Behind the Scene of Scratch Blocks: A Liberty Arts Foundry Teaser

Behind the Scene of Scratch Blocks is a hands-on foundry experience that invites students into the full process of creating Liberty Arts’ signature scratch blocks. A crowd favorite at our iron pours, scratch blocks are carved into bonded sand and cast in molten metal—transforming simple marks into permanent tiles.

In this teaser-style class, students will move through each stage of the process, gaining a working understanding of how scratch blocks are made from start to finish. Participants will begin by creating their own bonded sand molds, learning how to properly form and prepare the surface before carving their designs.

Students will then take part in the casting process, experiencing the rhythm and coordination of the foundry while gaining an introductory understanding of how molten metal is safely handled and poured.

Once cast, students will finish their pieces by learning how to clean and refine the edges of their aluminum tiles, completing the full lifecycle from mold making to final object. Through this process, students will walk away with a foundational understanding of how to create casted sculptures using accessible methods.

As a final opportunity, students will be invited to showcase their finished scratch blocks in a gallery exhibition at the Loose Leaf Gallery, located above the Durham Food Hall in October along side other artists scratch blocks cast during out Iron Pours.

This class is designed as an accessible introduction to the Liberty Arts foundry—offering a rare opportunity to actively participate in the process rather than just observe it.

Schedule

This is a multi-session class that meets in the Liberty Arts Foundry across four consecutive Monday evenings:

Monday, April 27: 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Monday, May 4: 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Monday, May 11: 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Monday, May 18: 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM

Each session builds on the last, guiding students through mold making, carving, casting, and finishing their scratch block piece.

Location

This class will meet at the Liberty Arts Foundry, located on Foster St., Durham, NC, within Durham Central Park.

Pre-requisites

This class does not require any prior foundry or metalworking experience, but does require the ability to work around heat, noise, heavy materials, and an active industrial environment.
This class is beginner friendly.

Skills & Equipment

Students will be introduced to the core stages of the scratch block casting process and gain exposure to foundry tools and workflows.

Students will learn:
How to create bonded sand molds for scratch blocks
How to properly prepare and carve designs into sand surfaces
An introduction to the metal casting process and foundry workflow
How molten metal is poured into molds (demonstration and participation as appropriate)
How to safely handle and process cast pieces after cooling
Basic finishing techniques to clean and refine cast edges

Equipment and tools used in this class include sand molding materials, foundry tools, pouring equipment (demonstration and supervised use), and metal finishing tools.

Materials

Students will be working with bonded sand and molten aluminum to create their own cast scratch blocks. All materials are included in the cost of the class.

Safety & PPE

Protective gear will be provided for all stages of the class, including face shields, gloves, and other required foundry PPE. Safety protocols will be strictly enforced, especially during the casting process.

What to Wear

Clothing requirements will vary depending on the stage of the class:

Mold Making and Carving Days:
Comfortable clothing that can get dirty is recommended.

Casting Day (Metal Pour):
Students must wear non-synthetic long pants and closed-toe, leather footwear. Clothing should be suitable for working around heat and molten metal.

Finishing Day (Cleaning Castings):
Students should wear non-synthetic, long-sleeve clothing and closed-toe shoes, similar to welding requirements. Loose clothing is not permitted.

Hair should be tied back for all sessions.

In the interest of safety, the instructor reserves the option to limit participation if students are not wearing appropriate clothing.

Notes / Important Info

This class takes place in an active foundry environment and involves working with heat, molten metal, heavy materials, and industrial tools. The space will be loud and physically active during casting.

Students will leave this class with their own aluminum scratch block, created through each stage of the foundry process, and will have the opportunity to display their work in a public gallery exhibition.

This is a teaser-style class designed to introduce students to the Liberty Arts foundry and provide a foundational understanding of metal casting workflows.