Laura Elizabeth Mullen

Laura Elizabeth Mullen I am an iron casting metal artist making videos about my life and my art

04/07/2026

This clip from a 2023 iron pour at the University of Southern Mississippi shows what happens when a large furnace develops a leak at the bottom slagger.
With that much molten iron inside, the back pressure makes it nearly impossible to stop the leak by adding more bot — it will eventually break through.
The solution is to act fast. The crew taps the furnace early, releases the pressure, and regains control. After that, the furnace bottom slagger securely bolted and well of iron brought back up to continue the pour.
A great example of quick thinking and experienced teamwork.

04/05/2026

This clip captures a beautiful furnace tap from the guest furnace “Tumbleweed,” owned and operated by the Hubert family and their close collaborators.
Filmed during the 2025 National Conference on Contemporary Cast Iron Art and Practices at Sloss Metal Arts, hosted at Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark.
A clean, controlled tap like this is always a joy to witness — a reflection of skill, experience, and teamwork.

04/03/2026

This clip features a beautiful furnace tap by my iron maiden bestie Jam from the 2025 Pourin’ Yer Heart Out iron pour.
Hosted by FeLion Studios and Alissa Toninato, with the furnace expertly botted by another iron maiden bestie, Brighten McCormick.
It was an honor to run this furnace alongside such a skilled and supportive crew. Moments like this are why I love this community so much.

04/02/2026

This clip shows behind-the-scenes preparation at Sculpture Trails in Solsberry, Indiana.
The crew is setting the pour floor, preparing two blast furnaces, and getting dressed out for the event. Every step is essential to ensure the pour runs smoothly and safely.
It all starts here — long before the molten iron flows.

04/01/2026

Molten iron waits for no one.
In this moment, I had to jump in and hold the ladle while my buddy got ready to pour. Once the furnace is tapped, the iron is coming—ready or not. If you miss your turn, you’re waiting through the entire crew rotation.
That’s why teamwork matters out here. Sometimes you step in, sometimes someone’s got your back. Either way, the pour doesn’t stop 🔥

04/01/2026

This is a great example of what a smooth, controlled furnace tap should look like.
With a full well of molten iron, everything depends on timing and ex*****on. In this case, the tap is calm, steady, and handled exactly right.
No chaos — just experience and control doing their job.

03/31/2026

Same pour—just from a very different angle.
I shared a clip from this experiment a few weeks ago from the side of the ladle, but this is the view from my helmet.
We were instructed to throw the remaining molten iron at a plywood wall as part of a controlled, fully communicated experiment. Everyone was in full safety gear, waivers were signed, and the area was secured.
Even knowing what was coming, it still didn’t go as planned. The iron fell short and hit the ground, sending sparks everywhere—but from this perspective, you really get a sense of how quickly it all happens.
Same result. Totally different experience.

03/29/2026

This clip shows a smooth one-man ladle run during an iron pour.
There’s a constant exchange happening — sometimes you receive molten iron, sometimes you pass it along — but the goal is always the same: keep the metal moving and get it into the molds efficiently.
It’s a balance of timing, awareness, and teamwork that makes everything flow.

03/27/2026

This clip is from a fall iron pour hosted by the SIUC Sculpture Department.

I’ve always preferred being on the pour crew — right in the middle of the action. After the furnace tap and slag skim, we poured a ceramic shell mold followed by a couple of resin bonded sand molds.

Everything moved smoothly and efficiently, showing the rhythm and coordination of a well-run iron pour.

03/26/2026

This throwback clip is from the 2022 F.I.R.E Conference hosted by the Metal Museum in Memphis, Tennessee.

It had rained, and during one of the heavier downpours we were still pouring molten iron. Once the furnace is up and running, it doesn’t stop — rain doesn’t change that.

It’s a great reminder of the commitment and conditions that come with working in a live foundry environment.

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