Metal Icons are produced in what is traditionally known as the Madhu Chistam or cire perdu casting technique. A description of the technique is found in the ancient text of Manasara. The technique of icon casting as practiced by the Sthapathis of Swamimalai is the same. The tradition and technique have survived unchanged. The process can be divided into four different stages, which are as follows:
1. Modeling the image of wax.
2. Preparing a clay mould.
3. Encasing wax model in clay.
3. Making a metal cast from the clay mould.
4. Finishing and polishing.