Where to start with wax carving tools

There are so many wax carving tools that you could get, everything from some incredibly basic tools that look like the kind your dentist uses, all the way through $200 wax carving tools with color-coded wooden handles and incredibly sharp points.

And don’t even get me started on which wax pen you might want – there are pros and cons for all of them. I even made a video about how much I love the $20 battery-powered wax pen.

Which wax carving tools are right for you?

Depends on your budget. But the good news is that it doesn’t have to depend on your budget. Lots of wax carving tools can be adapted, re-shaped, sharpened, and formed to make them into the exact tools that you need. Check out my latest Tool Talk video to see how I adapted some old dental tools to be sharper and more ergonomic.

How can you modify your jewerly tools for comfort?

There’s more you can do with tools like this, you can use a thermoplastic like Jett Set to make the handles more comfortable, you can use a tool grinder, sandpaper, a file or a sharpening stone to make these tools into fine points. These inexpensive tools are perfect for the beginner wax carver and let you learn and grow your skills in wax carving by making some simple adjustments.

How to get started in wax carving

Some folks just need to get their hands on the wax and they can just carve away. Other people need guidance on the exact steps to achieve their best pieces. And here is the thing – both methods are valid! Whether you need hands on guidance, or you’re a DIYer, wax carving is totally learnable.

For years, I shied away fromw ax carving becasue I “didn’t get it” and then it clicked, but I had to spend time watching videos, testing tools and just generally mucking around until I got it right. If you are a DIYer, the video in this post will show you some basics of the tools you might need. If you need more guidance, I’ve got you too in the form of an eCourse on the basics of wax carving.

Whichever way you choose, have fun with it!