Fabrication II

This class gives participants the opportunity to further their fabricating skills. We will introduce three additional tools, the plasma cutter, the gas torch, and the TIG welder. After an introduction to each, participants will be given a time period on each tool to practice and get oriented with the tool operation. This class is a prerequisite to sign up for any open studio classes if you want to use the tools covered.

In this class you will learn the fundamental operations of the following machines: Plasma Cutter: A plasma cutter uses an electric arc to cut metal. It is a fast and easy way to cut sheets or plates down to size, or produce patterns and shapes in metals up to 3/8” thick.

TIG Welder: A TIG welder (Tungsten Inert Gas) uses a tungsten electrode to produce the heat needed to melt metal. Filler material is then fed manually into the puddle giving it the ability to make smaller cleaner welds. This takes more skill than the MIG welder but has advantages such as a wider range in material. (We don’t yet have the ability to weld aluminum). 

Gas Torches: Maybe the coolest tool in the shop! Gas torches have the ability to cut and weld metal, or be a focused heat source for bending, brazing, soldering and more. Either acetylene or propane is used in combination with oxygen to produce a flame.