Editor’s note: The following press release was received from Wisconsin Makers.
Iron pour at Wisconsin Makers April 6
Wisconsin Makers will host its seventh annual iron pour on Saturday, April 6.
The public is invited to this family-friendly event at the regional makerspace, located at 200 E. Clay St. in Whitewater.
Spectators are welcome to watch the “pour team” — Teresa “Tree” Lind, a former University of Wisconsin-Whitewater lecturer of art and design — and her student alumni melt cast iron in an outdoor furnace and then fill sand scratch molds with the liquid metal.
Those wishing to make their own casting may buy a scratch mold square to personalize with their design that day, starting at 9 a.m. Each scratch mold must be completed no later than 11:15 a.m.
By noon, the outdoor forge should have reached 2,700 degrees and be ready for the pour. Lind and her team will fill buckets with molten iron and pour it into the sand scratch molds. They will present the completed castings to participants by mid-afternoon.
The per-person cost is $25. Participation is on a first-come, first-served basis.
During the iron pour, grilled brats, chips, water and soda will be available for purchase.
Scratch mold workshop set
Persons wishing to get a head start on their squares may attend a scratch mold workshop at the makerspace Friday, April 5, from 5 to 9 p.m. Pizza will be available for $1 per slice.
In addition, those wishing to design a scratch mold ahead of time at home and then bring it to the iron pour may contact Ron Binning at Binning and Dickens Insurance, 319 W. Center St. in Whitewater. His phone number is (262) 473-3930.
“Your unique design will be preserved in cast iron for ages to come,” said Wisconsin Makers President Al Jewer, adding that past years’ iron pours each have drawn more than 100 people. “This is a wonderful opportunity to create a one-of-a-kind piece of art.”
To view a short YouTube video of the 2017 iron pour, please click this link: https://youtu.be/Q5HgV94OPe4.
Wisconsin Makers is a nonprofit regional makerspace (community workshop) offering an affordable, collaborative and educational environment that inspires people of all ages to become innovators by unlocking their skills through continual experimentation and training. Work areas/equipment include: 3-D printing, laser engraving, machining, welding/fabrication, electronics, blacksmithing, woodworking, ceramics/pottery, jewelry making, arts/crafts, and quilting. For more information on the iron pour or scratch mold workshop, or to learn about the makerspace or memberships, visit Wisconsin Makers’ Facebook page at @wisconsinmakers or call Jewer at (630) 430-9498.
