Lost Wax Casting 101

Learn the ancient art of Lost Wax Metal Casting! For anyone from total beginners to those who simply want a refresher and/or to learn their way around the Artisans Asylum Casting Shop. Students will cast and take home a small bronze item such as a ring, pendant, medal, game dice, or ornament.

Participants will leave this class with the knowledge needed to enjoy lost wax casting at Artisans.

We will be casting only in ancient bronze during class, yet this class prepares students to use the A2 Casting Shop to create items like jewelry, components, and small sculptures in a variety of shop-approved metals including silver, bronze, brass, and more!

Lost Wax Investment Casting, the Electromelt, and the Sentry Kiln.

• Intro to the Artisans Asylum Casting Shop
• Wax types and tools
• Sprueing wax patterns plus best practices
• Investment process
• Use of the vacuum machine for both investing and casting
• Using the Sentry kiln for wax burnout
• Use of the Electromelt to melt and pour metal
• Cutting off sprues and buttons
• Safety skills for all of the above
• How to leave the shop in ready to use condition

Total beginners, those looking for a refresher and/or those seeking to become familiar with the Artisans Casting Shop. All students must be 18 years or older.

Optional: Students may bring a wax pattern of their own to cast in ancient bronze, if it fits within the casting flask and feasible parameters. Dimensions of pattern should be less than 1.5 inches. There will not be time during class to create wax items from scratch. A small selection of premade wax pattern items will be available to all students, so bringing one is not required.

• One small bronze casting upon completion of the multisession
• All casting materials, including: ancient bronze metal for casting, optional small wax forms, wax sprues, N95 masks, and investment materials.
• Use of kiln, Electromelt, casting flasks, wax tools, safety leather aprons, gloves, safety glasses, and other tools are provided by the shop.
• Access to A2's Casting Shop and tools for the duration of the session.

Jules first learned casting from a jewelry perspective and is currently interested in many types of metal sculpture and jewelry. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Creative Studies & Fine Arts. A proud generalist with a professional background in non-profits, at Artisans Asylum she serves as a casting shop tool tester, instructor, and a member of the Gallery A2 panel. She loves cats, coffee, fostering creativity and building community.