Metal Fabrication

Introduced to working with metal during the workshop orientation class at RISD. Also worked in the I.D. Department’s metal shop over the summer (2019) and helped design and fabricate four large steel table frames (4x12ft each). From the class we learnt the basic hand tools and processes (filing, cutting, riveting, hammering, soldering, etc) as well as machines such as the jump shear, roller bending, press brake, hydraulic press, drill press, etc.

Much of the learning is improving our (kinesthetic? embodied?) sensibility to the material and making reliable decisions in the order of operations while fabricating; which are very situational and experience based. They are difficult to describe and pass on to others without demonstrations: it’s knowing through doing rather than thinking,