Results tagged “steel” from NoMuse

My Constant Readers may recall my entry relating how I arrived at the decision to build an updraft ceramic kiln. With graduation looming, access to the metal shop in the art department closed for the summer and my welder's pending move to Wyoming, I felt some pressure to get my kiln frame built. After carefully reviewing the updraft section of Fredrick Olsen's "The Kiln Book" and studying local examples of his kilns, I compiled my list of metal and went shopping at Wasatch Steel.

After the adventures in funding the potential to buy more natural gas, I confess to a degree of uncertainty, hesitation and fear regarding my metal shopping trip. I kept expecting the woman who accepted my order to request my permit, license to buy steel, secret handshake, password or first born child. Happily, once I got my mind wrapped around the basic nuances of ordering terminology, the purchase proceeded without any major hitches. I did discover steel tube does not mean round. The hard way.

Justin and I took the metal to the shop at the art department of the University on Saturday morning. I discussed my project with one of my ceramic instructors and with the shop/tool manager prior to buying the metal. I offered to cover my consumables and both assured me use of the facility was not a problem so long as I was out before it closed for the summer. Justin and I measured and cut most of the stock I'd purchased before wearing out a fairly fresh band saw blade. The next day, I ran into the shop manager and told him what had happened.

Because I thought I'd covered my bases, I didn't drop in at the art department first thing in the morning. This was a mistake.

When I dropped in midway through Monday morning to get a list of parts necessary to get the plasma cutter and mig welder usable, I was quickly made aware the midden had hit the rotary air circulation device and my name was mud. In fact, after explaining what had happened and iterating my complete willingness to pay for consumables to include the band saw blade, I was invited to take my metal elsewhere. I was told if I were making an art piece, I could be excused for my use of the tools; but, as I was building a tool to facilitate the continued pursuit of my area of emphasis, there was no room for my use of the metal facility. After five years of tuition and exorbitant studio fees to the art department, I simmered with anger just barely controlled. Justin and I relocated the metal to my house.

I spent most of the following week chasing down a welder. By Saturday, I had stick and MIG welders and a plasma cutter. Justin and I worked hard and managed to get a pair of frames together -- although the first requires some extensive rehabilitation. We returned the MIG and plasma cutter about 11:30p and got some sleep before replacing his subfloor the next morning (see the June 1 catch up story below).

In the end, all forward progress on the home studio is good and welding equipment pops up in the most unexpected places.

Kiln Frame Construction Photos