Sand Casting 101

March 03, 2024 2 Comments

It’s been a whirlwind since I turned the calendar to 2024. Tuscon was a blast, visually overwhelming as well as an exciting time! I came home with some amazing stones and inspiration for new work. It’s such a great time of year to let the creative juices flow and give myself the permission to just let things unfold with no pressure of timing. It’s also a time when choosing how to move forward for the year is unfolding from creative aspects to what events and shows I will be participating in. So much going

I took some time to rework my garage studio in January, to enlarge my soldering bench and create some dedicated space for sand casting. Unpacking the few little pieces of equipment (things I purchased a year ago and have never used) was exciting and full of new possibilities. Being inspired by tools and equipment can be described as a “jewelers thing”. We love all of the accoutrement and how they can allow us to be more creative, accomplish new techniques as well as make life easier in some

When it comes to learning something new there are so many ways to achieve this nowadays. In person classes are great, but truth be told not an environment I thrive in. I am largely self taught and although the few classes I’ve taken over the years have provided insight into some technical skills, the development of the skills and adaptation happens in my studio. Over the years I have honed in on the textures and patterns in metals that make my work sing. This year I took on the challenge of sand casting so as to add new forms to my creative

Here’s the context of the journey. I started this new creative venture on February 14th. To date I have carved 21 wax models and successfully cast 38 rings….it’s winter in Maine so being bound to the studio is a very February thing! I didn’t keep track of the numerous models that didn’t work out and failed casting experiences. So much of making jewelry is subjective when it comes to the actual productive part of making. Sometimes things just don’t work as you planned and you just move on, adapt or leave that unaccomplished piece on the bench in a pile to remind yourself that you are always a beginner at something!

There is still much work to be done in the development of new pieces. For now I will continue to expand on new shapes and how to achieve interesting textures. I’m adding necklaces and eventually bracelets to the mix. This new skill allows me to add what I feel are more strong and bold pieces to my line of existing work. I’ve always felt that my work is not bound by gender and that jewelry and adornment is a very personal choice. Making a jewelry purchase and adding to one’s collection is a way to express yourself in a depth that goes beyond words in some ways. We are not bound by age or gender, we are a culmination of our life experiences and choices. Choosing to grow and stretch creative wings has been a life force for me, one I am truly grateful

These new pieces will hit the website in the coming weeks, I still have to finalize sizing and pricing of all of the pieces. A chore that is a necessary part of being working artist. As I prepare for tax paperwork time, website updates and a much needed week of vacation at the end of the month things will be very busy. If you see something you like reach

My show schedule is unfolding and acceptance notifications are coming. We’ll be having our wildly delicious and fun Montsweag Makers Markets here at the house in July and August. We have some great artists and makers joining us on July 20-21 for the Garlic Tasting and on August 17-18 for our annual Garlic Fest. Stay tuned for my next email with a complete show listing for the

Thanks for taking the time to read this blog I am honored that you connect with my creative journey and look forward to sharing exciting new work as it comes off the

Mitch M.

November 23, 2024

I found your post on sand casting to be incredibly informative, especially with how you broke down the process step by step. As someone involved in foundation work, I often come across cast metal components, and understanding the intricacies of sand casting helps in making more informed decisions about material choices for structural elements. The way you explained the role of the mold and the importance of a well-prepared sand mixture was particularly insightful.

In foundation work, the strength and durability of the components are crucial. From your experience, are there particular types of metals or alloys that are better suited for sand casting when it comes to foundation components, such as anchor bolts or baseplates? How do these materials typically perform under the weight and stress of heavy foundations over time?