About The Arcane Foundry
The Arcane Foundry was built from a very specific vision, a space where dark fantasy, gothic horror, and dark academia all collide into something real and tangible. This isn’t just a shop or a studio, it’s a creative outpost where storytelling, craftsmanship, and atmosphere come together. If you’ve ever wanted to step into a world that feels a little more immersive, a little more mysterious, you’re in the right place.
What is Arcane Industrial?
Arcane Industrial is a creative movement, aesthetic and philosophy founded by Daclaud Lee, creator of The Arcane Foundry. It blends the timeless beauty of traditional craftsmanship with the possibilities of modern technology, drawing inspiration from gothic architecture, folklore, engineering, science, and the maker movement. Rather than separating the old from the new, Arcane Industrial embraces both, honoring centuries-old skills while exploring today’s tools and innovations.
At its core, Arcane Industrial is built on the belief that learning should be hands-on. It encourages curiosity over perfection, exploration over specialization, and creating over simply consuming. Whether you’re forging steel, pouring candles, painting miniatures, propagating plants, designing with AI, 3D printing a new invention, or uncovering local history, every project is another opportunity to learn something new.
The Arcane Foundry serves as the home of the Arcane Industrial movement, bringing together makers, artists, hobbyists, adventurers, and lifelong learners who believe that knowledge is most meaningful when it can be transformed into something tangible. We aren’t defined by mastering one craft, we’re united by the desire to keep discovering the next one.
The Man Behind The Arcane Foundry
My name is Daclaud Lee, and The Arcane Foundry is a direct extension of who I am and what I’ve been building toward for years. I’ve always been drawn to dark fantasy, gothic horror, grimdark and especially the kind of eldritch horrors you’d find in the works of H. P. Lovecraft.
I’m an avid 3D printing enthusiast, a miniature painter, and someone who spends a lot of time exploring scary stories, whether that’s through existing lore or creating my own. I consider myself a connoisseur of horror, not just the surface level stuff, but the deeper themes behind monsters, myths, and the unknown. If you want to see some of the stories and ideas I’ve worked on, you can explore them here: https://therealdaclaud.wordpress.com/
All of my interests stay rooted in creativity, discipline, and experimentation.
Fall has always been my favorite season and every candle I have ever purchased was a limited edition Fall or Halloween themed candle. I started making candles in 2023 because I didn’t want to wait an entire year to be able to purchase a Halloween themed candle, so I started making my own.
I enjoy plant propagation at The Arcane Foundry, especially darker varieties like Black Diamond Crepe Myrtles and coral bells in black, silver, red, and toffee tones, along with blending my own teas and growing herbs (all of which you can find in the garden of The Arcane Foundry.
I’m also deeply into Warhammer Fantasy, with Empire, Cathay, Orcs, Chaos, and Dwarfs as my top armies, though I appreciate the full spectrum of lore and aesthetic of all the models. You will find a lot of tabletop miniatures available for sale at my shop.
On the physical side, I train with 40 lb weighted hikes as a form of endurance exercise. Feel free to wear a weighted vest or backpack when we are going on our ghost tours and haunted hikes.
I also enjoy along with axe and knife throwing and there is a dedicated area in the outdoors space of The Arcane Foundry for this.
Where It All Started: The Obsidian Lantern Society
Before The Arcane Foundry became a physical space, it started as a private group on Meetup in 2023 called The Obsidian Lantern Society. This was where everything began.
It was a smaller, more controlled environment where I hosted candle making sessions, miniature painting events, and haunted hikes throughout Columbus. It was experimental, but it worked. People showed up, they engaged, and it proved there was demand for something different.
While the original version of the group is now defunct, the spirit of it still exists. You can still join The Obsidian Lantern Society today through a candle or miniature subscription, where members receive a new themed candle or miniature each month tied to the same dark fantasy and horror concepts that built this brand.
From Concept to Location
At the end of 2025, I purchased the property at 723 S. Richardson Ave in Hilltop Columbus. The corner lot was a strategic decision.
As someone who balances a full-time job, rental properties, and this business, I needed a location that could support growth without limitations. Instead of renting the house out to a tenant like I normally do, I saw the location as a great place to host not only indoor events but eventually expand into outdoor experiences as well.
What The Arcane Foundry Is Becoming
Right now, The Arcane Foundry is focused on what built it in the first place:
- Candle making experiences
- Tabletop miniatures and paint sessions
- 3D printing for small scale creations
- Haunted hikes and ghost tours throughout Columbus
But the long-term vision goes further.
Expanding Into Outdoor Experiences
The property opens the door for future workshops and events like blacksmithing, axe and knife throwing, and woodworking. These aren’t just ideas, they are part of the roadmap.
Community Driven Creativity
Free outdoor movie nights, themed events, and immersive experiences are all part of what this space is becoming. The goal is to create something that feels less like a business and more like a hub for people who share the same interests.
Haunted Hikes and Ongoing Events
The haunted hikes never stopped. If anything, they’ve become a core part of what The Arcane Foundry represents.
These events take place throughout Columbus and focus on local legends, dark history, and immersive storytelling. If you want to experience that side of things, you can check out the ghost tours page and join an upcoming hike.
The Vision Moving Forward
The Arcane Foundry is still evolving. Every event, every product, and every experience builds on the last one.
This isn’t about scaling into something generic. It’s about building something intentional, something immersive, and something that stands out in a way most places don’t even try to.
If you’re into dark fantasy, horror, or just want to be part of something different, you’ll fit right in.
Why I Chose 723 South Richardson Ave. For The Arcane Foundry
The Arcane Foundry wasn’t placed here by accident. It was chosen with intention, practicality, and a bit of fate. When I found the corner lot at 723 South Richardson Ave., the first thing that stood out was functionality. Parking is a major limitation for most home-based setups. Typically, you get a driveway with two spots and maybe a couple more on the street, which means people are walking and dealing with inconvenience. This lot removes that problem entirely, with space for roughly eight vehicles on the property and additional room out front. For an appointment-based, small group experience, that kind of accessibility makes a real difference.
At the same time, I had no interest in building something just to pay rent to another landlord. As a property owner myself, I understand the long-term value of controlling your own space. Owning the environment gives you full creative control over everything from layout to atmosphere, without dealing with leases, restrictions, or outside pressure. The Arcane Foundry is not just a business. It’s a vision, and that vision requires autonomy.
There was also a strategic side to the decision. I’m naturally risk-aware, and while I believe in this concept, I wasn’t looking to go all in and abandon stability overnight. I still work full-time in SEO, so building this as an appointment-based, experience-driven space allows me to grow it deliberately without taking on unnecessary overhead. It’s controlled growth, built to last instead of being rushed.
Then there’s the part you can’t plan. The city’s decision to install pervious pavers on the street was completely coincidental, but it ended up aligning perfectly with the aesthetic I was already building toward. It enhances the atmosphere, the tone, and the overall identity of The Arcane Foundry in a way I couldn’t have timed better.
Sometimes things just line up exactly when they’re supposed to.
What Our Customers Are Saying
There’s something different about creating your own candle at The Arcane Foundry. It’s not just a product, it’s an experience. From fantasy-inspired builds to horror-themed creations, our customers come for the creativity and leave with something truly unique.
