Join us for an immersive four-day lost wax casting class, where you’ll explore the process of transforming wax sculptures into solid glass forms. This hands-on workshop will guide you through sculpting two small wax models, making refractory moulds, and casting them in glass. Whether you’re new to the technique or looking to refine your skills, this class offers a deep dive into the art of lost wax casting, giving you the knowledge and confidence to bring your ideas to life in glass. Students will make 2 cast glass pieces in this workshop, please note one of the projects will not be fired by the end of the workshop, this can be picked up at a later stage or posted out. This class can be taken as a stand alone class or is the perfect ‘part two’ when combined with the Introduction to cast glass workshop running the week prior.
Duration: 4 days
Dates: Monday to Thursday 28th -31st July
Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Mon, Tues and Wed 10am -1.00pm Thursday
Class Size: Limited to 5 students to ensure personalised instruction.
What You Will Learn:
Modeling in Wax: Learn how to model sculpting wax. We will look at how to safely heat the wax, create texture and get a refined finish on the wax.
Introduction to Glass Casting: Gain a solid foundation in the art of glass casting, techniques, and contemporary applications.
Lost wax Casting: Learn how to successfully create objects in glass using wax as a sculpting medium, creating pieces not achievable with open face casting.
Refractory Mould Making: Master the process of creating refractory moulds. In this workshop we will learn how to hand build layered moulds.
Steaming moulds: How to steam moulds safely and effectively.
Glass Selection: Understand the importance of glass selection, including the use of lead crystal and other glass types, depending on your project’s goals.
Preparing Glass: Learn how to prepare glass for casting, ensuring it is in the right form and condition for your creations.
Determining Volumes of Glass: Develop the ability to calculate the precise amount of glass required for your casting projects, minimising waste.
Basic Finishing of Glass: Explore basic glass finishing techniques to give your cast pieces a polished and professional appearance.
Cold Working: Discover cold working methods to refine and shape your glass creations after casting.
Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S): Understand safety protocols and best practices for working with glass and related materials.
Materials: All mould materials are included in the course fee. Students will need to purchase glass, estimated at approximately $120, depending on the size and complexity of their projects.
Please read our terms and conditions about classes before enrolling.
What is glass casting:
Cast glass is a glass-forming technique where molten or softened glass is poured or placed into a mould and then slowly cooled to form a solid shape. This method allows for intricate designs, textures, and three-dimensional forms that wouldn’t be possible with other glassworking techniques like blowing or fusing.
The process involves creating a mould from materials like plaster, silica, or refractory investment, into which glass in various forms—such as billets, frit, or chunks—is placed. The mould is then heated in a kiln to allow the glass to melt and flow into its shape. After cooling slowly in a controlled annealing process to relieve stress, the piece can be removed from the mould and refined through grinding, polishing, or sandblasting.
Class Materials
Please bring the following to class:
• Dust mask • Safety glasses • Suitable working clothing (including closed shoes, long pants and an apron for over shirt) • Pencil and paper • Windex and paper towel • Latex gloves • Digital camera is useful • Bullseye casting glass, available from Blue Dog Glass
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