Join members and friends of 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 the history, uses and elements for the recipe. Demonstrations will 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. 

Then we will focus on 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!

• 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

• 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.

  Additional 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.

  • Parchment paper

  • A soft paint brush

  • Small clay, polymer, or PMC working tools

  • Small sharp scissors like embroidery shears

  • A pack of craft needles and a pin vise

  • 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 (Rio Grande Jewelry Supply.) A hot tool is essential for connecting waxes together, but is not necessary to benefit from this short 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.

5pm  - Light refreshments and optional BYO dinner
6-8pm - Hands On! time

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Please note:

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 and 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 Access Code we recently emailed to you.

Need help? Email us at 
events@seattlemetalsguild.org