Lost Wax Casting 5 - Poison Rings, Lockets, and Hollow Forms
Thursdays, February 27, 2025 - April 3, 2025; 6:00PM - 9:00PM PT (Pacific Time)
Creating hollow forms with the lost wax method can be difficult. How do you get the metal to flow around a core of investment? How do you get the investment inside in the first place, and keep it in place? Join us as we explore not only how to make and cast hollow forms, but also how to create hinges and clasps in wax.
Hinges and clasps are fun to make in wax and can be more sculptural, too. We can use carving and build up methods to make the hinges, and then rivet them after casting. Clasps can also be set up in the wax stage, allowing us to make poison rings, lockets, and more.
Lost Wax Casting 5 teaches the following:
• Strategies for making and casting hollow wax models
• Making a box in wax, including lockets and poison rings
• Creating a hinge in wax
• Aligning the hinge after casting and riveting it
• Using rivets to join cast parts
• Make a clasp for a box in wax
Casting your pieces made during the workshop is included. In person students leave their pieces to cast during class, and online students can deliver or mail them to the school. They will be available for pick up or shipped back to you after casting.
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. In person students receive a printed copy.
Online Student Tool List
Classes at our school include use of tools, with each student having their own bench to use during class. Online students will need to have their own tools (see the list of tools below).
A supplies list is sent to registrants, with additional information, like links to the tools and recommended suppliers. Please refer to this list when buying supplies so that you get what the teacher recommends for class. Feel free to contact us with any questions.
*Any abrasive tools, like files, burs and sandpaper, should only be used for wax. Metal dust will contaminate your models.
• Safety glasses (Please note that regular prescription glasses are not recommended to use as safety glasses and put you at risk of injury)
• *Set of 12 assorted medium size wax burs (from Lost Wax 3 kit)
• Xacto #1 knife and spare #11 blades
• Pin vise (one was included in the Lost Wax 1 & 4 kits)
• *12” flat mill bastard file (single cut), or 320 and 600 *sandpaper (available as single sheets at hardware stores; can be the type used for wood or metal)
• Fine tip permanent marker
• Latex style disposable gloves (latex free, nitrile or powder free are fine) for handling wax and chemicals
• Waxed paper or parchment paper (available at grocery stores or similar; like what is used for cooking. Only need a few sheets)
• Paper towels
• Scissors
• Rubber cement or glue stick (available at office supply stores; any brand). Double stick tape can also be used. Use the thin type (as thin as scotch tape), not the thick tape.
• Online students will need a computer, phone or tablet to use the free Zoom app for class.
• Flexible Shaft Machine (Recommended but not required)•
• Set of key files (small) especially the half round one
• Double ended wax file
• Set of 6 needle files Swiss cut 2
• Steel ring mandrel or aluminum ring stick
• Dividers
• Jewelers saw frame
• 2/0 wax saw blade, 2
• Bench pin with clamp or a regular mounted bench pin
• Metric steel ruler (6”)
• Tooth brush
• Degree gauge
• Nail boards (220/320 and 400/600 grit) (or sandpaper) available at pharmacies, etc.
• Alcohol (denatured or isopropyl) for cleaning wax models
• Electric scale works to .1 grams/dwt to weigh wax to calculate metal weight
• Sandpaper for metal for sanding tools (320 and 600 grit wet/dry paper)
• Files for metal for shaping tools (#2 Swiss cut, hand and needle file sizes)
• Required wax pen or similar method to build up and weld wax
• Wire cutters (flush style is best)
• Bench block (any style) or anvil
• Round nose
• Chain nose pliers
• Hammer with a small flat face, like a riveting hammer, a Swiss hammer, or a Goldsmithing hammer
Prerequisites:
Students should have a little more than basic lost wax skills, like completion of a couple of lost wax classes and/or recent practice, especially in wax working skills, like wax carving, build up and how to use a wax pen (or alcohol lamp and picks). This class will specifically use carving waxes and injection waxes to make the projects.
For example, our Lost Wax Casting 1 basic class, in person or online is a good prerequisite for this class, along with another class, like Lost Wax 2, 3 or 4.
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.
There are no requirements regarding COVID at this time.
As always, we clean and disinfect shared tools and benches after each class.
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.