About

This class emphasizes curved metal. It stimulates ideas about metal creativity, and provides the techniques and assistance for participants to create artistic and/or practical metal pieces. The class offers the opportunity for participants to create projects or variants shown in the demonstration class held in September (participation in that demonstration is not a prerequisite to this class.) or create ideas of their own using available materials and techniques. The shop class offers an integrated class using the combined tools of the welding and sheet metal studios to form curved projects in steel, stainless or aluminum. 

This class uses the scroll bender or roller bender to fabricate mild steel strips for use in parts for gates, trellises, plant stands, hooks or creations of your imagination. Use the sheet metal roller to curve sheet steel (<16 gauge).  You can cut designs with the plasma cutter.  You can spot or MIG weld pieces together.  Previous welding experience is NOT a prerequisite for scroll work or for basic tack welds.

Some of the techniques and potential projects/ideas include:

TECHNIQUES

• circular/curved bending
• spot welding
• plasma cutting
• hot bending
• sheet cutting
• scroll work
• MIG welding
• tubing bending

• pie or cake pan
• plant or bird feeder hanger
• wall sconce
• kinetic wind art
• tomato cage
• wind chimes
• tin man hat

Details:

• Class size is 3 people facilitating one-on-one learning and direct mentoring. 
• A materials fee of $15 for steel, aluminum gas, filler wire, and recycling is  included in the price of the class.
• BARN will provide Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)
• Participants must wear long sleeve shirts and pants in natural fiber clothing and closed toe shoes.  Stretch fabrics are prohibited.

Teacher/Monitor: Bob Mathisrud. Bob was cross trained in many trades as a stationary operating engineer, for over 20 years, at national food baking companies.  He is active in all facets of the Metal Fab Studio as well as ETA and Woodworking Studios.

Questions: Contact HenrySharpe@gmail.com

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Participants must wear natural fiber clothing, long pants, closed toe shoes (natural fiber or leather), no stretch fabrics, and long hair tied back.