Iron pour at Wisconsin Makers April 12

Wisconsin Makers will host its eighth annual iron pour on Saturday, April 12.

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 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater lecturer of art and design — and her students and 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. All ages are welcome, but youngsters must be accompanied by an adult.

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 11, from 5 to 8 p.m. Pizza will be available for $1 per slice.

“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 attendees. “This is a wonderful opportunity to create a one-of-a-kind piece of art.”

To get a feel for what an iron pour entails, please view a short YouTube video of the 2017 event: 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, quilting and more.

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.