Lost Wax Casting - Mitsuro Hikime
Thursdays, February 6, 2025 - February 20, 2025; 6:00PM - 9:00PM PT (Pacific Time)
Mitsuro hikime is a Japanese technique for making a stretchable wax that can be folded to create its signature beautiful line texture. It’s soft enough to wrap and form into rings, pendants, etc that have a characteristic linear texture that resembles long leaves. In Japanese, it translates to mitsu (honey) ro (wax) - hiki (drawing) me (texture).
Lost Wax Casting - Mitsuro Hikime teaches the following:
• How mix and make mitsuro hikime wax
• Using mitsuro hikime to make models for earrings, rings, and more
• Preparing the models for casting - sprue and invest
• Calculating the weight for the metal from the wax
• Casting the models
• Removing the sprues and polishing while retaining the signature texture
Casting your pieces made during the workshop is included. In person students will cast their work during the workshop, and online students can deliver or mail them to the school after class. 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
- A few small plastic yogurt cups or similar to hold materials during weighing, and for water
- Fine tip permanent marker
- Latex style disposable gloves for handling wax and chemicals
- Waxed paper or parchment paper
- Paper towels
- Scissors or manicure scissors
- Xacto knife with #11 blades or utility knife
- Steel ring mandrel or aluminum ring stick
- Bench pin with clamp or a regular mounted bench pin
- Metric steel ruler (6”)
- Tooth brush
- Degree gauge
- Wax pen or a way to heat and weld wax
- Super Max wax pen or similar SJS.
- You could also use an awl or simple stainless steel dental picks with a smokeless heat source (like an alcohol lamp that uses denatured alcohol (not available in CA) or a small butane torch). Or you could get a more robust wax pen, like the Foredom Wax Carver with set of tips or ARBE wax pen, instead of the battery powered wax pen. This inexpensive Dental Electric Wax Carver with Double Pens is a great starter pen and includes 2 pens and several tips for around $60.
- Simple wax picks and carvers
- A sharp pick, like an awl or sewing needle in a handle
- Rounded tools, like stainless steel wax spatulas for moving the wax around
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.
Upcoming Schedule
| Date & Times | Register |
| Thu. Feb 6, 6PM - 9PM PT (Pacific Time), Thu. Feb 13, 6PM - 9PM PT (Pacific Time), Thu. Feb 20, 6PM - 9PM PT (Pacific Time) |