Hot Shop

The Mines Hot Shop is located at the end of Hill Hall High Bay (Hill Hall 125) and contains equipment for foundry (casting), glassblowing, and forging.  The Hot Shop hosts activities in all three of these areas that you can get involved in.​

Supervisor:
Sarah Harling (sarahharling@mines.edu)

Foundry

Casting is the process of pouring liquid metal into a cavity to form a part when the metal cools.  The Mines foundry permits a wide range of mold making and casting activities, including sand casting, investment casting (lost wax), lost foam, and permanent mold in tin, aluminum, copper (bronze/brass) and (soon) iron (steel).​

This semester, the main opportunity will be Free Pour Friday, on Friday from 9-noon.  Sign-ups can be found at the bottom of this page.

MTGN 300, Foundry Metallurgy, is offered in the Spring and provides in-depth look at the art, science, and technology of casting as a manufacturing method.  Students in MTGN 300 will experience most of the casting options available in the foundry.​

Contacts:​
Sarah Harling (Sarahharling@mines.edu)​

Glass Shop

Our hot glass blowing shop is up and running!  Contact Sarah for more information and/or if you’re interested in a tour, lessons, or anything else.

Soda Lime Saturdays (SLS) is a glassblowing workshop for current Mines students and faculty. Keramos, the materials science professional organization,  hosts a campus wide SLS the first Saturday each month. Gaffers (experienced glass blowers) will assist you in making a paperweight with a design and color of your choosing. Check the Daily Blast for sign-up details.​ For more information contact Sarah Harling (sarahharling@mines.edu)

We are also offering a 2 credit hour course each semester on the Art and Science of Glassblowing.

Contacts: Glassshop@mines.edu

Forge

The forge includes a gas-fired furnace, hydraulic press, and the associated tools to shape hot metal through pressure.​ Open forging times and classes are planned throughout the semester​

​Contacts:​
Mason Weems (mbweems@mines.edu)​