Fast Cast (lost-wax)
A Weekend Workshop with Barbara Mann
September 14 & 15, 2019
Saturday & Sunday, 9:30 am - 5:00 pm
Barbara Mann has had over 40 years of experience as a metal and jewelry artist. She graduated from the University of Georgia with BFA and MFA degrees. She has taught for many years as an adjunct instructor at the Lamar Dodd School of Art, with the UGA Studies Abroad Program in Cortona, Italy and in Costa Rica through the UGA Continuing Education Program. Barbara has won numerous awards for her work and conducted many workshops throughout the Southeast and for MAGG.
Barbara, a generous instructor with an engaging personality, will talk about various mold-making materials and casting waxes and show examples. She has done thousands of castings, is fascinated by the possibilities, and looks forward to sharing her research with us and seeing our creations!
DAY #1
- Make an impression of something fairly small, perhaps delicate, (it won't be damaged), with a mold material that hardens (cures) in three minutes.
- Pour wax into the mold and then add or subtract or manipulate the wax image, add sprues for casting.
- Invest, burn-out in the kiln overnight. (You don't have to be there!)
DAY #2
- Pour molten silver into the mold.
- Finish your casting by removing the sprues, filing, grinding, polishing or tumbling.
VOILA! Walk out with some unique and beautiful castings!
Bring something small that you would like to take an impression to make a one-sided mold. (see examples in workshop image). The mold material we will use, Mega-sil, is used in making molds of ear canals for making hearing aids. The mold material has baby oil in it which will not harm most things, but will leave a residue which can be wiped off. It will stain fabric and paper.
Mega-sil mold material will be available for students to purchase at $2.00 per package which will make 1-3 molds depending on the size of the mold.
Barbara will demo several other mold materials which are available from the Engineer Guys store in Atlanta or from jewelry supply companies.
Students will pour molten wax into their molds, sprue the models, invest, then cast. Barbara will have (1) Victory brown sculpture wax mixed with some fragrant beeswax and (2) another hard wax.
The MAGG studio, or Barbara, will have the tools and equipment you need for the workshop, but you may prefer to bring your own of the following:
Optivisor
Wax working tools
Alcohol lamp
Wax pen, like MaxWax
Finishing tools for the cast pieces: saw frame, saw blades, needle files, small grinding and polishing wheels for the flex shaft. Barbara likes aluminum oxide points, heatless grinding wheels, and blue high-flex polishers (#332-401/10, Rio Grande), radial bristle discs, polishing pins.
Barbara will bring some grinding, polishing, flex shaft wheels, etc. for those who would liike to buy them from her.
Silver: bring 1-2 troy ounces of clean silver scrap or casting grain. If you would like Barbara to bring silver for you, please email her at bimann2@hotmail.com to let her know and she will bring some at about $15 per ounce, plus tax.
Cost
$200 Members
$250 Non-Members
Where
5353 Buford Highway NE, Doraville, GA 30340
Registration
Not a current MAGG member? Join today Membership is $50 annually.
Register for the workshop with the participation fee payable in advance via the MAGG website.
If your payment is accepted, you are registered for the workshop. If the workshop is sold out and you want to be added to the wait list, email MAGGCoordinator@gmail.com
Cancellation / Refund Policy
If you need to cancel your registration, please notify the workshop contact as soon as possible. A cancellation fee of 20% of the workshop tuition will be charged on cancellations received more than 28 days before the start of the workshop. Cancellations received less than 28 days but more than 7 days before the workshop will receive a 50% refund; cancellations received 7 days or less before the start of the workshop will receive no refund. If your seat in the workshop can be filled, only the cancellation fee (20%) will apply.
Accommodations
For anyone wanting to stay in a hotel near the 5353 Buford Highway NE, Doraville, GA location, we have a special rate at the Clarion Hotel, 2001 Clearview Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30340. Call 770-455-3700 and mention Metal Arts Guild of Georgia, aka, Georgia Goldsmiths Guild, when making your reservation and ask for the "Local Rate".
To sign up click here.