Lost Wax Casting 1 - Basics
Wednesdays, March 5, 2025 - April 9, 2025; 6:00PM - 9:30PM PT (Pacific Time)
Lost wax casting is a great technique for making your own custom jewelry, or parts for a line, or to set your work apart - and have someone else do all the casting and polishing! You get finished pieces that are ready to use.
This course is available as an in-person workshop or live online class. Please check this page for times and formats available.
With lost wax casting, you can carve or build-up wax to cast into rings, beads, pendants, earrings, bracelets and more. The process is quiet and home studio friendly. Wax lets you be creative with your designs in a way that is different from fabrication and soldering. It’s more fluid and sculptural. In later classes, you can learn how to save and reproduce your designs with molds, and how to create stone settings in your wax models.
Lost wax casting is a popular method for making jewelry in the industry, because it lets you reproduce your original designs. And a casting service can cast your work for you and deliver finished pieces, or you can set up a small casting setup and do it yourself.
Casting your pieces made during the workshop is included.
Lost Wax Casting 1 - Basics teaches the following:
• What is the lost wax casting process?
• Carving wax models
• Demos include making a ring and a charm sized pendants, but students can make earrings and other forms of jewelry
• Build up techniques for making wax models
• Modify and maintain wax carving picks and tools
• How to set up to make wax models at home
• Outsourcing your castings for reproduction
• Model requirements for reproduction
• The casting process: sprue, invest, casting for the 2 most common styles of casting, vacuum assisted and centrifugal casting
• How you can set up your own casting equipment
• Polishing your castings
The main focus of this class is to learn how to make good wax models. Wax work is easy to set up in a home studio, and casting can be outsourced to a casting house.
Watch our video about the lost wax casting process. It shows centrifugal casting. In class you’ll also learn how to pour metal with a vacuum casting machine.
A kit of materials 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 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). Feel free to contact us with any questions.
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.
*Abrasive wax tools (like files, sandpaper, etc.) must be new or never used with metal.
*Set of key files (small)
*Set of 6 needle files Swiss cut 2
Max wax pen or similar
Ring mandrel
Dividers
Jewelers saw frame
Bench pin
Metric steel ruler (6”)
Tooth brush
Clear tape (like clear shipping tape)
Machinist square
A computer, phone or tablet to use the free Zoom app for class
Plastic finger gauges
Degree gauge
Safety glasses
Dust pan and brush
Nail boards (320 and 600 grit)
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.