Hey all you Metal-Fabbers … Here’s your August issue of the BARN Metal-Fab newsletter.

Summer Time

Outdoor activity is so enjoyable in the midst of our sweet, summertime weather. It is quite grand! Summertime also seems to bring a bit of a lull with people traveling and having fun away. We’ve had to reduce our class offerings a bit in the machine shop and welding. But there’s still quite a lot going on with the full slate of Open Studios and numerous classes in forge, foundry, and welding. And do take heart, we’ll be back with a full slate of class offerings in September.

We’d like to focus your attention on two classes in the welding shop coming up over the next few weeks. First up is Welding: Tools of the Trade on the evening of Aug. 26. If you’re new to the welding shop, then this class is for you. The second is Welding: Henry’s Junk Pile (aka Garden Art) on Sept. 10. Both of the classes are good fun and excellent ways to build skills.

Instructors Wanted

Yes, this note has appeared in two previous newsletters. But it’s worthy of another mention. Metal-Fab is working to assemble a small cadre of instructors to teach the Tools of The Trade class on a regular basis. If you’d like to be more active in the shop, this would be a good way to do that. If you’re interested, please do reach out to David Hays. We’d love to have your participation!

Young People in the Welding Shop this Summer

The Summer Youth Weld-A-Pet classes of the season finished Aug. 8. Gabriel Rafkin and David Sigmond did a super job; both were essential in making these featured summer-time events a grand success. Over the course of five weeks, they hosted nine five-day sessions with 35 young people attending. By the measure of grins, glee, and pride displayed as they carried their welded works of art, they all had a wonderful time.

Thank you, Gabriel and David!

Ongoing Forge Demos

Yori will be holding monthly forge demonstrations 5 – 6 PM on the fourth Fridays beginning Aug. 29. Please register for these events as it helps us understand interest and tune event exposure.

See You at Tidy-Friday

Our next Tidy-Friday event is this coming Friday, Aug. 22, from 10 AM to noon. We have a specific project in the welding shop that needs attention. As you can see from the image below, the gear rack (for raising and lowering the table) has been warped away from the main column. It needs to be straightened and additional remedies considered.

We need someone to take on this project.

More Upcoming Classes & Events

Forge: Blacksmithing ‘Tools of the Trade’ Demo
Friday, Aug. 29, 5 – 6 PM
Blacksmith Yori Seeger will demonstrate various techniques and discuss different blacksmithing topics. Learn more

Foundry: Patternmaking for Metal Casting
3 meetings, beginning Wednesday, Sept. 3, 6 – 7:30 PM
Create a pattern to cast metal and begin your casting journey. This is the first class of our three-class foundry series. Learn more

Welding: Introduction to Metal Inert Gas Welding (MIG #1)
Thursday, Sept. 4, 6 – 8:30 PM
This is a hands-on introduction to MIG (metal inert gas) welding, the easiest-to-learn technique with broad applications. Learn more

Welding: Practical Brazing and Silver Soldering
Sunday, Sept. 7, 2 – 4:30 PM
Learn the fundamentals of brazing and silver soldering — a metal-joining process that differs from welding. Learn more

Machine Shop Orientation
Monday, Sept. 8, 6 – 7:30 PM
Learn about basic metal cutting and the tools used for drilling, turning, milling, sawing, and grinding. Learn more

Machine Shop: Make a Hammer
2 meetings, beginning Tuesday, Sept. 9, 6 – 9 PM
Learn how to make a hammer from aluminum and brass as you learn basic metal machining techniques. Learn more

Forge: Hand-Forged Towel Ring
Wednesday, Sept. 10, 12:30 – 3:30 PM
The towel ring is a fun beginning blacksmithing project that will give you something useful. Learn more

Welding: Henry’s Junk Pile (aka Garden Art)
Wednesday, Sept. 10, 1 – 4 PM
See what you can make with your discarded tools and stuff from “Henry’s Junk Pile” to learn a bit about MIG tack welding. Learn more

Welding: Introduction to Metal Inert Gas Welding (MIG #1)
Thursday, Sept. 11, 6 – 8:30 PM
This is a hands-on introduction to MIG (metal inert gas) welding, the easiest-to-learn technique with broad applications. Learn more

Forge: Blacksmithing an Elbow Adze
Thursday, Sept. 18, 10 AM – 4 PM
Learn how to forge your own adze and strap it to an elbow-shaped handle. Learn more

Foundry: Casting Bronze in the Foundry
Thursday, Sept. 18, 6 – 9 PM
Cast a pattern in this introduction to metal casting, the second class in our three-class foundry series. Learn more

Machine Shop Orientation
Monday, Sept. 22, 6 – 7:30 PM
Learn about basic metal cutting and the tools used for drilling, turning, milling, sawing, and grinding. Learn more

Foundry: Finishing Your Casting
Thursday, Sept. 25, 6 – 8:30 PM
Learn how to finish your rough casting in this third and final class of our three-part foundry series. Learn more

Metal Fab Tidy-Friday
Friday, Sept. 26, 10 AM – 12 PM
Time for the Metal-Fab team to get together to perform needed cleaning and maintenance, and our all-important comradery. Learn more

Forge: Blacksmithing Hand-Forged Nails Demo
Friday, Sept. 26, 5 – 6 PM
Blacksmith Yori Seeger will demonstrate techniques and discuss different blacksmithing topics, focusing on hand-forged nails. Learn more

Forge: Blacksmithing a Forge Welded Flux Spoon
Saturday, Sept. 27, 10 AM – 4 PM
Come to the forge and learn to forge weld, one of the fundamental yet more challenging skills of blacksmithing. Learn more

Welding: TIG Skills for Beginners and Beyond
Sunday, Sept. 28, 2 – 4:30 PM
A skills-building class in tungsten inert gas welding for beginners who want to perfect their methods. Learn more

Welding: Introduction to Metal Inert Gas Welding (MIG #1)
Monday, Sept. 29, 6 – 8:30 PM
This is a hands-on introduction to MIG (metal inert gas) welding, the easiest-to-learn technique with broad applications. Learn more

Foundry: Patternmaking for Metal Casting
3 meetings, beginning Wednesday, Oct. 1, 6 – 7 PM
Create a pattern to cast metal and begin your casting journey. This is the first class of our three-class foundry series. Learn more

Youth: Wacky-Tacky Welding (Ages 12-16)
Tuesday, Oct. 7, 4 – 6 PM
Learn to use the power tools needed to cut, form, and tack-weld chunks of metal to form a piece of wacky-tacky art. Learn more

Forge: Wall Hook with Decorative Heart
Wednesday, Oct. 8, 12:30 – 3:30 PM
The wall hook with a decorative heart is a fun beginning blacksmithing project that will give you something useful. Learn more

Welding: Introduction to Metal Inert Gas Welding (MIG #1)
Thursday, Oct. 9, 6 – 8:30 PM
This is a hands-on introduction to MIG (metal inert gas) welding, the easiest-to-learn technique with broad applications. Learn more

Metal Fab Tidy-Friday
Friday, Oct. 10, 10 AM – 12 PM
Time for the Metal-Fab team to get together to perform needed cleaning and maintenance, and our all-important comradery. Learn more

Welding: Intro to Tungsten Inert Gas Welding (TIG #1)
Sunday, Oct. 12, 2 – 4:30 PM
Get hands-on instruction in Tungsten Inert Gas welding, different types of welds, and torch-and-filler rod manipulation. Learn more

Machine Shop Orientation
Monday, Oct. 13, 6 – 7:30 PM
Learn about basic metal cutting and the tools used for drilling, turning, milling, sawing, and grinding. Learn more

Machine Shop: Make a Bolt (Intro to the Lathe)
Tuesday, Oct. 14, 6 – 8:30 PM
This is the class you want for your first time at a metal-cutting lathe, or if you just want additional experience. Learn more

Welding: Metal Inert Gas Welding (MIG #2)
Wednesday, Oct. 15, 6 – 8:30 PM
This is the second class for those learning MIG welding, and builds on what was learned in MIG #1. Learn more

Foundry: Casting Bronze in the Foundry
Thursday, Oct. 16, 6 – 9 PM
Cast a pattern in this introduction to metal casting, the second class in our three-class foundry series. Learn more

Machine Shop: Make a Nut (Intro to the Mill)
Thursday, Oct. 16, 6 – 9 PM
Make a square nut to fit the bolt you make in another class as you gain experience with the shop, and the shop tools. Learn more

Machine Shop: Centroid CNC
Saturday, Oct. 18, 1 – 2 PM
The Centroid CNC interface is your gateway to the studio’s computer-numerical-control mill, lathe, and plasma cutter. Learn more

Machine Shop: Intro to CNC Mill
2 meetings, beginning Saturday, Oct. 18, 2 – 4 PM
Learn the essentials of the CNC (computer numerical control) mill and how to safety operate it. Then cut some metal! Learn more

Welding: Layout and Cut Numbers with the CNC Plasma Cutter
Sunday, Oct. 19, 12 – 4 PM
Lay out and cut a house number or address with the CNC plasma cutter. Learn more

Youth: Wacky-Tacky Welding (Ages 12-16)
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 4 – 6 PM
Learn to use the power tools needed to cut, form, and tack-weld chunks of metal to form a piece of wacky-tacky art. Learn more

Foundry: Finishing Your Casting
Thursday, Oct. 23, 6 – 8:30 PM
Learn how to finish your rough casting in this third and final class of our three-part foundry series. Learn more

Metal Fab Tidy-Friday
Friday, Oct. 24, 10 AM – 12 PM
Time for the Metal-Fab team to get together to perform needed cleaning and maintenance, and our all-important comradery. Learn more

Welding: TIG Skills for Beginners and Beyond
Sunday, Oct. 26, 2 – 4:30 PM
A skills-building class in tungsten inert gas welding for beginners who want to perfect their methods. Learn more

Machine Shop Orientation
Monday, Oct. 27, 6 – 7:30 PM
Learn about basic metal cutting and the tools used for drilling, turning, milling, sawing, and grinding. Learn more

Welding: Introduction to Metal Inert Gas Welding (MIG #1)
Monday, Nov. 3, 6 – 8:30 PM
This is a hands-on introduction to MIG (metal inert gas) welding, the easiest-to-learn technique with broad applications. Learn more

Youth: Wacky-Tacky Welding (Ages 12-16)
Tuesday, Nov. 4, 4 – 6 PM
Learn to use the power tools needed to cut, form, and tack-weld chunks of metal to form a piece of wacky-tacky art. Learn more

Foundry: Patternmaking for Metal Casting
3 meetings, beginning Wednesday, Nov. 5, 6 – 7 PM
Create a pattern to cast metal and begin your casting journey. This is the first class of our three-class foundry series. Learn more

Welding: Intro to Tungsten Inert Gas Welding (TIG #1)
Sunday, Nov. 9, 2 – 4:30 PM
Get hands-on instruction in Tungsten Inert Gas welding, different types of welds, and torch-and-filler rod manipulation. Learn more

Machine Shop Orientation
Monday, Nov. 10, 6 – 7:30 PM
Learn about basic metal cutting and the tools used for drilling, turning, milling, sawing, and grinding. Learn more

Machine Shop: Make a Bolt (Intro to the Lathe)
Tuesday, Nov. 11, 6 – 8:30 PM
This is the class you want for your first time at a metal-cutting lathe, or if you just want additional experience. Learn more

Forge: Twisted Wall Hook with Decorative Leaf
Wednesday, Nov. 12, 12:30 – 3:30 PM
The twisted leaf hook is a fun beginning blacksmithing project that will give you something useful. Learn more

Machine Shop: Make a Nut (Intro to the Mill)
Thursday, Nov. 13, 6 – 9 PM
Make a square nut to fit the bolt you make in another class as you gain experience with the shop, and the shop tools. Learn more

Welding: Introduction to Metal Inert Gas Welding (MIG #1)
Thursday, Nov. 13, 6 – 8:30 PM
This is a hands-on introduction to MIG (metal inert gas) welding, the easiest-to-learn technique with broad applications. Learn more

Metal Fab Tidy-Friday
Friday, Nov. 14, 10 AM – 12 PM
Time for the Metal-Fab team to get together to perform needed cleaning and maintenance, and our all-important comradery. Learn more

Machine Shop: Centroid CNC
Saturday, Nov. 15, 1 – 2 PM
The Centroid CNC interface is your gateway to the studio’s computer-numerical-control mill, lathe, and plasma cutter. Learn more

Machine Shop: Intro to CNC Lathe
2 meetings, beginning Saturday, Nov. 15, 2 – 4:30 PM
Learn the essentials of the CNC (computer numerical control) lathe and how to safety operate it. Then cut some metal! Learn more

Welding: Layout and Cut Numbers with the CNC Plasma Cutter
Sunday, Nov. 16, 12 – 4 PM
Lay out and cut a house number or address with the CNC plasma cutter. Learn more

Youth: Wacky-Tacky Welding (Ages 12-16)
Tuesday, Nov. 18, 4 – 6 PM
Learn to use the power tools needed to cut, form, and tack-weld chunks of metal to form a piece of wacky-tacky art. Learn more

Welding: Metal Inert Gas Welding (MIG #2)
Wednesday, Nov. 19, 6 – 8:30 PM
This is the second class for those learning MIG welding, and builds on what was learned in MIG #1. Learn more

Foundry: Casting Bronze in the Foundry
Thursday, Nov. 20, 6 – 9 PM
Cast a pattern in this introduction to metal casting, the second class in our three-class foundry series. Learn more

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