Metalwork and Welding for Sculptors, Masterclass

This is a 4-day intensive masterclass in working with a wide variety of metalworking processes and equipment. It is aimed at sculptors who have a good understanding of their own practice, but limited experience of metalwork and welding. Participants should have an idea of what they want to achieve — a specific sculptural process, type of structure or combination of materials.

We will be working with a number of different metals commonly used by sculptors with fabrication and welding techniques (not casting). These will include: Mild Steel, Stainless Steel, Galvanised Steel and Aluminium.

Please note: we will not be welding Aluminium as this requires a more advanced level of welding experience.

The amount and complexity of different metalworking and/or welding techniques covered will be determined by the participants’ needs and levels of previous experience. In order to help plan and tailor the workshop to their particular needs, artists will be asked to describe in advance what experience of metalwork and welding they have, and what they are trying to achieve — with drawings and as much technical information as possible, e.g: any particular needs for the metalwork structure, such as strength, supporting function or joining to other materials, movement, incorporating lighting, etc.

Areas that we will be able to focus on include:

Design for metal construction: understanding how to design metalwork structures to work with other materials; measuring, planning, specifying; producing technical sketches to be read by others (engineers, commissioners, other technical specialists).

Welding instruction for the 4 most commonly used types of welding machine (traditional arc welder, inverter arc welder, MIG welder, TIG welder). This will include: basic principles of operation, how to use the welder safely (protection from light, heat, electric shock and awareness of potential dangers for others), setting up the welder and setting up the work and welding area (earth clamp position, safe and comfortable welding position, welding screens), the main elements of successful welding technique (penetration, fusion, moving the weld pool, allowing for heat movement and cooling), different types of welds (Fillet weld, butt weld, stitch weld, vertical weld), dressing the weld and finishing off work. In addition, there is the option to explore gas welding and brazing/soldering.

General metalwork techniques: understanding the main types of metals used by sculptors for fabricating and welding techniques (not casting), their physical qualities and formats they are supplied in; safe handling of metals; design and marking of metal; cutting techniques for metal (chopsaw, angle grinders, hacksaw); drilling metal (pillar drill and cordless drills); deburring, filing, grinding and sanding (with hand and power tools); mechanical joining techniques (bolts, hinges, brackets, rivets, taps and threads).

Further metalwork Techniques: sheet and plate metal: cutting, bending & folding; round bar, square bar, flat and hollow sections: bending & rolling; construction techniques — working with bars, angles, flats, hollow-sections, and plate metal to create frameworks and rigid supporting structures. We will analyse the needs of participating artists’ chosen sculptural forms to define the requirements of their metalwork components, for example: strength (in compression, in tension, rigidity vs flexibility), joining to other materials (concrete, wood, glass, ceramics, plastics), mechanisms for movement (hinges, pivots, telescopic bars), safely working with electrical components.

This workshop is aimed at professional, experienced sculptors. Artists will be provided with most health & safety equipment but will need to wear suitable work clothes. Further details will be provided before the workshop.