Hands-On | Mitsuro Hikime for Lost Wax Casting with Jennifer Stenhouse

Update: Our NEW DATE for this postponed workshop is Tuesday, October 8th at 6pm.

Join The Seattle Metals Guild for a two-hour hands-on evening with traditional Japanese wax working, with Guild member and instructor Jennifer Stenhouse of Little Metal Foxes.

Mitsuro Hikime is a Japanese modeling wax that creates exceptionally delicate detail that resembles the most exquisite texture of organic material like grass, hair, or flowing silk. The wax is made up of a mixture of pine resin and bees wax, along with other waxes, depending on the recipe you use. You can buy it pre-made and focus on design or make your own wax to your preferences. Much like taffy, the cold wax is gently warmed and pulled until the desired effect is created.

We will begin with Mitsuro Hikime's history and uses, and discuss the elements of the recipe to create your own wax. Demonstrations will then include tips and tricks used by the pros to create patterns for wax models. We will work on improving wax skills by tackling more sensitive designs and patterns, while focusing on practice rings or accent components. 

We will review tools, tips, and tricks that result in good wax models, including spruing and other prep for casting. Finished wax models can be cast yourself, or sent to your caster. Please note that casting is not included!

Prerequisite suggested: Basic wax working recommended.

Demos will include:

• How to get the texture you want
• How to form models successfully
• How to prepare models for spruing and casting
• Loads of tips and tricks for finishing

Provided:

• A sample of Jennifer's custom wax (with more available for purchase)
• Parchment paper
• Access to a few tools you may share to try various techniques
  
  Please bring:

• A small container with a watertight lid
• A sketch book or other note taking supplies

Good to have to work with:

Jennifer's Kitsune Mitsuro Wax will be available for purchase during the workshop or can be purchased in advance from LionPunchForge.com.

Wax working tools can be found, ordered, created or purchased locally at hardware stores. These will be discussed. The tools listed below are helpful for working in your studio and at home to create wax models. In this workshop, we will have some on hand for you to share and try, but if you own your own, please bring them.

• A soft paint brush
• Small sharp scissors like embroidery shears
• A craft needle and a pin vise for holding it
• Small clay, polymer, or PMC working tools
• Wax working or dental tools
• Smooth steel or aluminum mandrels 

Hot tool options include dental tools and an alcohol lamp filled with denatured alcohol, an electric dental or Digital Wax working pen, (these can be found on eBay or Amazon. Jennifer always looks for one that is about $50 and has a US electrical plug,) or a WaxMax battery powered hot tool (available from Rio Grande Jewelry Supply.) A hot tool is essential for connecting waxes together, but is not necessary to benefit from this exploratory introductory workshop. Again, we will have a few things on hand for you to share and try.

Note that we won't have outlets available for your use in this workshop.

Registered guests, join us prior to the event's start at 5pm for light refreshments, or bring something to eat before we get started. Multiple delicious restaurants with carry out are just a stone’s throw away.

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Tuesday, September 24th 
Side Rail Collective in Georgetown
5511 1/2 Airport Way S 
Seattle, WA 98108

5pm 
Light refreshments and optional BYO dinner

6-8pm
Hands On! time

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All are welcome to register for this event. Please note however, this event is being held in a non-accessible building. A long staircase to the second story must be climbed to reach the collective.

Parking is available in the lot just North of Side Rail Collective, which is above Georgetown Pizza, as well as on the street. The entrance to Side Rail is on the North side of the building.

Guild members, gain access to special Member ticket pricing using the special discount Code we emailed to members on September 2nd.

Need help? Email us at workshops@seattlemetalsguild.org.