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  Home   >   Education   >   Workshops   >   Course Descriptions  
 
Workshop Course Descriptions

  

Workshop participants in the 4-day Metalworking
Intensive refine their skills on the English Wheel.

All of our Metalworking Intensives cover a different fundamental training topic each day, and each day is a stand-alone intensive study and practice on that technique. You may attend all four days, or any combination of days that are areas you wish to study. However, priority is given to participants who plan to attend all four days.

Common topics -- such as planishing, metal finishing, annealing, work-hardening, heat-treating, patterns, and layout - will be covered in context on each of the four days.

A packet of special workshop preparation materials is sent to you three weeks prior to the workshop. It contains three videos, and many pages of printed material for your study prior to workshop attendance. This packet is available only to those who sign up for all four days of the workshop (and if available separately would be worth $200). If you are attending only part of a workshop, please contact us regarding what advance-study materials you will need.

Please note: Kent's tricky techniques for teaching include conundrums, brick-walls, and brain twisters. You will learn to solve problems and to think like a real metal-man -- by overcoming obstacles, and by using your bucket of grey cells. Gold star, anyone? It goes on your permanent record, you know.



Metalworking Fundamentals

Mar 8 - 11, 2012
Sep 21 - 24, 2012

This course is specially designed for those with limited experience in working sheet metal (shaping, repair, fab) and for those who want to learn more about metalworking tools in the shop environment. We will cover layout basics, cutting metal with snips, shears, and machines, followed by files, filing, and metal sanding. You will learn hand skills used for stretching (to make hollows and curves) and shrinking (to take down bumps and make shapes). Annealing and joining will also be covered in detail. Learn about the seven main machines for working sheet metal: shears, brakes, English wheels, air power hammers, Pullmax, shrinker/stretchers, and the bead roller.

Day 1 - Tools & Hand-Forming Sheet Metals

This class begins with a show-and-tell of the many different hand tools used for straightening and fabricating sheet metal bodywork. Demonstrations and practice of straightening and fabrication follow, using hammers, dollies, slappers, spoons, and anvils. Next we cover planishing, which is followed by a discussion on metal finishing with files and sanding. Students are given projects for their own practice of these methods. Students will learn to form sheet metal into complex shapes, anneal the work-hardened metal, and cut and trim the metal. The oxy-acetylene torch will be introduced, along with proper setting and safety measures. Flow forming for hollow and reverse shapes will also be covered.

Day 2 - The basics of Shrinking and Stretching

Students continue with more hand tools, learning to stretch and shrink metal using the same tools. Cutting, shearing, and proper deburring procedures will be practiced. An introduction to paper patterns and layout will help students understand how to analyze solid geometry, and how to divide problems into bite-sized chunks. There will also be practice using seven different shrinking machines to make several compound shapes.

Day 3 - Welding, Brazing & Soldering

Welding, brazing, and soldering of aluminum sheet will be the main focus, with further emphasis on the oxy-acetylene torch. Flange joints, butt joints, radius joints, and lap joints will be covered in detail. Several hours of handson practice will be required. 99% of students learn to make a good weld on aluminum in this class.

Day 4 - Intro to Metal Forming Machines

The day will begin with a thorough 2-hour module on the bead-roller, or “jenny” (rotary) machine. Die design, application, and problem-solving will be the key elements. Pre-stretching and other methods of solving panel-distortion problems will be covered. We will then explore the English Wheel, with students learning proper setup, clearance, pressures, tracking patterns, and both hollow and reverse shapes. Students will have two hours of hands-on practice, problem solving, and getting used to the flow of the machine. The Pullmax and the Air Power Hammer are also introduced and used during this four-day course.

Note: Students are given demonstrations, lectures, and show-and-tell, and then hours of hands-on practice. All students are expected to participate fully in all phases of the class instruction. Mere spectating is not permitted!

Cost: $375 per day (includes breakfast, lunch, materials & supplies).

Pre-req: Sincere interest in metalworking and a willingness to get your hands dirty. This workshop is for all skill levels.



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Have you already been to The Metalworking Fundamentals? Want some more challenge, inspiration, and intimidation? Read On...

4-Day Metalworking Intensive

Apr 20 - 23, 2012
Nov 1 - 4, 2012

Whether you’ve only been doing metalwork for a short time, or you’ve been doing it for decades, this workshop will hone your skills! This course gives you a unique opportunity to be in a production metalworking environment where you’ll meet other metal enthusiasts, while taking your skills to the next level. This workshop is tailored to meet the needs of each group of participants. For that reason, the information and pace taught can vary depending on the background, experience level, and interests of each group.

Day 1 – Stretching Tools & Methods

Fundamental concepts of metallurgy and metal behavior are introduced so that the student can become familiar with (and can anticipate the response of) metal to certain forces. Annealing, work hardening, and heat-treating are covered in the context of both making and repairing parts. Many approaches to stretching problems are covered, enabling the student to easily create his own solutions to achieve many shapes and forms. You will understand how to avoid excessive thinning while achieving the fastest stretch possible. The Air Power Hammer and other rapid forming tools are used to support hand working. Applications: bowls, hollows, reverses, fairings, saddles, and curved flanges.

Day 2 – Shrinking Tools & Methods

Using the Stretching class as a springboard, the Shrinking class stresses the underlying relationship of the duality of metal, and how heat and cold, soft and hard, and thick and thin affect the ability of the metal to take new shapes. Kent has defined 14 separate shrinking methods (most classes will cover nine or more methods). Applications: hollow shapes, curved flanges, and making repairs and adjustments.

Day 3 – Aluminum Gas Welding

Applications on non-structural parts and alloys are given in context. Using traditional, proven teaching methods, each student is expected to make a good weld in 6 hrs., just as the aircraft factories trained their welders years ago. Torch and tip selection, pressure regulator settings, fluxes, and fillers are covered in detail. Joint design, geometry, distortion, and applications are demonstrated and detailed. Students are given a basic joint to master, and when done they are encouraged to move on to a more difficult joint. Two hours of instruction, critiques, and demonstration, with 6 hours of student hands-on practice.

Day 4 – Using Forming & Shaping Machines

The English Wheel, Pullmax, and Air Shaping Hammer are shown in contrast to (and in support of) each other using demonstrations and projects. Time will be allowed for the student to become familiar with each machine. Personal projects are helpful for this segment, so if you have a project you’re working on, bring it along.

Cost: $375 per day (includes breakfast, lunch, materials & supplies).

Pre-req: We highly recommend attending "The Original" 4-day Metalworking Intensive first. However, if you have extensive metalwork experience please contact us and we will discuss which course is best for your skill level.



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TIG Welding - Weekend 1
Basics of TIG & TIG Welding Aluminum

May 5 - 6, 2012

How do I set up the machine for aluminum welding? What should I be seeing, and what changes should I make to achieve the desired results? What are all those switches and knobs for? Do these questions sound familiar? This is just skimming the surface of a long list of things one must know to consistently produce sound welds whether we are amateurs or professionals. The advanced technology available in today’s TIG machines enables the welder to profile his machine to achieve the specific results required for his part.

The first day will immerse the students in the function of and practice with the necessary equipment. The second day immerses everyone into actual welding — doing lap, tee, and butt joints, both in-position and out-of position. All students’ work will be graded and recommendations given for their future training. In this first two-day course you will learn:

  • Which tungsten works best and why
  • What a gas mix can improve
  • How to make the proper adjustments to the machine for a specific result
  • What problems to identify and correct before you continue welding
  • Proper filler metals for the aluminum alloys

Instructor: Your primary instructor for our TIG classes is Colin White, who has been welding for more than 20 years. Over the past 12 years he has worked on a wide range of welding projects, from large-scale jobs in American Shipyard (RI), to aerospace, and performance header manufacturing at Comptech. He currently welds for Schilling Robotics, producing components for ROVs (remotely-operated vehicles) for deep sea environments. Kent White will assist Colin in working with students one-on-one during class assignments.

Pre-requisite: Open to all skill levels.

Details: Students must bring their own welding helmets (at least a #10 shade / no more than a #12 shade), long cotton/wool sleeves, gloves, and closed-toed shoes.

Cost: Weekend 1 – $375 per day.  Price includes all class materials (sheet metal and welding supplies), plus breakfast and lunch.




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Aluminum Intensive
Gas Welding, Brazing, Soldering, Fabrication & Repair

Jun 22 - 25 , 2012

Have you wanted to work with aluminum but were daunted by making the jump from steel or other metals? Have you attempted to learn to gas weld aluminum but found it too frustrating or challenging? Aluminum isn’t nearly as difficult to master as you might think or have been told — but you need to know certain tips and techniques. This 4-day class is designed to give you complete knowledge of the basics of working aluminum sheet for automotive, aircraft, motorcycle, or sculpture.

Aluminum is made into a variety of alloys and is widely used in various thicknesses and hardnesses. This workshop covers several techniques for cutting aluminum sheet, as well as hand- and machine-forming four popular alloys: 1100, 3003, 5052, and 6061. Hot-working methods covered include annealing, shrinking, welding, brazing, and soldering. Along with these basics, students learn metal shaping, planishing, and metal finishing.

Students learn to make paper patterns and then transfer them to a 3D form, buck, or mockup, then break down that large shape into small workable shapes. You’ll then learn to make those shapes in metal using a variety of hand tools and machines. After roughing in the shape by stretching and shrinking, you will carefully define the fit of the part by smoothing and doing more refined work. Finally, by planishing and doing little adjustments in the shape, the part will fit. Once the parts all fit, students will trim and tack weld them, finally joining them into a good shape that is filed and sanded.

Making hems and wired edges rounds out your experience, giving you a complete experience in all the steps, from first idea to final physical component.

If you are currently working on an aluminum project you are having difficulty with, you are welcome to bring it with you.

Pre-requisite: Sincere interest in metalworking. Some knowledge of basic shop tools is helpful (although we’ve had students who’ve never used tools). This workshop is for all skill levels.

Cost: $375 per day.  Price includes breakfast and lunch, advance study materials, and all class materials and supplies.



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Mask Making

Jul 12 - 14, 2012

This unique course gives you the opportunity to learn new metalworking skills while expanding both your creative thinking and your ability to solve metal challenges! 

We’ve all seen carved wooden masks, molded plastic masks, and composition masks made of feathers, sequins, fabric, plastic and such. But how about formed metal masks? The only ones most people see come attached to suits of armor, but you can find some lovely metal masks in Italy, Africa, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Our goal for this workshop is to create one-of-a kind masks with various finishes, including highly-polished ones.

We’ll begin with a quick overview of the metalworking tools and alloys. We will then draw our ideas, size them to scale, and create paper patterns for our layouts. Cutting out blanks with snips, shears, and large electric nibbling machines will get us ready for the metal forming and shaping processes. Making forms and molds for each feature (noses, eyebrows, lips, cheeks, foreheads, and chins) presents some interesting three-dimensional challenges. The large components will be “formed in space” using hand techniques, flow forming, the bead roller, Pullmax, and the Air Power Hammer. Aluminum and copper are the best metals for making masks because joining them with solders and brazes is less of a challenge than steel, they are easier to shape, and the metals are prettier for this application.

Each participant is expected to produce at least one complete mask. There may even be a very nice prize for the best mask (determined by popular vote, of course!).

Pre-requisite: Open to all skill levels. Some basic skills are needed such as using snips, pliers, hammers.

Cost: $345 per day.  Price includes all class materials (including sheet metal and welding supplies), plus breakfast and lunch.



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Open Shop Invitational
Special Event for TM Workshop Alumini

Aug 24 - 26, 2012

Have you previously attended a TM workshop and thought about returning for a visit or to “brush up” on some skills? You are invited to attend our Open Shop Alumni Weekend at TM Tech! Join other metal enthusiasts for what promises to be lots of metalworking and a lot of fun. Bring a project you’d like to work on, and spend time with Kent and other workshop graduates troubleshooting your project, or just have fun testing out our new air hammers or other tools you’ve been curious about. Bring along a cooler and something to toss on the grill (some food provided). Space is limited, so make your reservation soon! Call for details. 

Cost: $150 per day.



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Aero Metal: Fab, Welding, & Repair
Location: Airmotive Specialties, Salinas Airport, Salinas, CA

Sep 7 - 9, 2012

The three primary aviation metals are aluminum, 4130 chromemoly, and stainless. This class will focus mostly on aluminum, from low-strength alloys 1100 and 3003, to medium-strength 5052 and 6061, and high-strength 2024. The class will learn the differences between these alloys, their tempers from soft to hard, and the various thicknesses. 

 Over the four days, class projects will include: making lightening holes for ribs and fuel tanks, making louvers, and working flat sheet into shapes such as wing root fairings, wheel pants, and wing tips. Students will have many hours to learn riveting, welding, brazing, and soldering. Some damaged parts will also be on hand for practice in making repairs, enabling students to learn hand skills such as annealing, shrinking, planishing, and metal finishing. 

There will also be practice time using metal shaping machinery such as the English wheel, the air power hammer, the bead roller, pedal shear, leaf brake, and the flow- forming system. 

Students will be asked to respect the shop environment and the equipment, as this special teaching venue is also a production aircraft shop, with tools that are in very good condition. 

Some shop skills will be necessary, such as laying out parts on sheet stock, organizing a small job, reading a tape measure, and working to some degree of accuracy. Some stainless and 4130 forming and repair instruction will also be included.

Workshop location: This special workshop is hosted by AirMotive Specialties of Salinas, CA, one of the top P-51 building and restoration shops in the country today. Classes will be held in their hangar / shop at the Salinas, CA airport. 

Pre-requisite: Basic understanding of (and preferably some experience with) shrinking, stretching, forming, and shaping. Recommended: Metalworking Fundamentals (or 4-Day Intensive, or Aluminum Intensive) or equivalent. 

Cost: $425 per day.  Includes all materials (sheet metals, machines, and tools), and full breakfast and lunch daily. Call for details on optional lodging/meals discount package.



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Autobody: Rust Repair & Patch Panels
Location: South San Francisco, CA

Oct 5 - 7, 2012

Rusted steel body panels can be a nightmare for restorers or customizers – but simply grinding the paint off and filling the holes with Brillo pads and Bondo are not the best methods for making repairs! Kent has spent years doing rust repairs on many high-end cars, as well as many plain old street cars, and this class will cover several methods for making sound, durable repairs on those rusted-out areas. Be prepared to get filthy dirty.

First, cutting out the rusted areas will involve several distinct methods, and you will find the best one for your own situation. (Did you know that a simple welding torch can cut steel very well?) Being able to “see” how far the rust has spread is very important, and you will learn a simple method for doing this quite effectively.

Making the repair panels is the next step. It’s surprising how organized this can be. Paper and cardboard patterns are very helpful to start the process, and a few hand tools can go a long way toward making simple panels. You will learn these techniques, and how to join your panels by brazing, soldering, and welding. We’ll also introduce adhesives that can be very beneficial for these repairs.

Third, you will also learn the chemistry behind rust removal and prevention, with coatings, primers, and top coats that can go a long way toward preventing rust from returning. Kent has never had a car returned to his shop for additional rust repairs, and his work has entailed replacing complete floors, quarter panels, hoods, roofs, and doors.

Workshop location: Our host for this workshop is Grace Body Shop, one of San Francisco’s premier shops for restoration, specialty, custom, collision, and detail. Grace specializes in Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Maserati, Lamborghini, hotrods, antique equipment including fire engines, and unique architectural projects.

Pre-requisite: Open to all skill levels. Fundamental understanding of metalworking basics, and general knowledge of the metal shop environment is recommended (common hand tools, measuring, marking and cutting metal, etc.).

Cost: $350 per day.  Price includes advance study materials, and all class materials (including sheet metal, and welding supplies).



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Shaping with Pneumatics
Air Power Hammer & Flow-Forming Intensive

Oct 19 - 22, 2012

This course will teach you faster and easier ways to shape metal, reproduce multiple parts, and make prototypes far more rapidly than you ever imagined!

Flow-forming is a traditional aviation method for forming sheet metal that predates WW2. A pneumatic rivet gun is used to rapidly hammer the sheet metal over or into a form or mold. Because a rivet gun can hit far more rapidly than a human arm can, and the accuracy of the blows can be held to a higher level, flow-forming is still one of the best ways to do rapid shaping. Many alloys of thin sheet copper, aluminum, steel, and brass can be worked into shapes using this method, and both stretching and shrinking may be applied using this process.

The Air Power Hammer taught in this workshop has been developed by TM Tech over the past 20 years. It is a remarkable machine for rapid shaping, with a wide range of applications for automotive, aircraft, motorcycle, sculpture, and architectural metal. During this 4-day course you will learn to make reverse shapes easily and accurately, shrink and stretch crowns and curves, and make flanges on curved panels that go either inward or outward as the dies stretch or shrink the flange as it is turned over. With only seconds needed to boost the power or change the dies, this machine is one thing you will not want to miss out on. If you have been curious about the capabilities of air power hammers and how they differ from common “planishing” hammers, here is your chance to get one-on-one training with the machine’s creator. Bring a project and be very surprised!

Pre-requisite: Basic understanding of shrinking, stretching, forming, and shaping. (Recommended: Metalworking Fundamentals, or the 4-Day Intensive or equivalent.) 

Cost: $375. per day. Includes all materials (sheet metals, machines, and tools), and full breakfast and lunch daily.



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TIG Welding - Weekend 2
Aluminum, Stainless & Titanium

Nov 17 - 18, 2012

Day One – Stainless

We’ll cover: How to make the necessary adjustments to the machine; how to get the right weld color for the job; and what problems to identify and correct before continuing to weld. Gas lenses will be very necessary when TIG welding stainless. This class will immerse the students in the function of and practice with the necessary equipment and procedures for TIG welding stainless on lap, tee, and butt joints. We will also cover filler metals, tungsten shape, and passivation.

Day Two – Titanium

You will learn how to make consistent high-grade welds on titanium, with specific instruction in gas flows and gas coverage, back-purge, tungsten choices and sizes, cups and sizes, and drag cups. We’ll detail filler metals along with correct tee and lap joints. All students’ work will be graded and recommendations given for their future training.

Please note: Aerospace grade welding may require additional equipment that will not be available in this class. Also, slight discolorations of “straw” on welds will be acceptable in this class.

Instructor: Your primary instructor for our TIG classes is Colin White, who has been welding for more than 20 years. Over the past 12 years he has worked on a wide range of welding projects, from large-scale jobs in American Shipyard (RI), to aerospace, and performance header manufacturing at Comptech. He currently welds for Schilling Robotics, producing components for ROVs (remotely-operated vehicles) for deep sea environments. Kent White will assist Colin in working with students one-on-one during class assignments.

Pre-requisite: Attending TIG Welding Weekend 1 is not specifically required for the second weekend. However, if during the second two-day course a student’s skills are not proficient, they will be given practice work to get them up to speed. 

Details: Students must bring their own welding helmets (at least a #10 shade / no more than a #12 shade), long cotton/wool sleeves, gloves, and closed-toed shoes.

Cost: Weekend 2 – $495 per day.  Price includes all class materials (sheet metal and welding supplies), plus breakfast and lunch. Cost for this program is higher due to the high cost of titanium.



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Mastering the Torch
Welding, Brazing & Soldering


Nov 30 - Dec 3, 2012

Here is your opportunity to learn how to join 5 different common metals 3 different ways, and how to apply this to fabrication and repairs. If you have been wanting to learn the advantages of torch welding (versatility, cost, efficiency, control), or if you are just wanting to improve your welding, brazing and soldering skills, this course is for you.

Day 1 - Torch Basics & Soldering steel, aluminum, stainless, copper, and brass.

We begin the first day with setting up the torch, regulators, and going over safety. Students then go on to define soldering and the temperatures involved. We experiment with cleaning the metals, choosing solders and fluxes, and practicing soldering techniques. Joint designs are then compared, along with tensile strengths and hardnesses. Soldering for repairs, constructions and fabrication are covered in detail, and you will learn to join the different metals to each other and to themselves. Students are required to participate in several hours of hands-on practice.

Day 2 - Brazing steel, copper, aluminum, brass, 4130, and stainless.

We will discuss working temperatures, tensile strengths, and fluxes and fillers. We will distinguish clearly between soldering and brazing. Misinformation about "hot metal" joining is discussed thoroughly. Students will learn proper cleaning and joint prep, along with the techniques for setting the torch and applying different brazes. Several hours of hands-on practice is required of all students.

Day 3 - Welding steel, 4130, aluminum, and copper.

Students will learn the difference between welding, brazing, and soldering. We will use various joint designs and discuss pro's and con's of each. Students are expected to learn tensile strength variations between the methods, and several hours of student practice is required.

Day 4 - Practice makes perfect.

Since the amount of methods covered on previous days will require many hours of practice, this last day will make a big difference in your skill level. Students will practice more on the different techniques and correct any deficiencies. We will also cover joining techniques applicable for chrome plating.

Cost: $375 per day (includes breakfast, lunch, materials & supplies).

Pre-req: Sincere interest and basic metalworking skills. (Metalworking Fundamentals is NOT a pre-requisite for this class).



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Working with Forming Machines: The English Wheel, Air Power Hammer, Pullmax & More

Mar 30 - Apr 1, 2012

This workshop will focus on the broad range of Metal Shaping Machines and their proper use. Although each day focuses on working with specific machines, you will find that we will discuss and compare a variety of machines each day.

Day 1 – The Air Power Hammer

Many people instinctively refer to all “air hammers” as “planishing” hammers while neglecting the forming operations which must precede planishing. Learn how an Air Power Hammer can help you quickly and accurately rough-in shapes, shrink, stretch, and perform other forming operations (like straightening out crumpled nosebowls) in addition to planishing. We will explore how to make reverses, fairings, and saddle shapes, how to flange and curve edges, and how to get the most out of this machine.

Day 2 – English Wheel

We start with a little history, and then we get into the set-up and geometry of this machine. The Wheel is deceptively simple. To the casual observer it appears as if you are just rolling a piece of metal back and forth — how hard could that be? But to use this machine correctly and efficiently, there are a lot of little tricks that add up to big rewards. Learn when you should use the wheel and when to choose another tool, how to make passes correctly, how to get the shape you’re looking for, how to make those welds disappear, and how to get a beautiful mirror finish.

Day 3 – Shrinking Machines, Pullmax, and Flow-Forming

A number of machines have been used in the sheet metal industry for decades — that you’ll find incredibly useful including various shrinker-stretchers, brakes, and electric reciprocating (Pullmax) machines. We’ll go over the pros and cons of the various machines, and strategies for getting the most out of each, including basic maintenance, as well as techniques for shrinking, stretching, edge turning, flanging, beading, simple ways to create louvers, and make reverses. Ever tried Flow-Forming? It’s an extremely fast, inexpensive method you can use to speed up specific types of tedious shaping jobs normally done by hand.

Day 4 – Putting it all together

Day four of this workshop is your opportunity to test the skills you have just learned — using the tools and forming machines from the first three days of class. You can bring a part that you would like to work on, or bring an idea of something you would like to try making. This is also your opportunity to work with Kent one-on-one with any machines you are having difficulty with, and to share ideas with others in the class on solving fabrication challenges.

Cost: $375 per day (includes breakfast, lunch, materials & supplies).

Pre-req: An understanding of shop environment, hand tools, and basic processes of measuring, marking, and cutting sheet metal. (Metalworking Fundamentals is NOT a pre-requisite for this class).

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We Also Offer


Steelworking Intensive

2012 Dates TBD – Please call

For those of you who are into automotive restoration as a profession or a hobby will be right at home with us for this workshop. Last year a customer brought with him the front fender to his 1958 Desoto which was damaged around the front headlight brawl when a patch wrongly welded in. The students helped as Kent showed them how to replace the entire front section and fit the patch to the headlights with nothing more than a few hand tools and a torch. After a few hours the seamless patch was finished! Car, Motorcycle, Air Plane or Boat, bring difficult part and let Kent show you how to get started!

Day 1 - Methods for repairs for rust and crash damage

Making rapid tooling for repair panel fabrication, and repairing damaged panels starts this 4 day event. Kent's years of doing steel body restoration with some of the masters of Rollover Repairs will bring a lot of light to this topic. Add in annealing and hardening and this day is packed.

Day 2 - Stretching, Shrinking, and Planishing

There are some rapid ways to shrink steel panels right on the car, bike, or haybaler, so let's get with the program and move some metal. The same goes for stretching to flare some fenders. And then smoothing…why not pick up a Fender Planishing machine and let the machine do it…right on the car. Ever heard of or seen The Amazing Shrink Disc? Or the whirling whanging rubagizmo? I can show you how the Texas dustbowl Depression-era metalmen lifted out hail dents without a sound.

Day 3 - Gas Welding, Brazing and Soldering

What really works and what is a time-waster? Why braze? How can solder save time? Is that gas welding faster than TIG? Is the MIG welder really a manure spreader? We take a close look at what is appropriate for the task. Chrome? No sweat. I have made a bunch of steel stuff for chrome-plate, and have done serious repairs for chrome. How do you prep? I worked with a plating shop for years…prepping for Pebble Beach. Want to win? I did and I can show you some pretty effective methods.

Day 4 - Oil cans

Need I say any more? I once spent 3 MONTHS on a fancy 5-piece brass-trimmed Pierce Arrow hood that had gone saddle-back after a load of snow fell on it. Then some character sandblasted it. I sure learned a lot about shrinking…and oil cans. What are oil cans (oilcanes?)? How do they form? You will be surprised to learn what the truth is. And how easy it can be to send one packing. You will make them, and erase them by days' end. And, if you are a real pro and get through my obstacle course…we can do a class on Louvers.

Cost: $345 per day (includes breakfast, lunch, materials & supplies).

Pre-req: Sincere interest and basic metalworking skills. ("The Original" 4-Day Intensive is NOT a pre-requisite for this class).

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Louvers, Flow Forming, and a Project -
Building a Grille Shell for a Pre-war Alfa Romeo


2012 Dates TBD – Please call

Day 1–Louver secrets

Kent has compiled a number of ways to make louvers quickly and accurately. He has a louver punch with a high-tech set of spring-loaded louver dies. Using these and four more ways, you will learn five methods of making louvers. From using a press and precision-machined dies, to making your own dies with no machining, to making louvers either free-hand or with very basic forms, you will become a Louver King.

Day 2–Flow Forming

We all use a mallet or hammer to form parts, but there is a faster way that is incredible. Join us to have some real rapid fun. Students will develop an understanding for the tooling and force required for making parts using this method. Several form blocks will be provided for the class, and students are welcome to bring projects.

Day 3 and 4 – Project Time!

Learn how to build a grille shell for a Pre-war Alfa Romeo from start to finish

Cost: $345 per day (includes breakfast, lunch, materials & supplies).

Pre-req: Sincere interest and basic metalworking skills. ("The Original" 4-Day Intensive is NOT a pre-requisite for this class).


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Copperworking & Art Metal
2012 Dates TBD – Please call

We will begin by comparing copper to known/familiar metals, and then contrasting it by its working characteristics. Since this will be mostly for artists/artisans/sculptors our format will be less focused on structures and engineering and more on organic shapes. Because of the high cost of sheet copper our costs are higher, and the price must reflect this: $395 per day.

Day 1 - Patterns, Bucks, Mock-ups, and Maquettes

Learn to paper out a shape, transfer solids to flats, and make 3D solids from which to build. What is legal? How creative can we get? This will be "Paper Dolls 101" or "Crafts 206" - taking the idea and working it into a mockup.

Day 2 - Annealing, Shrinking, Stretching, Planishing

This is where the copper is laid out, blanked, and the shape is put into it. We will use hand tools, home made tools, and forming machines to work the sheet into some creative shapes. Annealing, hardening and hot work will be included for your benefit. Embossing and pressing will round out the day.

Day 3 - Tubing: measure, bend, cut, fit, weld/braze

The two types of tubing will be used to show how structures can be made strong with either one. Cutting and bending will surprise you, as I think I can show you unusual methods of bending you may not be aware of, bending tube of any kind. Welding and brazing will be introduced, and then continued on Day 4.

Day 4 - Welding, brazing & soldering, polishing, coloring, and patination

Joining copper (and brass and stainless) to each other can be a wonderful accent to a sculpture, as can patination. Once we learn to weld, braze, and solder this metal then we can think about the final color, and make choices based on weathering, location, or coating the finished piece. Commercial patinations will be used as well as home-brewed concoctions.

Cost: $395 per day (includes breakfast, lunch, materials & supplies).

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Alaska Workshops
March 2012 Dates TBD – Please call

If you have any questions or you would like more detailed information please contact us at 530-292-3506.We can also be reached by email at workshops@tinmantech.com.

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Switzerland/Europe Workshops
May 24 - 27, 2012   Metalworking Intensive   Location: Ruti, Switzerland

If you have any questions or you would like more detailed information please contact us at 530-292-3506. We can also be reached by email at workshops@tinmantech.com.

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