Lost Wax Casting 2 - Molds and Found Objects
Wednesdays, April 16, 2025 - May 7, 2025; 6:00PM - 9:30PM PT (Pacific Time)
This class expands on wax working techniques, introducing techniques for making molds and using found objects to quickly generate detailed wax models. With molds, you can not only save and reproduce your designs, but you can also sample the world around you and integrate it into your castings, with molds of plants, found objects and lots more.
This course is available as an in-person workshop or live online class. Please check this page for times and formats available.
First, we focus on molds that can be made in a home studio, using home friendly materials and techniques without any expensive equipment. We’ll pour RTV silicone molds without a vacuum investment machine, create fast alternative molds that can be ready in less than 20 minutes, and fill molds without a wax injector.
We’ll also demonstrate how to use casting equipment to help with your mold making, including vulcanizers for rubber molds, wax injectors, and using vacuum investment machines for getting rid of air bubbles in your molds.
And finally, we’ll explore using found objects to create jewelry. Anything that can burnout efficiently can be used to make a casting, including leaves, twigs, flowers, seeds and nuts. All of the texture, beauty and detail of found objects can be cast into metal, and then molded for reproduction.
Four weeks of classes will help you practice what you've learned so far, add lots of new skills to your repertoire, and leave you inspired.
After Lost Wax Casting 1, the lost wax casting series (2, 3 and 4) can be taken in any order.
Casting your models made during class is included.
Lost Wax Casting - Molds and Found Objects teaches the following
:
• Vulcanized rubber molds
• RTV 2 part silicone mold
• 2 part putty molds
• Alternative mold materials suitable for wax
• Cutting open molds
• Troubleshooting molds
• Using wax injectors
• Making and using molds at home without big equipment
• Cleaning up waxes injected from molds
• Combining injected waxes into new designs
• Choosing, modeling with, and casting found objects
A kit of materials and stones is included with this class.
A full color handout is included with the class. Create your own workbook with the beautiful handout that is downloadable for this workshop. Handouts include instructions for techniques and projects, reference charts and lots of information to support your learning.
Tools Required for Online Students
This is a list of tools online students need to practice the techniques shown in class. (in-person students have tools to use at school)
A list of tools with links to recommended suppliers for the best prices will be sent to you after registration If you have questions about the tool list, please contact us.
Online students will need the basic tools that were required for the Lost Wax Casting 1 - Basics class.
In addition, the following tools are required:
Electric scale (must be able to weigh over 100 grams)
RTV Silicone Mold Making Rubber (brands recommended are in supplies list) - 1
Castaldo U Shape Mold frame for RTV Compounds - 1
Injection wax (Freemans Red or Super Pink) - 1 lb
Xacto knife and spare blades
Steel spoon or jam ladle
Stir sticks (wooden popsicle sticks or plastic sticks) - 3
Gloves - latex, nitrile or vinyl, in your size
Assorted disposable plastic containers, like left over food containers (from yogurt, etc)
White vinegar
Steel cup with handle - 1
Electric single burner hot plate
A computer, phone or tablet to use the free Zoom app for class
Safety glasses
Prerequisites:
Students must have basic wax model making skills, like completion of a lost wax class, including skills in wax work, like wax carving, build up and how to use a wax pen. For example, our Lost Wax Casting 1 basic class, in person or online. This class will specifically use carving waxes and injection waxes to make models.
Instructor:
If a class is online, or is a combination online and in-person session, all students receive a link to a recording of the class demonstrations. In-person only workshops are not recorded. For staff instructor classes, students have access to the recordings for one year. For guest instructors, access is 30 days.
If a kit is included with the class, online students will have them mailed to them. Kits for in-person students are delivered at the beginning of the first class. More information about the kit is included with the supplies list which is emailed after registration.
International students may be charged an additional amount for shipping, because of the increased cost to ship abroad. Also, shipments to other countries may incur a tariff payable by the student. International students are welcome to contact us re: these costs and options for their materials. Please be sure that the address with your payment is the correct one for shipping.
If this class is offered online, it uses the Zoom app/website. Through Zoom, you’ll be able to see demos and follow instructions, ask questions and interact with your instructor. Zoom is easy to use and free for students to use for class, and works on most devices, like phones (iPhone, Android, etc), tablets (iPads, etc), and computers (Mac or PC).
Your instructor is also available during free Zoom office hours for questions and help.
For classes that include work time, online students work at home or in their studio. All of our recommended tools and the kit materials are chosen to be home studio friendly. Links to preferred vendors are provided in the supplies list sent after registration. Some classes, like our short demo only classes, don't require tools or materials to attend.
We remain committed to keeping everyone as safe as possible while continuing to move forward and adapt to the current circumstances for our in person classes and open studios.
We recommend that in person students be vaccinated, but it's not required.
Face masks are encouraged while at the school, but no longer required. Students must bring a particulate face mask (N95, KN95, KF94 or similar) to protect against dust and particles when needed and required during class work time.
If you have tested positive for COVID, have symptoms that could be COVID, or feel ill, please don't come to class. Contact us for more information.
And now the fine print. Payment in full for class fees is due at the time of registration to reserve your place. We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and PayPal. Checks and cash are accepted only if you register at school. If you mail a check, your registration is not processed until it clears and the class may fill during the wait.
If the workshop is canceled by our school for any reason, all class fees will be refunded, or you can transfer to another class, or you can keep a credit on account with us for future classes or purchases,
Students can cancel, receive a credit or refund, or transfer to another class up to 21 days before a workshop, whether it is online or in person. No cancellations are accepted after the 21-day deadline, however, we will do what we can to try and sell your place to a qualified student. If we can sell your place, you can receive a refund less a $50 cancellation fee, keep a credit on account with us, or apply your fees towards a transfer to another class.
If you can’t make it to class, you may send a participant who has the necessary prerequisites in your place. Please call or email us immediately with any changes in the student participant information. If a class includes an online section, your class will be recorded and you can watch later to make up a class you miss.
Students must be at least 15 years old to attend a class, and students under 18 must have a legal guardian sign our liability waiver form. We have had younger students attend classes, on a case by case basis. If you’re interested in enrolling your child, please call or email us.
If you sign up for a class and fail to have the required prerequisites as listed in the class description, you are still subject to the 21-day cancellation policy, listed above.
Lodging and meals are not included for in person classes.
If you don't come to class, there are no refunds, credits or transfers.