Foundry

A foundry is a place where molten metal is poured into molds. In The Crucible’s foundry, you can learn all the steps that go into making a piece of cast metal, from forming a mold to creating a patina on a finished piece.

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Sand Casting Taster or Resin Casting Taster
Saturday Dec. 6th  or  Sunday Dec. 7th
10AM - 1PM  or  2 - 5PM

If you’ve ever thought about working with fire, metal or glass but don’t want to spend a lot of time finding out if it’s for you, try our series of Holiday Taster Workshops. Structured for beginners twelve years and older, anyone can get a taste of creating with fire and light. These three-hour classes make great early holiday gifts for a do-it-yourselfer, or take a class together with family and friends to create hand-crafted gifts to give. Items you might learn to make in our different tasters are ornaments, bottle openers, trivets, sun catchers, bracelets, or candle holders.

Try two skills on the same day and get a deal! When you register for one morning and one afternoon Taster on the same day in separate disciplines, you’ll receive a $15 discount.

Other Skill Areas Available:
Blacksmithing, Jewelry, Glass Flameworking, Glass Fusing, and MIG Welding

Non-Members $80 - Members Pay $72.50

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Foundry Fundamentals
Entry-level class
Begin your exploration of foundry work with this hands-on overview of the steps involved in casting in metal.  This class introduces foundry processes, including wax working, ceramic shell, sand moldmaking, metal casting, and metal finishing. You will use the lost-wax casting method (which begins with sculpting in wax) and the sand casting method (which uses a mold made from sand).  You will help pour molten metal and will complete several cast-metal pieces, which can be sculptures or utilitarian objects.

Bronze Casting: Ceramic Shell Process
Entry-level class
Ceramic shell is a mold material used in the lost wax casting method. The ceramic shell process begins with a wax sculpture. You’ll learn basic wax-working techniques, as well as how to create ceramic shell molds.  Finally, you’ll cast your piece in bronze or aluminum. The class will also cover basic metal finishing.

Sand Casting in Bronze & Aluminum
Entry-level class
In this class, you can turn your creations into cast metal. Working with resin-bonded sand, you’ll learn the basics as you build your own molds. As part of a casting team, you’ll have the exhilarating experience of pouring molten bronze or aluminum.  After your casting cools, you’ll open your mold and finish your piece. Bring a found object or a sculpture that’s smaller than a breadbox. The sculpture can be made of wax, clay, foam, or wood. 

Cupola Iron Casting
Entry-level class
This workshop takes you from making a mold in sand to completing a finished iron sculpture. You’ll learn mold construction and preparation while building your own sand mold using resin-bonded sand. You’ll learn the steps required to prepare for the cupola iron casting pour. In the final and exhilarating event, you’ll prepare iron and coke charges, have an opportunity to operate the cupola, and pour molten iron into your own sand mold.

Cast, Clip & Pour
Previous experience suggested.
Prerequisite: Bronze Casting: Ceramic Shell Process or Foundry Fundamentals
This class is designed for people who have some experience with metal casting and have completed waxes that they want to cast. The class delves into details of metal casting. You’ll prepare your wax, dip it to make a ceramic shell mold, and participate in a bronze pour.

Patinas Made Easy (Intensive)
Entry-level class
The right patina can be the essential finishing touch for your metal project. This hands-on, weekend workshop teaches a variety of methods to give a patina to bronze and introduces other coatings and applications for these metals. Please bring some small pieces to patina. You'll be able to experiment on small test samples before working on your own pieces.

Bronze Metal Finishing
Previous experience suggested.
Prerequisite: Any Bronze Casting class
This class is designed for people who have rough bronze castings that need finishing.  You'll learn to use the tools and techniques of metal chasing-grinding, sanding, filing, texturing, and polishing your bronze castings to a perfect finish!  The class concludes with a session on creating a patina for the final touch.  Please bring your bronze castings to the first day of class.

Lab: Wax, Moldmaking, & Stone
Taking a lab is a great way to practice and perfect the skills you learn in class. In labs, you can work on class assignments or your own projects. Lab time is supervised but does not include instruction or materials.

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Youth Sand Casting in Aluminum (Youth)
Entry-level class
Ages 12 - 18
Turn your ideas into cast-metal sculptures as you learn the basics of metal casting. You will make a sculpture and then use that sculpture to create a mold in resin-bonded sand. Watch as molten aluminum is poured into your mold. After your piece cools, you’ll open your mold to finish your piece.

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