Casting metal is a 6,000-year-old process still used in manufacturing and fine art. The founder melts metal (usually aluminum, bronze, or cast iron) in a crucible, pours it into a mold, then removes the mold material or the casting once the metal has cooled and solidified. In our classes, beginners learn the safety associated with pouring 1800 degrees of molten metal, how to pack a sand mold, and how to pour liquid metal into the mold.