Casting Class (coming soon)

Casting Classes — The Art of Molten Metal

The Casting Classes at The Slate Smithery are an advanced, hands-on extension of our silversmithing curriculum — available only to students who have completed Silversmithing 101.

This four-week weekend course introduces the process of lost-wax casting — the oldest known form of metal casting, dating back over 6,000 years. Through this timeless method, a wax model is transformed into metal. At Slate Smithery, we use vacuum casting to draw molten silver cleanly into the mold, capturing every fine detail with clarity and care. This modern approach preserves the beauty of tradition while ensuring professional-quality results.


🕯️ Course Overview

This class guides you step-by-step through the complete casting process — from wax carving to your finished piece.
Over four weekends, students will learn how to:

  • Design and carve wax models for rings 
  • Sprue and invest molds for burnout and casting
  • Operate the vacuum casting machine safely and effectively
  • Melt, pour, and cast molten metal with proper torch control
  • Clean, finish, and polish the final casting into a refined piece of jewelry

Each student will complete a fully casted sterling silver ring by the end of the course.


⚒️ What’s Included

Your tuition includes everything needed for the course:

  • Sterling silver grain for your casting
  • Use of professional vacuum casting equipment and torches
  • Personal instruction and supervision
  • Casting Kit - wax pen, wax ring blanks, wax carving burs, wax saw blades, 1oz silver casting grain.
  • Please Note: The price of this class will fluctuate with the price of tools and silver. The price of silver continuously changes.

📅 Schedule & Format

  • Duration: 4 weeks
  • When: Saturdays & Sundays
  • Class length: 3 hours each day
  • Format: Small group, guided instruction with individual work time
  • Prerequisite: Successful completion of Silversmithing 101

Each session builds directly on the previous week, covering the full casting cycle from wax to wearable jewelry.


💎 Why Learn Casting

Casting allows you to create intricate shapes, organic forms, and precise duplicates that would be difficult or impossible to fabricate by hand.
It’s the bridge between traditional benchwork and professional jewelry production — giving artists the ability to merge sculptural design with technical precision.

At The Slate Smithery, you’ll not only learn the vacuum casting method not (Centrifugal Casting (or “Spin Casting”) and correctly — you’ll walk away with the knowledge and confidence to repeat the process in your own studio.


🪔 Enrollment

Seats are limited to maintain safe torch and equipment access.
Class openings are posted under Choose Your Cohort as Casting Session listings.

There will not be a continued education for this class or open workshop at this time.