Mould Making & Casting with Jasmine Bradbury
In this four-day workshop, you’ll learn how to make a two-part silicone mould with a rigid jesmonite jacket suitable for lost wax casting in metal such as bronze, iron, aluminium, and other materials including resin, jesmonite, or plaster.
Participants are encouraged to bring a small sculpture or object (maximum 20cm) of their choice to mould (to be reviewed prior to the course).
You will be guided through:
- Parting lines & undercuts for clean separation
- Registration keys for mould alignment
- Mould types & material consideration
- Release agents & curing times
- How to use your mould for wax casting in various materials
By the end of the workshop, you will take home a professional-grade silicone mould, capable of casting 50+ sculptures.
If you’re interested in casting your object in metal, Jasmine can facilitate the processes and either provide another workshop or quote.
Itinerary
Day 1 (2-3 hours)
- Introduction to rubber mould-making – process overview, health & safety
- Discussing moulding methods, parting lines, undercuts, and technical considerations
- Prepare and stabilise your object, then apply the initial silicone layer
Day 2 (5-6 hours)
- Creating the parting line for a two-part mould
- Building up a thicker layer of silicone and adding registration keys
- Goal: Complete the silicone application for all pieces
Day 3 (5-6 hours)
- Applying jesmonite jackets to both sides of the mould
- Goal: Moulds fully jacketed, ready for de-moulding
Day 4 (3-4 hours)
- Cleaning up mould edges and drilling bolt holes
- Opening, cleaning, and preparing the mould for future use
- Discussion on mould care, storage, and casting methods
Itinerary is subject to change depending on the object being moulded due to differing techniques.
