Syllabus and Materials List: Steel Fabrication for Furniture
Steel Fabrication for Furniture
Shop Tech Jan McCormick
Day Saturday
Location Rock Creek PCC Campus – Building 2 – Welding Classroom and shop
| WEEK | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | No class | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| 4/5 | 4/12 | 4/19 | 4/26 | 5/3 | 5/10 | 5/17 | 5/24 | 5/31 | 6/7 | 6/14 |
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 16 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 can not 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.
You can order metal through PCC to have it delivered to the metal shop at a discounted price.
- Instructions:
- Email agardner@pcc.edu and joyce.campbell1@pcc.edu
- Things to include:
- quantity of full size pieces needed
- gauge or thickness
- width, if bar stock, tube or pipe
- if you have a hot rolled ($) or cold rolled ($$) preference
- Aaron will call the metal suppliers and respond to you with the best quoted price.
- You then must call the metal supplier and pay for your order over the phone, or tell Aaaron you’d like to cancel the order.
- Please note:
- To receive your order by Saturday, please submit your email to Aaron no later than Wednesday morning.
- Quote request must be for full size pieces without including planned cuts or short dimensions, see dimensions below.
- Sheet only comes in 4 x 8 sheets
- straight stalk only comes in 20′ lengths
- Consider combining orders with a classmate if you need less than a full size.
***REQUIRED PPE & TOOLS***
Students will be required to obtain the below PPE and welding gear to bring to every class (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 shop. You need to be able to hear what is happening around you.
- Students will be required to follow all established safety rules provided by the instructor & 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
- BREAK
- Safety Video:
- Safety Test
- Shop Tour
Week 2
- Lecture: History, Fabrication and Welding
- Demonstrations: Fabricating sheet steel
- Tools
- Shear
- Bending Break
- Slip Roller
- Throatless Shear
- Drill Press
- Pop riveting
- Tools
- In the Studio: Begin Welding Practice Project
- 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
-
Week 3
- Lecture: Creative History
- Lecture: Things To Consider
- Demonstrations:
- Mig Welder
- Plasma Cutter
- In the Studio: Continue Welding Practice Project
Week 4
- Lecture: Straight Stock
- Demonstration: cutting, bending and welding straight stock
- Tools
- Horizontal Band Saw
- Vertical Band Saw
- Abrasive Chop Saw
- Angle grinder
- Flap Disk
- Grinding Disk
- Cut Off Disk
- Standing Grinder
- Map Gas
- Tools
- In the Studio: Continue Welding Practice Project
- For Next Week: Designs for Final Project
Week 5
- In Class Design Review
- Share and review Final Project ideas as a class
- For next Week: Collect Materials for Final Project
Week 6
- Demonstration: Finishing, cleaning, patinas and painting
- In the Studio: Final Project
Week 7
- In the Studio: Final Project
Week 8
- In the Studio: Final Project
Week 9
- In the Studio: Final Project
Week 10
- In the Studio: Final Project (if needed)
- Final Project Review