If you’ve been wanting to start a jewelry business, grow your business or have a head start on a beautiful hobby, this intensive is made for you! All classes are hands-on.

Description: This is a comprehensive foundations course in all areas of wax working for lost wax casting. Over the course of 5 days, you will learn fundamentals of wax manipulation, lost wax metal casting, and lapidary (stone) arts.

Schedule: Day 1: 10A-4PM (BREAK 12:30-1:30)

Day 2: 10A-3PM (BREAK 12:30-1:30)

Day 3: 10A-3PM (BREAK 12:30-1:30)

Day 4: 10A-3PM (BREAK 12:30-1:30) ‍ ‍

‍. Day 5: 10A-1PM

Day 1: Carving Flow Ring + Individual Projects with Instructor Guidance

• Dimensioning Rings using dividers, saws, and ring sizers

• Using hand and rotary tools to create flowing form

• Sanding tools and solvents to create smooth texture

• Overview of other forms of wax and how to use them, including modeler’s wax, wire, and relief wax for creating texture

• Time for individual projects with instructor guidance (we’ve had everything from teeth grills to religious jewelry)

Day 2: Carving Signet Ring

• Dimensioning ring using dividers, saws, and ring sizers

• Using scribes and dividers to mark out symmetrical signet shape

• Using hand and rotary tools to create signet ring curvature

• Carving out area for stone work

• Sanding tools and solvents to create smooth texture

Day 2: Build-Up Method, Cast in Place Stones, Preparing for Lost Wax Metal Casting  

• Learning the additive ‘build-up method’ used in lost wax casting by creating a ring and necklace pendant

• Learning how to set stones directly into wax for cast in place stones

• Time to experiment with new skills

• Attaching Sprue Branch to All Pieces + Creating Sprue Tree

• Investing Your Flask for casting

• Overview of Lost Wax Casting Process including kiln/burnout schedules, calculating metal amount from wax weight, vacuum casting machine and general guidelines

Day 4: Metal Casting, Lapidary/Stone Working, Polishing & Finishing

• Metal Casting at start of class

• Learning to cut off sprues from sprue tree and use bench grinder to remove residual sprues

• Clean castings and using different rotary attachments to polish both the inside and outside of your ring.

• Using trim saw and cabbing machine to cut and shape stones and affixing them into your signet ring top.

Day 5: Finishing pieces + Lapidary

• Use Cabbing machine to polish your stone to be flush with top of ring.

• Final cleaning and polishing of pieces

You’ll Leave With:

• A to Z knowledge of wax working and lost wax casting process

• Understanding of lapidary stone work including how to use lapidary equipment, mohs stone hardness scale, and how to achieve a glossy finish on stones.

• The ability to carve wax rings to dimensionally accurate sizes and create symmetrical patterns.

• Build-up method, setting stones

• Adding textures and patterns to pieces

• List of suppliers and materials to continue your journey at home

*3 person minimum for class to run

Prerequisite: None

Tuition: $1200 (Includes wax, stones, and supplies). Does not include cost of casting, which is determined by number and size of pieces. Pieces will be weighed ahead of time and you can decide if you want pieces to be casted in Sterling Silver or Bronze

Cancellation Policy:

• $100 Non-refundable Deposit

• 30 Days or more prior to Class Start, 100% refund, minus $100 deposit

• Less than 30 Days, No Refund

Other Terms: We kindly ask that you leave children and pets at home while attending classes. Must be 16 years or older.

Great for Out of Towners traveling to The Foundry.

Schedule: Day 1: 10A-4P (Break from 12:30-1:30)

                    Day 2: 11A-3P (Break from 12:30-1:30)

ALL CLASSES ARE HANDS-ON

Description:

This workshop is a crash course in both lost wax casting and the technical skills needed to make dimensioned rings. Over the course of 2 Days, this Intensive will guide you through the fundamentals of wax manipulation as you are taught to carve your own Flow Ring. With leftover time, you can make more rings or pendants by experimenting with wax, creating any textures and forms that you can dream up, with an instructor guiding you along the way. At the end of the 1st day, you will learn to attach a sprue branch to your wax piece and will get an overview and viewing as our class’ sprue tree is covered in investment plaster. The wax will be burned out overnight in our kiln. The morning or the 2nd day, molten metal will be poured into our plaster mold and you will learn all finishing steps to bring your jewelry to a clean and polished level.

You will leave with beautiful rings and an understanding of the lost wax casting process so you can continue your wax and casting journey beyond our studio.

Day 1: Carving Flow Ring and Preparing for Casting & Preparations 

• Dimensioning Rings using dividers, saws, and ring sizers

• Using hand and rotary tools to create flowing form

• Sanding tools and solvents to create smooth texture

• Attaching Sprue Branch to Ring

• Overview of Lost Wax Casting Process including kiln/burnout schedules, vacuum casting machine, process for mixing investment and pouring into flask and general guidelines

Day 2: Casting & Polishing 

• Metal Casting Prior to class for those of you that would like to see the pouring of molten metal

• Learning to cut off sprues from sprue tree and use bench grinder to remove residual

• Cleaning casting and using different rotary attachments and tumblers to polish both the inside and outside of your ring.

You’ll Leave With:

• A to Z knowledge of the lost wax casting process for you to replicate at home if you choose

• The ability to carve wax rings to dimensionally accurate sizes and add unique texture and form

Tuition: $450 *Does not include cost of casting, which is determined by number and size of pieces.

*3 person minimum for class to run

Prerequisite: None

Cancellation Policy:

• $100 Non-refundable Deposit

• 30 Days or more prior to Class Start, 100% refund, minus $100 deposit

• Less than 30 Days, No Refund

Other Terms: We kindly ask that you leave children and pets at home and limit phone use while you’re at our studio. This is a special time to connect with others and yourself without distractions. This is as much for your benefit as it is for others. Must be 16 years or older.

Schedule: Day 1: 10A-4PM (Break 12:30-1:30)

Day 2: 10A-3PM (Break 12:30-1:30) and 5-6PM

All Classes are Hands-On Learning

Description: This is a crash course in wax carving for lost wax casting and lapidary (stone) arts.

On Day 1, you will learn how to cut a ring blank, square it and shape it into a symmetrical signet ring of your choosing and hollow out a space for stone inlay. With any leftover time, we will show you ways to add texture to your ring or you can carve additional pieces to be casted. At the end of Day 1, you will attach a sprue branch to your piece (s) as they are prepared to be added to the main sprue tree.

On Day 2, you will learn to finish the metal portion of your rings to a polished level as well as add lapidary stone inlay into the top cut out of your ring.

Day 1: Carving Signet Ring and Preparing for Casting & Preparations 

• Dimensioning rings using dividers, saws, and ring sizers

• Using scribes and dividers to mark out symmetrical signet shape

• Using hand and rotary tools to create signet ring curvature

• Carving out area for stone work

• Sanding tools and solvents to create smooth texture

• Attaching Sprue Branch to Ring

• Overview of Lost Wax Casting Process including kiln/burnout schedules, calculating metal amount from wax weight, vacuum casting machine, process for mixing investment and pouring into flask and general guidelines

Day 2: Casting, Stones & Polishing 

• Metal Casting Prior to class for those of you that would like to see the pouring of molten metal

• Learning to cut off sprues from sprue tree and use bench grinder to remove residual

• Cleaning casting and using different rotary attachments and tumblers to polish both the inside and outside of your ring.

• Using trim saw and cabbing machine to cut and shape stones and affixing them into your signet ring top.

• Use Cabbing machine to polish your stone to be flush with top of ring. *This can also be done the following day if you would like the evening off

You’ll Leave With:

• A to Z knowledge of the lost wax casting process for you to replicate at home if you choose

• Understanding of lapidary stone work including how to use lapidary equipment, mohs stone hardness scale, and how to achieve a glossy finish on stones.

• The ability to carve wax rings to dimensionally accurate sizes and create symmetrical patterns.

Tuition: $575 *Does not include cost of casting, which is determined by number and size of pieces. A small sterling silver ring is around $30.

*3 person minimum for class to run

Prerequisite: Intro to Wax Flow Ring

Price: $575 (Includes wax, stones, and supplies). Does not include cost of casting, which is determined by number and size of pieces.

Cancellation Policy:

• $100 Non-refundable Deposit

• 30 Days or more prior to Class Start, 100% refund, minus $100 deposit

• Less than 30 Days, No Refund

Other Terms: We kindly ask that you leave children and pets at home and limit phone use while you’re at our studio. This is a special time to connect with others without distractions. This is as much for your benefit as it is for others. Must be 16 years or older.

Description: This is a no pressure intro into the world of wax and stones. In this 1.5 - 2 hour workshop, you will learn the fundamentals of the build-up method used in lost wax casting and cast in place stone setting as you create a one of a kind necklace pendant or ring set with a real sapphire, ruby, or cubic zirconium stone. This stone will go through the casting process and come out sparkly and unphased on the other side. Your jewelry will be organic and stunning and you can easily take these skills into many other directions at our studio or with a small set up at home. Great for friends, lovers, and all other curious parties (16 and up).

Following the workshop, we will cast your pieces in bronze or sterling silver and give it a light polish to bring out the shine. Your piece will be available for pick-up in 1-3 weeks or shipping can be coordinated.

Prerequisite: None

If none of the below times work for your schedule, email Becky@thefoundryventura.com to schedule a private session

Price: $125/person (Includes wax, stones, and supplies). Does not include cost of casting, which is determined by weight of piece and type of metal.

Cancellation Policy:

• 14 or more days prior to the start date, 100% refund

• 7-13 days prior to the start day, 50% credit to be applied to future class.

• Less than 7 days, no credit or refund.

Other Terms: We kindly ask that you leave children and pets at home and limit phone use while you’re at our studio. This is a special time to connect with others without distractions. This is as much for your benefit as it is for others.

Description: Over the course of 3 classes, this class will guide you through the fundamentals of wax manipulation as you are taught to carve your own Flow Ring. This project will teach you all foundational skills needed to bring your own projects to life. With any leftover time you, you can experiment with wax, creating any textures and forms that you can dream up, with an instructor demonstrating other unique ways to manipulate wax.

After our 2nd class, pieces of your choosing will be casted, with our final week dedicated to learning to clean and polish your piece(s) to a final level. Please note that casting will either be outsourced or done outside class hours. The instructor will however give an overview of the lost wax casting process.

*3 person minimum for class to run

Price: $290 (Includes wax and supplies). Does not include cost of casting, which is determined by number and size of pieces.

Cancellation Policy:

• 10 or more days prior to the start date, 100% refund

• 7-10 days prior to the start day, 50% credit to be applied to future class.

• Less than 7 days, no credit or refund.

Other Terms: We kindly ask that you leave children and pets at home and limit phone use while you’re at our studio. This is a special time to connect with others and yourself without distractions This is as much for your benefit as it is for others.

Description: Get ready to combine the beauty of polished stones with your own carved wax and casted ring.

Class 1-2 : Carving Signet Ring and Preparing for Casting & Preparations 

• Dimensioning rings using dividers, saws, and ring sizers

• Using scribes and dividers to mark out symmetrical signet shape

• Using hand and rotary tools to create signet ring curvature

• Carving out area for stone work

• Sanding tools and solvents to create smooth texture

Class 3-4: Lapidary Stone Work & Polishing 

• Cleaning casting and using different rotary attachments and tumblers to polish both the inside and outside of your ring.

• Using trim saw and cabbing machine to cut and shape stones and affix them into your signet ring top.

• Use Cabbing machine to polish your stone to be flush with top of ring.

You’ll Leave With:

• Understanding of lapidary stone work including how to use lapidary equipment, mohs stone hardness scale, and how to achieve a glossy finish on stones.

• The ability to carve wax rings to dimensionally accurate sizes and create symmetrical patterns.

Price: $350 *Does not include cost of casting, which is determined by number and size of pieces. A small sterling silver ring is around $25.

*3 person minimum for class to run

Prerequisite: Intro to Wax Flow Ring

Price: $350 (Includes wax, stones, and supplies). Does not include cost of casting, which is determined by number and size of pieces. A small signet costs around ~$25-30 in sterling silver.

Cancellation Policy:

• 21 Days or more prior to Class Start, 100% refund

• Less than 21 Days, No Refund

Other Terms: We kindly ask that you leave children and pets at home and limit phone use while you’re at our studio. This is a special time to connect with others without distractions. This is as much for your benefit as it is for others. Must be 16 years or older.