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2:35 am
August 4, 2010
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Hi All,
I promised pictures of the school's shop once I got it cleaned up. Well the clean up happened last week and I immediately took pictures knowing that the shop would not be this clean for another year. Anyway, pictures follow.
That's it. One wall has all the 3 phase power so that is where the big welders and machine tools live. The plasma table was what I did this summer. It's probably 98% complete as far as the build goes. The gantry jogs, but there is lots of tweaking to do and then I need to learn the software. All the forging equipment is mine. I hope to add some forging to the class this year. Last year was a year for setup. Nothing was done when the school opened, absolutely nothing. The shops were a warehouse and I could not go into them with students until mid September. The students were very patient and helped with almost all the machine setup. It was a unique experience for them that no other class will get. There is not much room for machinery left. Which is probably good. I will replace the rusty-style with an Iron Kiss when John gets mine built. I intend to sell the rusty hammer once I do some rework on the drive and the dies. Anyway, let me know if I can answer any questions. Oh, I also run the wood shop at the school which is just a roll up door away from the metal shop.
Thanks,
Brian LoBue
5:14 am
March 22, 2010
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Right on man! That is a beautiful shop! I sure wish I would have had something like that as a high school elective!
Whatever you are, be a good one.
Abraham Lincoln
5:43 am
March 22, 2010
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Great job, lucky for your students, the only tool that gives me the shivers is the Baldor?? motor with loing spindles, usually used with wire brush or buffing wheels. It is visible visible in front of a yellow cabinet?? in one of the photos.
At one blacksmith conference years ago someone brought one with a wire brush on one end and a buffing wheel on the other. Late at night, midnight madness one lady had forged something and was wire brushing it, she had long hair which was close to the piece being brushed. I reminded her of the possible hazard. she stopped and not 10 minutes later was at it again. reminded her again. The third time I took off the power plug then replaced it the next morning.
Now a days, our blacksmith group has a safety comittee that tries to keep a better watch on what is going on.
A friend of mine, full time blacksmith considered the power wire brush the most dangerous tool in the shop.
My kids used to call me "Mr Safety" when using tools in the shop.
Well they and I have all our hands, fingers, and eyes.
Good luck teaching, that is a great setup.
Gene c.
5:51 am
August 4, 2010
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Gene C;2295 wrote: Great job, lucky for your students, the only tool that gives me the shivers is the Baldor?? motor with loing spindles, usually used with wire brush or buffing wheels. It is visible visible in front of a yellow cabinet?? in one of the photos.
.....
Well they and I have all our hands, fingers, and eyes.
Good luck teaching, that is a great setup.
Gene c.
Hi Gene,
I agree completely about the machine you mentioned. It is not hooked up incidentally. I haven't decided what to make of it yet. Buffing wheels probably. Wire wheels, probably not. I too have all my original body parts and intend to keep it that way.
Thanks,
Brian
3:35 pm
March 22, 2010
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[Image Can Not Be Found] I got banged buy a wire wheel flung item earlier this year...
Whatever you are, be a good one.
Abraham Lincoln
7:54 pm
May 15, 2010
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That is amazing! I'm cannot believe you have been able to bring back what I thought was lost to our school system, congratulations! I have been trying to help my local school to set up some sort of blacksmith program with the help of my friend that teaches art there. It seems to be a insurmountable battle, how did you pull it off?
Michael Dillon
http://dillonforge.com/
4:43 am
August 4, 2010
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Danger;2305 wrote: That is amazing! I'm cannot believe you have been able to bring back what I thought was lost to our school system, congratulations! I have been trying to help my local school to set up some sort of blacksmith program with the help of my friend that teaches art there. It seems to be a insurmountable battle, how did you pull it off?
Hi Danger,
Christopher HS is a new high school in it's second year. When I joined 2.5 years ago my boss mentioned that we were walking through the wood shop and metal shop area of the new building. I asked him if he had anyone to teach those classes. He said no and that it would be really hard to find someone. I mentioned that I might know a guy. 🙂 So right time and place for me. The principal was very insistent that the new school have both a wood shop and metal shop. He got his way since he was the one who attended the planning and construction meetings.
Your situation probably is at the mercy of the school administration who can more easily say no to your proposal then organize the new program.
One thing that most the administrators in my area tell me is that the most rare piece of the puzzle is the teacher. Most teacher training programs do not have much support for someone who wants to teach shop classes. Many times industry people get teaching credentials, but they often get shafted on the pay scale and often times work in industry is more lucrative. I actually have credentials in math and physics as well as "Industrial and Technical Education", which is the current California double speak for shop class. The other big hurdle for me now is getting money to buy materials. It is hard to run a wood shop class without wood, but I am fighting that now. Somehow I'll manage, but how I'm not sure. As of this point I'm lucky to be doing work that I love and that I think is important. I hope it stays that way.
Did I answer your questions? Please let me know. Also, if you ever want to come out to California to help me teach blacksmithing let me know! We have a long class once a week that would be great to teach forging.
Thanks,
Brian
10:52 am
March 26, 2010
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Danger;2305 wrote: That is amazing! I'm cannot believe you have been able to bring back what I thought was lost to our school system, congratulations! I have been trying to help my local school to set up some sort of blacksmith program with the help of my friend that teaches art there. It seems to be a insurmountable battle, how did you pull it off?
It's pretty much the same this side of the pond. About the only subject taught that is even remotely "hands on" is CDT (craft design and technology) and that was all about making things out of yohurt pots, cardboard and glue ....I think it's criminal myself.
The good side to the equation was a few years ago there were plenty of hardly used small lathes, mills, anvils stakes etc being sold off from schools.
Re the wire wheel ..... scarey mofos those tools.
7:57 pm
June 3, 2010
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Well done Brian!
Shop classes were my favorites in school even though Father had a metal spinning and machine shop I had pretty free access to. Of course he put me to work if I showed up.
I can't say how glad I am to see a real shop class in a "modern" high school, not many left.
Frosty the Lucky.
3:52 am
August 4, 2010
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Frosty;2626 wrote: Well done Brian!
Shop classes were my favorites in school even though Father had a metal spinning and machine shop I had pretty free access to. Of course he put me to work if I showed up.
I can't say how glad I am to see a real shop class in a "modern" high school, not many left.
Frosty the Lucky.
Hi Frosty,
I am trying to make sure the classes stick around for at least another generation. No matter how high tech we get everyone still needs to swing a hammer once in a while. One of the reasons I enjoy this forum is getting ideas for student projects like Dave Hammer's hat and key fob.
Thanks,
Brian
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