Across the road from the folk museum (and under the same management) and 50 meters up the street is the site of the casting of a huge range of bronze Buddha images made from the ‘lost wax method’.
This is just about the only place in Thailand where you can watch this laborious and time-consuming process taking place.
Looking like cross between a junkyard and an antique dealer’s shop, the foundry throws up some odd sights such as bits of Buddhas waiting to be rejoined with the rest of their bodies, and workers preparing castings for new images.
During your visit here, you should be able to view some part of the manufacturing taking place and there is also a small shop on the premises which sells a range of Buddha images.
Visitors are allowed to walk around the grounds while work is in progress, but take care not to cause any accidents such as overturning a mold of red-hot bronze.
Getting There
The best way to visit the foundry is to hire a motorbike, tricycle or tuk-tuk driver to take you on a round trip, combining it with a visit to Sgt-Maj Thawee’s Folk Museum and the garden birds of Thailand.
Need to Know
- What is it? A foundry where bronze Buddha images are cast.
- When to go: Morning is best before it gets too hot.
- Opening hours: 08:00-17:00
- Entrance fees: Free
- Address: Wisutkasat Road
- Where: A couple of kilometers south of the train station.