 |
| Molten iron pours from pumpkin to pumpkin |
Halloween
inspires many unique activities across the United States, and one of my current favorites
is the Pumpkin Pour at the University of Wisconsin Platteville.
 |
| Pumpkin Pour - Molten Iron from 5 pumpkins cascade into 5 pumpkins below |
The University has an Industrial Studies program and an AFS (American Foundry Society) club, which runs the event as a fund raiser.
 |
| Pumpkin Pour - Molten Iron cascades through 4 pumpkins |
The AFS club fires up a metal melting "cupola" that melts iron at over 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit, and among other things, pours the molten metal into carved pumpkins for visual fireworks.
 |
| A 4 pumpkin cascade sparks like fireworks |
Sparks fly as added water and other chemicals respond to the molten iron, effectively mixing pumpkins with fireworks.
 |
| Molten iron splashes as well! |
I took these photos at Platteville's 5th annual pumpkin pour in October of 2017.
 |
| A Pumpkin drools molten iron |
I hope to be at the pumpkin pour in 2018.
 |
| Molten iron pours from pumpkin to pumpkin |
 |
| After glow - and molten iron puddles |
Glowing pumpkins seem to be the essence of contemporary American Halloween for me.
 |
| Molten iron gives pumpkins an amazing glow |
For the fundraising portion of the night, the club charges interested visitors $5 each for an iron pumpkin created while the visitors watch. For $5 a visitor is given a sand cast pumpkin mold, which visitors then carve their unique designs into.
 |
| Molten iron pouring into pumpkin molds |
AFS members then pour the molten iron into the pumpkin molds while the visitors wait. Once the cast iron pumpkins cool down, the visitors collect their one-of-a-kind creation.
| Iron Pumpkin creations from the event |
Above are some of the resulting cast iron pumpkins my family went home with. See the pumpkin pie?
 |
| UW Platteville Pumpkin Pour |
The above photo shows the "cupola" from Waupaca Foundries that melts the molten iron in the background, and iron being poured into pumpkin molds in the foreground.
 |
| Iron pools while a pumpkin glares after a "Pumpkin Pour". |
The photographer in me loves the visuals from this event.
| The UW Platteville Pumpkin Pour is supported by Waupaca, logo on pumpkin above |
The American midwest is the kind of place you can find colleges and manufacturing companies that support odd events like the Pumpkin Pour. Thanks to Waupaca Foundry, Neenah Foundry, and of course the University of Wisconsin, Platteville. Learning complicated manufacturing processes can be fun! Apparently there are multiple foundry events around the country at different times, let me know in the comment section if you have ever been to one and where it was.
Here is a 38 second video from the 2017 Platteville Pumpkin Pour where I took the photos for this post. It's worth the 38 seconds it takes to watch it! And here is another video.
Click on the images to see them enlarged.
If you enjoyed this post you might also like:
I am linking up to these parties:
French Country: Feather Nest Thur 2p (Entry 90 of 192.)
FromGardners2Bergers: Handmade Hangout Fri 5p 230 (Entry 78 of 157.)
Kathleen: Bloggers Pit Stop 146 (Entry 40 of 125.)
Chic: Flaunt it Friday (Entry 1 of 97.)
Tumbleweed Contessa: Whatd you do 294 (Entry 85 of 101.)
Good Random Fun: Good-random-fun 42 (Entry 30 of 48.)
Dedicated house: Make pretty Mon 272 (Entry 23 of 105 list gone.)
BNOTP: Metamorphis Monday 508 (Entry ??)
Little Farmstead: Sun At Home Sat 7p (Entry 19 of 267.)
Also Love of Home
(Entry 19 of 267.)
Also My Soulful Home
(Entry 19 of 267.)
Silver pennies: Silver Pennies Sun 286 (Entry 43 of 133.)
Ms Toodygooshoes: Best of weekend Fri 7p (Entry 7 of 207.)
Also Virginiasweetpea (Entry 7 of 207.)
Life and Linda: Dishing it Digging it 223 Sun 5p (Entry 8 of 225.)
Also Rustic-refined (Entry 8 of 225.)
Dwellings: Amaze Me Mon 286 (Entry 16 of 135.)
I Should be Mopping: Inspiration Mon Sun 5p (Entry ??)
Cedarhill Ranch: The Scoop 349 (Entry 56 of 375.)
Uncommon Slice: Inspire Me Mon 238 (Entry 106 of 232.)
How to Home: Project Inspired 296 (Entry 3 of 155 link gone)
* Stroll Life: Inspire Me Tues 444 (Entry 79 of 179.)
Mersad photography: Through my Lens (Entry 23 of 25.)
Our World Tues: Our World (Entry 39 of 81.)
Celebrate and decorate: Celebrate your story 151 (Entry 77 list gone.)
Image-in-ing: Weekly link up (Entry 36 of 85.)
Lets Add Sprinkles: Keep in Touch 42 Tue 4p (Entry 1 of 21.)
Interior frugalista: Talk of the Town Tu 6p 146 (Entry 1 of 74.)
Also My Repurposed Life: Talk of the Town (Entry 1 of 74.)
Savvy Style: Wow Us Tue 6p 393 (Entry 20 of 192.) *
Gingersnap crafts:Wow me Tue 7p (Entry ??)
Girlish Whims: Whims Tues 8:50p 378 (Entry 77 of 180.)
* Designthusiasm: Style Showcase Wed 6a 52 (Entry ??27 of x.)
21Rosemarylane: Share Your Style Wed 6p 180 (Entry 117 of 231.)
Delightsome Life: Home-Garden Wed 5p 348 (Entry 152 of list gone.)
Yellow Brick Home: Hauntingly Beautiful 2 (Entry 37 of 51.)
Too Many Hobbies: Beautifully Made 34 (Entry 36 of 36.)
Fluster Buster: Great Ideas 303 (Entry ??)
Rchreviews: Party in your PJs 231 (Entry 161 of 189.)
Little bits of Home: Dream Create Inspire 172 (Entry 145 of 154.)
Salvage Sister: Waste not Wed 126 (Entry ??)
Mybijoulife: Traffic Jam Weekend 252 (Entry 26 of 105.)
2020 Grammys Grid: All things Halloween (Entry x)
337077
