Category Archives: welding

MATC Community Welding (Part 2)!

Posted on by Pete Prodoehl

Wow! We have to admit, we were a bit overwhelmed with how many people came to the MATC Community Welding event we had in November. We expected maybe 10 to 20 people and had probably 40! In fact, it was too many, and made it difficult to fit everyone into our small welding area (even in shifts.)

So obviously the only solution is to do it again. Only bigger this time!

So once again we’re teaming up with our friends at MATC for a welding event that is open to the community. Anyone 14 years of age or older is welcome. Here’s the details you need to know:

We’ll have a number of MATC welding instructors on-hand so everyone will get a chance to do some welding. The welding robot lab will also be available for tours (but we won’t be using it this time.)

Please wear proper clothing! Long pants and sleeves with cotton materials, no nylon or any synthetic materials, no open toed shoes. If you have a pair of safety glasses please bring them! Wear clothes that you won’t mind burning a hole in. Welding can get messy!

It’s happening between 6pm and 8pm on Monday, December 17th, 2018 at the MATC West Campus at 1309 S. 70th Street in West Allis, Wisconsin.

This is a free event, and our friends at MATC are donating their time, and if you like what you see, they can tell you more about their continuing education welding classes at MATC. How awesome is that!?

MATC Community Welding

Posted on by Pete Prodoehl

Psst! Hey, you! Wanna learn some welding? We’re teaming up with our friends at MATC for a welding event that is open to the community. Member or not, you are welcome to join us and spend a few hours learning how to do MIG welding. Don’t know what MIG stands for, that’s okay! We’ll teach you.

We’ll start at 6pm on Monday, November 26th, 2018. If you’re not a member we will ask you to sign in as a guest and fill out a participation waiver. If you’re a member, come on down and bring a friend and let’s all learn to fuse metal.

This is a free event, and our friends at MATC are donating their time, and if you like what you see, they can tell you more about their continuing education welding classes at MATC.

Note: This class is for people 18 and older. (No minors are allowed.)

Luke, I am your fire pit…

Posted on by Carl Stevens

Darth Head

Whether you think this looks like Darth Vader or Dark Helmet it’s still cool. Mark has been making fire pits and wood burning stoves out of used propane tanks for a while at the space. This is the first one I’ve seen him make that is meant to look like a character. As usual he’s doing a great job. Mark has also been giving some more one-on-one welding classes at the space. Don’t miss out if you want to learn how to weld from a master.2 imagesDarthThe welding is only the beginning.  It can be easy to forget about the less sexy part of making.  Grinding and painting.  Though the natural look of rust is cool Darth Vader was black.  I am looking forward to seeing more characters represented in Mark’s work.  If you see him around the space suggest one to him.vader 3 images

Casting Furnace Update

Posted on by BrantH

Despite summer vacation and other obligations, work continues to progress on the Casting Furnace.  In the past few weeks Bret has pinched the end of a metal brake line tube used to feed the furnace diesel fuel and installed a needle valve to better control the fuel flow rate.

Brant has been milling and machining parts for a mechanism that will both lift the lid and turn it out of the way when someone steps on a foot pedal.  The next steps will be to finish the foot pedal, weld it to the rig, and secure the lid to the top of of the lifting post.  Bret also plans to improve the casting tongs so they are more easy to use.

For more information, see the project wiki page: http://wiki.milwaukeemakerspace.org/projects/casting_furnace