Fay Butler Fab/Metal Shaping

5 Subject Groups to Learn as a Craftsman

1) Materials - when you work in any material it can be beneficial to know what that material is from a science point of view. Going back to the atom, and understanding the atomic structure can be good place to start. All materials have some sort of numbering system, which usually starts with the chemical composition. Learning that can establish a scientific thought. When you pick up a piece of metal…do you know what it is? With metals, read about "Physical Metallurgy", learn the numbering systems for metal.

2) Compound curves - When talking about compound curves there are specific rules to follow…It is changing the thickness, and not all changing the thickness is doing the same thing to the atomic structure of the material. Shape (the change of thickness component) vs. Form (the folded component which is not affecting the thickness), what a compound curve is, how to get started, contact points, shrinking and stretching, details are all important aspects for working intelligently in this field.

3) Welding - understanding the 4 principles: 1) the electric current in generating the heat, 2) controlling the chemistry of the puddle, 3) eliminating surface oxides and contaminants and 4) planning for the shrinkage.

4) Design - When we are making something, we are speaking through the language of the reflection of light known as highlights. This is the beauty of compound curve shapes as there is the possibility of a more interesting highlight line, giving a more distinct language. If we are reproducing or modifying an object than we must respect the designers’ language. If we are designing something, we need to keep what we are saying to a simple language so we do not have too many thoughts speaking at the same time. Design languages are influenced by the culture and the possibilities in materials. This is reflected in industrial design, furniture design, and everything around us, so studying design eras. When we talk about American design, this starts with early settlers in mid 1600’s and is influenced with what is going on in the world. Start at American eras of period furniture, then move to the Arts and Crafts movement, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Streamline, the German Bauhaus movement started by Gropius, etc.

5) Why - Last the question is "why" are you doing what you are? That can be religion or philosophy, both eastern and western ideas. Without a purpose, life might get mundane or irrelevant.

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