Come and Cast a Bronze Age Sword!
Have you ever watched someone making a sword in the movies and thought it looked too cool for school? If so, this class is for you! Join us Sunday, March 20th in Folsom, CA for a 5.5 hour class (9-2:30pm), where you'll start by learning about the beginning of metal work over 5,000 years ago and examine artifacts that trace the evolution of metallurgy across several cultures. Next, you'll choose a wooden sword from several historical Bronze Age patterns, and get your hands dirty making a careful sand cast of the wooden original. And then watch as we pour your mold with 1,400 degree molten aluminum! Afterwards, while you take a lunch break, several volunteers & I grind the swords smooth and prepare them for handles. When you come back, wrap the handle in leather before taking your sword home! $100 This class is an Austin original, usually sells out, and is not taught by anyone else, so grab a friend and strike while the iron is hot!
Location: This class takes place at Wild Roots Learning Center, 300 Natoma St. Folsom, CA 95630
Want to see more? A while back I was featured in BESTAUSTIN, https://youtu.be/vtPHmAC1r6I It is a good summary of the class & shows some of my other maker projects. I've also been a frequent guest on hit youtube channel How To Make Everything, where I've helped channel host Andy recreate many Bronze Age artifacts, including casting a Spartan shortsword from melted pennies. The penny episode has had over 2.7M views and has really helped get the word out about my class--check it out! https://youtu.be/CutjZmHoJ3IOr see Sword Casting Guy’s FB page to see pictures and read raves from happy customers. The class grew out of a desire to make Ancient Civilizations class more hands on, and so is taught very interactively, with lots of archaeology, history, and physics connections being explored.
FAQs
Is there a minimum age requirement to take the class?
Kids as young as 6 can take the class as long as they have an adult to help them. This is not usually a drop-off class--most adults stay to help their child make a sword.
How many tickets do I need?
The cost of the class is per sword cast, not per participant, so it depends if mom or dad want to cast their own sword. They often do!
I like to do woodworking--can I make a sword ahead of time and bring it to class to cast?
Yes, some of the coolest swords we've seen have come along this way. If you want to try this, email me for dimensions and a few sword design rules of thumb.
Sounds dangerous. Is it safe?
As a veteran science teacher, safety is my first priority. Participants are always a safe distance from any burn hazard, swords are not sharpened to a cutting edge, and no sword fighting is allowed in class. In casting over 5,000 swords with multi-age classes, there has never been an injury bigger than a scratch.
What COVID precautions do you take?
We are in challenging times.To be as safe as possible from spreading Covid 19, all of my classes take place outside, employ social distancing, and frequent handwashing as much as possible. And everyone is invited (not required) to wear a mask during a few close-quarters parts of class. Note: hosts often require people to wear masks to enter a building, so plan ahead!
Sword casting ticket. One ticket per sword cast--helpers do not need their own ticket, unless they plan to cast their own sword.
