Metal Workshop

On October 11th we had our Introduction to the Metal Workshop. It is quite the facility! I found it very interesting.

There is a forge, acetylene torch, metal lathe, TIG welder, MIG welder, English Wheel, drill press, etc. There was a lot more equipment but I honestly don't remember the names.

We got to try out the acetylene torch - I found that quite exciting and a little scary (I'm not a fan of compressed gas - I won't even use a propane BBQ!). 

We were given a steel ring - basically a chain link with the gap and the sides/ends spread apart. We had to put the ring in a vice, and pound the ends to line-up, leaving a 2mm gap. Then we went to the table and had to use the torch to heat up the ring, and using a bronze wire and flux, seal the gap on the ring. 

Of the three of us, only Anna (who went first) did it right! Mine was the worst of the three. I could NOT see through the welding mask at all. So my bronze application completely missed the gap. I thought I was close... However I served a purpose as the technician used mine as an example to explain one of the "problems" people can have with the process. It was nice to have my work showcased! LOL

There was an electric welder - I'm not sure if that it is what is actually called. It was like a big stapler that spot welds on what you insert into it, and operates with a foot pedal. Only Stephen got to try it, If you have metal implants or a pacemaker you can't use it due to the electro-magnetic field. I stood across the room to watch because of the metal in my leg and abdomen.

I found the English Wheel interesting - it is a manual machine for curving and shaping metal with pressure rolling. Very time consuming and dated method, but it was around the only process/equipment that I felt I could actually use. It was developed/designed for creating armour around the time of the English Civil War (approximately when muskets were coming into common use.)

I was interested in metal work as it applies to small scale items, but the scale in this shop is a bit beyond what I can handle physically. What I was interested in would fit in with jewelry methods which are not covered here at the University. 

I had an idea of constructing metal frames in a structure to hold glass panels I would make in my own kiln, but I've moved onto other ideas now. I'll look at woodworking now to see if that might work. Hopefully, we'll get the Introductory workshop for that scheduled soon.