Metal Pouring

I just really wanted to share this with you guys.

Last Tuesday (October 13th) I got to help pour the bronze pieces. Actually, I DID pour the bronze pieces. I was in charge of making sure the metal got into the pieces. It took four of us just to pick up the crucible and move it around. 1 anchor, 2 helps and 1 pourer, me. :) It also took two people to get the crucible out of the furnace (you can see Brandon and Dan in the background, watching and chilling out). And, of course, Pat is standing in front of us, directing our pouring. He's an alumni who comes back to use the studio, and completely directed the bronze pouring. Nikki, one of the teachers, is to the right of Brandon in the background, waiting to assist us if she's needed. And she was needed. I would have dropped it if she wasn't there.

That bright, white-orange liquid you see between the four people pouring is the bronze. It was molten hot, and it hurt to look at. We were pouring about 100 pounds of metal at 4,000°F.

There is just nothing cooler than creating a metal sculpture. Seriously. I hope to assist in the pouring process again today. Perhaps I'll pour again (depending on if anyone else wants to try) or be a helper, or maybe I'll get the crucible in and out of the furnace. All I know if that I want to do it again. It. Was. Awesome.