Meet Sword Casting Guy
Greg Wenderski is a tinkerer, metal artist, sword historian, and former science teacher from Austin, TX. He travels the country teaching two types of hands-on sword making classes that enable participants of all ages to explore themes of archaeology, metallurgy, and physics in the process of making a Bronze Age sword. His work has been featured on several episodes of YouTube channel How To Make Everything, as well as Rooster Teeth. To find a class near you, consult our class calendar. Ticket links are found in the description of each event listing on the calendar. If you’d like to host a class in your area in trade for a free sword & tons of street cred, and want to learn more, click here.
Two Types of Classes
Aluminum Sword Casting
Aluminum Sword Casting (time: 4 hours)
In our all ages aluminum class, you’ll start by learning about the history of metal work 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 sword in a casting box. This is the most challenging part of class, and concludes with the “moment of truth”, when we open your casting box and see how carefully you worked! Finally, you’ll learn about the science of metallurgy and watch as we pour an exact copy of your sword in 1500 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! The price of class is per sword cast, not per person, so parents or friends are welcome to stay and help for free. Class size is limited to 25 and usually sells out, so grab a friend and sign up for your class today! Note: the cost of class varies regionally between $100-$120 per ticket, based on driving distance and lodging expenses.
Bronze Sword Casting
Bronze Sword Casting (time: 8 hours)
Our bronze class was designed as an advanced class, so participants are more independent and carry out each step of the process themselves. Bronze melts at almost 2000° F, so it requires a hotter foundry and different tools than our aluminum class, though parts of the process are the same. You’ll begin by learning the history of Bronze Age metallurgy, then selecting a sword design from our arsenal of master swords.* Next, you’ll make a careful sand cast to be poured in bronze. For your personal safety, pouring the molten bronze is done for you as you watch. Next, you’ll spend several hours grinding your sword to a smooth finish using a progression of grinders, power sanders, and hand sanding. Finally, you’ll choose a hardwood handle and learn to set brass rivets using a hammer and anvil. Our bronze classes are a 10+ hour thought-provoking journey and produce high end swords that will hold an honored position in your sword collection. The total price is $300 per sword and includes all materials. Class size is limited to 10, so grab a friend and strike while the iron is hot.
*Some people choose to make their own master swords before class. To choose this option, contact us when you buy your ticket for design specifications.
Two Types of Classes
Aluminum Sword Casting
In our all ages aluminum class, you’ll start by learning about the history of metal work 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 sword in a casting box. This is the most challenging part of class, and concludes with the “moment of truth”, when we open your casting box and see how carefully you worked! Finally, you’ll learn about the science of metallurgy and watch as we pour an exact copy of your sword in 1500 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! The price of class is per sword cast, not per person, so parents or friends are welcome to stay and help for free. Class size is limited to 25 and usually sells out, so grab a friend and sign up for your class today!
Bronze Sword Casting
Our bronze class was designed as an advanced class, so participants are more independent and carry out each step of the process themselves. Bronze melts at almost 2000° F, so it requires a hotter foundry and different tools than our aluminum class, though parts of the process are the same. You’ll begin by learning the history of Bronze Age metallurgy, then selecting a sword design from our arsenal of master swords.* Next, you’ll make a careful sand cast to be poured in bronze. For your personal safety, pouring the molten bronze is done for you as you watch. Next, you’ll spend several hours grinding your sword to a smooth finish using a progression of grinders, power sanders, and hand sanding. Finally, you’ll choose a hardwood handle and learn to set brass rivets using a hammer and anvil. Our bronze classes are a thought-provoking journey through time and produce high end swords that will hold an honored position in your sword collection. The total price is $300 per sword and includes all materials. Class size is limited to 10, so grab a friend and strike while the iron is hot.
*Some people choose to make their own master swords before class. To choose this option, contact us when you buy your ticket for design specifications.
I attended the all ages class on Saturday, October 21, 2017. It was wonderful. The ages ranged from 8-70 and everyone enjoyed the class. The instructor kept our interest with history facts about swords making through various ages and did an excellent job of walking us through the sword casting steps so we could each be successful. I highly recommend this class! – Dixie Carlisle Wofford, Aluminum Class
Experience the Bronze Age
Our classes aim to recreate the key steps in making a Bronze Age sword, while making the process accessible to participants of all skill levels. In the interest of time, our casting technique uses modern equivalents to ancient tools, such as substituting propane and a venturi burner for more traditional charcoal and bellows. At each point where our process differs from that of the historical Bronze Age, we discuss the obstacles our ancestors overcame to accomplish the same task and the ingenious methods they devised to solve them. At every turn, there are occasions to marvel at the sheer ingenuity of our ancestors as they learned to harness fire and master the art of metallurgy.
All Ages Welcome
Kids and adults are equally welcome at our Aluminum Sword Casting All Ages class. While it was originally designed for kids in Ancient Civilization class, it quickly became clear that adults are just as interested as kids in making swords. These days, it draws Lord of the Rings, Forged in Fire, and Game of Thrones fans as much as it does scouts, homeschoolers, and makers of all kinds. We often have three generations of a family take the class together and they all leave proudly carrying their swords. And one of the fastest growing groups we’re seeing are couples celebrating birthdays or anniversaries.
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Have you seen someone making a sword in a movie and thought it looked too cool for school? If so, sword making classes are for you! We teach two types of all ages classes: Aluminum Sword Casting and Bronze Sword Casting.
Host a Class
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Want us to come cast molten metal swords with your group? No problem! And it is easier than you think. We teach all-ages classes to audiences all over the US.
Shop Swords
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Can’t make it to a class? You can purchase one of Sword Casting Guy’s hand crafted Bronze Age swords.
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