Moulding is the first step in the lost wax casting process. This original mould will be used to make the wax positive. It is perhaps the most crucial stage as the quality of the reproduction depends on its faithfulness to the original art work.

Most artists have their own preference of what material they are most comfortable in working with. Any material can be moulded, from wood, plaster, clay and steel to leather and found objects. Sculptors are only limited by their imagination.

Due to the variety of different materials, shapes and sizes that the original sculpture may be presented to the foundry in, Coates and Wood uses many different moulding techniques depending on the individual needs of each artwork. Plaster moulds, silicon rubber flood moulds, to blanket moulds to light weight fiberglass moulds with silicon rubber impression inlay.

Quite often the sculpture may be too large, heavy or fragile to move from the artist's studio, therefore we are quite happy to travel anywhere around Australia or overseas to carry out the mould making process.

Once the mould is complete, it will then be used to make an even thickness hollow wax reproduction of the original sculpture.