Syllabus and Materials List: Steel Fabrication Summer Intensive
Steel Fabrication Summer Intensive
Shop Tech Gary
Day Saturday
Location Rock Creek PCC Campus – Building 2 – Welding Classroom and shop
Schedule
| WEEK | 1 | 2 | 3 | No class | 4 | No class | 5 |
| 7/19 | 7/26 | 8/2 | 8/9 | 8/16 | 8/23 | 8/30 |
Course Description
This course introduces students to metalworking through exploration of the material properties and fabrication techniques of mild steel as a raw material for creative making. Students will develop a familiarity with this method of making through lectures, demonstrations and self guided experimentation. Students will build their metalworking skills vis-à-vis welding and fabrication, including an introduction to metal finishing techniques. Proficiency will be evaluated throughout the class through student samples and small projects. This course will culminate with the production of one highly resolved creative object made of mild steel.
Goals
This course will:
- Teach shop safety and appropriate tool usage
- Build the student’s basic understanding of mild steel as a medium for creative uses
- Increase the student’s confidence in designing for fabrication
- Encourage the students to research and develop additional skills through self-guided exploration
Course Organization
Instruction will take place in the Rock Creek Metal Shop and will consist of lectures, demonstrations and frequent discussions of ongoing work. Early in the quarter, class will generally begin with a lecture or slide presentation on the day’s subject, followed by a demonstration of new metalworking skills and/or studio time for students to practice and ask questions. As the semester continues, students will gradually transition into working on major class projects during class time.
Materials
Students will be provided a 12 x 18 piece of 12 gauge steel for the welding practice assignment. Please do not plan to use as past of your final project, unless you are a repeat student.
For major assignments and additional work, students will be required to obtain their own materials.
Equipment and materials cannot be kept on campus, all personal items must leave with you at the end of the day. If you forget anything at the campus contact me.
Where can you find materials? Check out the local materials resources page
There is free scrap metal available courtesy of Karl Esch, a local metal worker. Here is a link to a google drive folder of images only accessible to you if you log in via your PPC email.
***REQUIRED PPE & TOOLS***
Students will be required to obtain the below PPE and welding gear to bring to every class starting week 2 (contact me if unable to acquire them)
- Welding helmet
- Welding Hat or Head Scarf (no synthetics)
- Safety Glasses
- Gauntlet Style Welding Gloves
- Jacket (no synthetics) and/or Thick Long Sleeves (no synthetics)
- Long Pants (no synthetics)
- Appropriate footwear (all leather upper & rubber sole)
- Respirator or particle mask
- Welding apron (optional)
Tools
- Pliers
- Welpers/Welding pliers are preferred
- Needle Nose w/ cutter is acceptable
- Sharpie
- Tape measure (Optional)
- Wire Brush (Optional)
- Welding Magnets (Optional)
Safety
- SAFETY GLASSES ARE TO BE WORN AT ALL TIMES IN THE METAL SHOP
- No Bluetooth headphones. In the metal shop, it is important to be listening to what is happening around you.
- Students will be required to follow all established safety rules provided by the instructor & provided video
Inclusion
For any number of reasons, students may require accommodations. Please ask the instructor if you feel you may benefit from accommodation for this course and we can explore available options.
It is expected that students will act as mature members of a progressive and accepting community and understand that under no circumstances will exclusionary speech and behavior be tolerated.
Please feel free to approach the instructor with any concerns.
Course Schedule
Week 1
- Introductions
- Syllabus Review
- Safety Video:
- Shop Tour
- Lecture: History, Fabrication and Welding
- Lecture: Creative History of welding
- MANDATORY BREAK 12:30 – 1:00
- Clean up @ 2:40
- IF TIME:
- Demonstrations: Fabricating sheet steel
- Tools
- Pneaumatic/Air Shear
- Bending Break
- Tools
- Begin Welding Practice Project
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- Steel provided: 12 x 16 12 gauge HR sheet
- Objective: Use the following skills to make an object
- Skills Used:
- Plasma cut
- Cut/shear
- Bend
- Tack weld
- Weld
- Finish (if desired)
- Suggestions:
- 6″ Cube
- Phone holder (works with a magnet on your phone)
- Book ends
- Table top sculpture
- Tiny chair
- Lamp base or shade
- Candle holder
- Note: PPE is required week 1 if you intend to work in the studio
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Week 2
- Demonstrations: Fabricating sheet steel (continued?)
- Tools
- Shear
- Bending Break
- Slip Roller
- Throatless Shear
- Drill Press
- Pop riveting
- Tools
- Demonstration: cutting and bending straight stock
- Tools
- Horizontal Band Saw
- Vertical Band Saw
- Cold Saw
- Angle grinder / Pneumatic Die Grinder
- Flap Disk
- Grinding Disk
- Cut Off Disk
- Standing Grinder
- Mapp Gas
- Welding
- Plasma Cutter
- MIG Welder
- Hand tools:
- Vise Grips
- clamps
- Files
- Tools
- In the Studio: Continue/Start Welding Practice Project & Open Studio
- MANDATORY BREAK 12:30 – 1:00
- Clean up @ 2:40
Week 3
- In the Studio: Continue Welding Practice Project & Open Studio
- MANDATORY BREAK 12:30 – 1:00
- Clean up @ 2:40
Week 4
- In the Studio: Open Studio
- MANDATORY BREAK 12:30 – 1:00
- Clean up @ 2:40
Week 5
- In the Studio: Open Studio
- MANDATORY BREAK 12:30 – 1:00
- Clean up @ 2:40