Hello everybody,

I am new on this forum as well as  in jewelry making. I am French and i hope you will forgive me my bad english. I will try my best to be understandable...

I live in Central America and i am artist and fond of lost wax work. In France, i was curving my wax models and for the casting i gave them to a professional to do it. So, i never saw the casting process... I would like to have my own studio, as in Belize there is nobody to cast for me. I will need to buy all the machines and staff..... and learn to use them alone.

I am wondering which way is the best to cast... is it with centrifugal or with vaccum? Knowing that i curve in blue wax, pendents which have some parts as thin as 3 or 4 paper sheets together. I would like also to be able to cast in silver, bronze or gold.

I saw that on the forum you recomand Tim McCreight's books. I would like a book with step by step photos, as i some time don't understand all technical english... So, which one must i order firt?

I have another problem. Belize customs will charge me 40% taxes on all the staff plus shipping! So it could be good for me to find second hand machines... The problem is to have all i need in only one shipping.

If any of you could help me, i will be very happy and i thank you by advance for it. 

 Go to ganoksin.com and search through the old posts & archives or post your question there, I think you will find that is a very good resource for questions like your casting machine inquiry.

 Thank you very much Loopy, i will try that.

Have a nice Sunday. 

Rio Grande has some great options.  They range from about $2300 for the full set-up (vacuum casting machine, etc...) to $20,000 for a commercial type set-up.