intro at very low prices to be found by search.
Learn Jewellery Casting at The Gold Coast Lapidary Club
The Gold Coast Lapidary Club is very fortunate to have its own investing and casting area to Learn Jewellery Casting from scratch. The casting area involves technical skills using vacuum casting equipment as well as an induction heat electric furnace.
We have a vulcaniser which allows you to make your own personalised vulcanised molds which we then inject wax into from our wax injector. From there our members make a cast investment solution that gets poured into flasks and once set – roughly 24 hours, they are then placed into a kiln and a 6 and a half hour burnout process then begins.
Once the wax has been melted out a blank of the original mold is now formed inside the flask. The metal is then melted in our heat furnace and the burnout flask is then placed into our vacuum casting machine for the molten metal to be poured in. Its then submerged into a tub of water and the complete piece is then ready to be finished and polished, which is usually in the silversmithing area.
Learn Jewellery Casting with North Brisbane Lapidary Club
The first lost wax casting was introduced into NBLC by Ross Chapman about 20 years ago. Initially Ross used a car tyre pump in a home built apparatus to “suck” the molten metal into a mold. As members became more interested, the club invested in better equipment. A computer controlled kiln and centrifuge were purchased, with Ross building a shroud around the centrifuge using a stainless steel drum from a washing machine drier.
Ed Hindmarsh built 2 vibrating tables and donated to the club to assist with removing air bubbles from the investment.
Tom Power then built and donated a vacuum table so that the air was removed from the investment, giving better quality results.
Over the years we have continued to improve the process where we now have over 90% success with castings; a very good result considering how many touchpoints there are where members have been involved in the process.
From weighing the waxes, to spruing correctly, to vibrating the investment to providing the correct weight of metal, to ensuring the torch flame is a neutral flame, to ensuring the metal is completely molten; all of these areas can and do cause problems with the outcome.
Some clubs as part of their casting process sprue all of the required models into one flask. This is all controlled by one experienced member. NBLC has retained investing individual flasks; exactly as Ross started us off.
This means individual members have more control and more involvement in the casting process, but it also means that the requirement for volunteers to assist in the process is more intensive. It is a credit to all of our members who learn jewellery casting in our casting workshops, so that other members enjoy an interesting sideline to the hobby of lapidary.
In the last 10 years, we have also conducted cuttlebone and broomstick casting with members leading these new endeavours.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Where can I learn jewellery casting in Australia at an affordable price? While many individuals offer private training, Lapidary and Gem Clubs are excellent places to start. The Gold Coast Lapidary Club and the North Brisbane Lapidary Club (NBLC) specifically offer casting facilities and workshops. These clubs are often preferred because they provide access to expensive technical equipment at a lower cost to members.
2. What technical equipment is used during the casting process at the Gold Coast Lapidary Club? The club is equipped with professional-grade tools, including:
Vulcanisers and Wax Injectors: For creating and filling personalised molds.
Induction Heat Electric Furnaces: For melting metal efficiently.
Vacuum Casting Machines: To ensure the molten metal fills the flask completely.
Kilns: Used for the critical 6.5-hour “burnout” process.
3. What is the difference between casting at the Gold Coast Club vs. North Brisbane Lapidary Club? The main difference lies in the involvement of the individual member:
Gold Coast: Follows a standard technical workflow using vacuum casting and electric furnaces.
North Brisbane (NBLC): Focuses on individual flasks. Unlike some clubs that sprue all members’ models into one large flask managed by an expert, NBLC lets members invest their own flasks. This gives you more control and hands-on experience, though it requires more volunteer assistance.
4. What are some alternative casting methods I can learn besides “Lost Wax”? In addition to traditional lost wax casting, the North Brisbane Lapidary Club has introduced more organic and “low-tech” methods over the last decade, including:
Cuttlebone Casting: Carving a design directly into the soft bone of a cuttlefish.
Broomstick Casting: Pouring molten metal into wet broom bristles to create unique, organic textures.
5. Why is the “Burnout” process so important in jewellery casting? The burnout process (which takes about 6.5 hours) is essential because it melts the wax out of the investment solution inside the flask. This leaves a hollow “blank” or negative cavity of your original design. If the wax isn’t completely removed, the molten metal cannot flow in properly, which would ruin the final piece.
Learn Jewellery Casting with Lismore Gem & Lapidary Club
Currently our lapidary club offers
Faceting of Gemstones
Cabochoning of Gemstones
Metal Smithing in Silver
Wax Casting and silver Investing
Field Trips to visit exciting gem sites.
and much much more……
Learn Jewellery Casting with the Bundaberg Gem and Mineral Society
If you are fortunate enough to live in the region, the Bundaberg Gem and Mineral Society.
Nestled in the heart of Bundaberg, Australia can teach you jewellery casting and much more.
Check out our blog
Jewellery casting equipment, tools supplies. Lowest prices in Australia.