CASTING I

INSTRUCTOR: BILL HARR

This class will teach silver casting for beginner and intermediate silversmithing.  The emphasis will be on production centrifugal casting, meaning techniques for high reliability. The class will teach centrifugal and vacuum casting, wax modeling, sprueing, investing, burnout, casting, finishing and polishing, rubber mold making and wax injection. Steam casting will be covered if there is interest. Waxes will be available, and students will learn to inject their own.  We will not spend much time on wax model making, but students will have that opportunity.  Students will learn to make cast silver embellishments for their silversmith pieces.  Students may bring items they wish to make molds of. The class fee covers waxes, investment, molding rubber, and incidentals and teaching materials. Casting silver will be available at $2/gram. That is $62/troy ounce.   Students are encouraged to bring their own silver.  Students should expect to use up to approximately 3 troy ounces of silver for each cast, but much of that will be reusable on subsequent casts(buttons and sprues are reusable).  We aim for 2 castings each day for 5 days.  Students have cast as much as 4 POUNDS of silver items, most much less. Students need only to keep the castings they want. Students are recommended to bring their own eye protection and face mask. Optivisor are handy for waxes. Old clothes, aprons, and no open toe shoes. Be sure to go to https://gardenofsilverdelights.wordpress.com to see many photos and videos of previous classes.

Class Fee: $100

Est Materials Cost: $100 – Wow

Prerequisites: None