Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c28.s4.5

v1.c28.s4.5

According to Mānasollāsa, a wax image is first made and then fine clay coating is applied three times. The clay coating should contain well-ground charred husk, finely shredded cotton and a little powdered salt. The wax is melted out, and then the molten metal is poured in the moulds. The image is removed on cooling after breaking the clay mould, and then carefully finished. The text also provided a fairly good information regarding the techniques of modelling, moulding, dewaxing and baking the mould along with the description of the solid casting process. It has also described the methods for calculating the amounts of particular metals required for casting as proportions to the weight of the wax in the model (brass and copper 10 times, silver 12 times and gold 16 times that of wax, reflecting their densities), the temperature required for melting different metals, the melting process, casting and finishing etc. (Bose, D.M. et al., 1971: 339-40; Swarnakamal, 1980: 28-29)