Fonderie d’Art d’Inverness Inc is a Quebec corporation which portrays dynamism by using a mix of innovative methods and traditional techniques in order to maintain the highest artistic qualities from a sculpture.
Their craft-casters specialize in molding, duplicating and casting bronze and aluminum works of art. Their clientele (municipalities, corporations, museums and artists) seeks the highest level of expertise and artistry in every job.
When Smooth-On was first contacted by Fonderie d’Art d’Inverness, they were looking for an easy to use brush-on silicone rubber. They also wanted a rubber that would have a very long library life. Rebound™ 25, Smooth-On’s flagship platinum silicone brush-on rubber, was our recommendation. It is mixed 1:1 by volume and cures in 6 hours to a soft, stretchy, strong and durable production mold.
After making the mold and casting wax into it for the lost-wax process, Jean Francoix, Fonderie d’Art d’Inverness owner and sculptor, discovered that Rebound™ 25 did not repel wax like all other silicones he had used in the past. Instead, the unique properties of Rebound® 25 helped the wax wet out across the entire mold surface evenly.
The impact of this benefit was felt immediately. As Mr. Francoix states, “Rebound™ 25 is saving us hours of time. The castings are coming out of the molds in almost perfect shape. We don’t have to spend hours re-touching bubbles in the wax castings anymore.” Artisans at the foundry can more quickly move on to the next step in the lost-wax process. Turnaround times are faster for the mold makers, but more importantly for the clients.
For more information on the foundry, visit them online at: www.fonderieart.com
Many Rebound® 25 molds are produced for an important step in the 'lost-wax' process.
Rebound® 25 is brushed on in layers to an ultimate thickness of 3/8'' (1 cm).
A look at a cross section of a Rebound® 25 mold. Notice the material used to make the cut seam has been pigmented with Silc Pig® silicone pigments.
Inside the mold cavity: This mold is seated in its support shell and assembled in preparation for casting wax.
Left side of a very large mold created from sculpture.
Wax casting in progress: Melted wax is painted into the Rebound® 25 mold. The thickness of the wax is dependent on the size of the piece.
Another look at the wax in the mold cavity. These wax castings will be assembled as a hollow casting, from which a "ceramic shell" mold can be made.
The "ceramic shell" molds then go into a furnace. The high temperatures melt the wax from inside, leaving an empty cavity. Once this process is complete, the "ceramic shell" molds are now ready for casting molten metal.
Finished bronze sculpture sitting next to the Rebound® 25 mold.
The artist proudly displays the finished work.
The possibilities are limitless! Rebound® 25 picks up perfect detail from any original model. This detail is then transferred to the wax casting and ultimately to the finished bronze piece.
Bronze statue of a hockey player created with the lost-wax process and the help of Smooth-On rubbers.
Intricate tree sculpture created with the lost-wax process and the help of Smooth-On rubbers.
Abstract bronze sculpture created with the lost-wax process and the help of Smooth-On rubbers.
