In this workshop, students will learn how to sand cast using Delft Clay, a very fine grain sand. Students will learn the entire process of preparing a mold, creating ventilation and a pouring spout, casting their design into the mold, and cleaning it up.
 
Sand casting is a more accessible and less intimidating form of casting as compared to investment casting. Not only are the tools required much more affordable, but the method is also much more efficient in that you can create your mold and cast your design in comfortably less than an hour. The low cost and short lead time make it an excellent entryway into the realm of casting. There are also some great applications where this method might be preferable:
You can sand cast your wax model without losing your wax, giving you a working metal model to refine and make a mold from. This way, there is no risk of losing the wax model you worked so hard on if it fails to cast properly with lost wax casting.
You can make impressions of rigid, naturally occurring items such as rocks or sticks, and directly cast them into metal designs.
You can complete the process from start to finish individually, whereas investment casting requires 2 people in order to be performed safely.
 
Please bring your metalsmithing toolbox including:
2-3oz of sterling casting grain and/or CLEAN sterling silver scrap (no solder)
A small, rigid item to cast – this could be a wax carving, an existing piece of jewelry to replicate, a small plastic trinket like a Lego figure, a cool rock or stick that you found, etc. *We have TONS of options available at the studio as well, so no problem if you come without anything!*
Flex shaft finishing tools of your choice such as bristle discs, sanding drums, burs, etc.
N95 or better particulate mask
Full length clothing – pants, long sleeved top, closed-toed shoes
 
We will have the following available for use at the studio:
Cast iron flasks in a variety of sizes for casting
Delft clay
Baby powder for separating the two halves of our molds
Assorted sizes of dowels to create air vents
Brass sprue formers to create pouring channels for the metal
Binding wire and rubber bands to secure the halves of molds while pouring
Crucibles and flux for casting
Baking sheets for mold preparation
Hammers to compress the sand
Compressed air to blow out loose sand
Sprue cutters