Make Sculpture: Torch Welding

Learn to Oxyacetylene weld and use this civilized technique to create sculpture. What’s so civilized about it? It’s a visually beautiful process and really powerful, using the same tool to make gorgeous welds, bend smooth curves, and then cutting through 1″ plate.  Plus using a 6000* degree torch to turn steel into liquid lava is pretty awesome too.

This class will run the gamut of oxyacetylene welding techniques: welding, brazing/soldering, heating and bending, cutting, and making creme brulee (jk—still working on that class). For the first two weeks, I’ll take you through a series of practice exercises to demonstrate each of the techniques, culminating in four weeks of project time to make a sculpture of your design. Make a tree base for a lamp, a bowl for fruit, or anything your heart desires (that you could finish in about four weeks–or lay the groundwork and come on in for open shop hours).

Class Details: Five or Six session class.  Instruction fee is $185, Materials and shop fee is $290 (Total: $475).  Six students max.  Note about wait lists.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites but you should be comfortable using power tools and not squeamish with loud noises, sparks, or fire.  All safety equipment will be provided.  18 or older or instructor permission.

Standard Clothing: You will be required to wear long sleeves and long pants, both made of 100% cotton or wool, and all leather or canvas shoes (Vans, Converse, work boots, cowboy boots all good; ballet flats, clogs, running shoes, all bad).  No synthetic melty stuff.  Please bring reading glasses and something to tie your hair back if you need either.

Things You Can Make: Oxyacetylene welding is best for making curvy, natural shapes.  Things like tree branches, plants, antlers etc made from solid rod.  It is not great for sheet metal or making exact shapes–it heats up the metal too much and you’ll wind up with warped steel.  And if you make a branch and it’s 1/4″ off, no big deal. You make a cube and it’s 1/4″ off, everyone will know.  So take a look at the projects down below for great examples of feasible projects. (PS–we can solder brass and copper, but they’re harder to cut and you’ll have to BYO metal).

Refund/Rescheduling Policy:  We hope you can make the class, but things happen.  If you need to cancel, we can refund your money 7 days ahead of the start of the class (minus a $25 registration fee).  You can reschedule the class 7 days before the start of the class as well.  There are no refunds or rescheduling within 7 days.  By not budgeting for missed classes, we can keep the prices as low as possible for everyone.

For six week classes, the first two classes cover the most critical material.  If you miss one of those, we’ll need you to make it up with a private lesson before continuing on with the class (at a discounted rate of $45/hr).  After the first two, you can make up one class for free during open shop hours when it’s slower (so not Weds or Saturdays).  After that, regular open shop rates apply.  There are no refunds after the first class of a multi-session class.