Alternative Casting for Jewelry: Tufa Casting

Tufa is a variety of limestone found in New Mexico and Arizona that is soft enough to carve by hand and heat resistant enough to handle molten metal. Native American tribes such as the Navajo, Zuni, and Hopi began casting with this material around 1870.

We will cover:

• Fundamentals of casting vs. fabrication
• Tufa casting vs. other types of casting
• Design development
• How to carve tufa stone
• Casting
• Cleanup and polishing

Details:

• 8 contact hours, ages 14+ at the Silver Peak Studio Classroom located at 100.5 E. Cleveland St. Lafayette 80026
• Sunday, May 19, 9:00-5:00 
• # students: 3 minimum, 6 maximum
• Materials kit fee is $60 includes tufa stone approximately 3"w×10"h×2" thick  and carving tool kit which will be yours to keep. Silver and gold will be charged at market rate at time of class and is an additional fee. There's no extra charge to cast in bronze. Due at the beginning of class via cash, check, or Venmo.
• Each student will work at their own dedicated jeweler's bench. 
• Prerequisite: Metals 1, Intro to Metalsmithing, or equivalent

By registering for this workshop, you agree to our cancellation policy, dress code, studio rules.

About the Instructor, Cheyenne Hughes

Cheyenne is a Denver native who's been practicing jewelry making since 2009. Over that time he's been fortunate enough to have apprenticed under the accomplished jeweler/blacksmith Ira Sherman. That 6 year apprenticeship landed him a job as a bench jeweler working for platinum and gold expert John Sholl of J.F. Sholl Fine Jewelry in Littleton, CO.

Cheyenne is currently running his own jewelry studio in Denver where he offers casting and other jewelry production services to the general public as well as other jewelers.