Great garden ornament

 This project was a combination of scrolling and brazing by one of the year ten girls. We have also been experimenting with a similar design to make sun dials.

Laser cutting and resin casting

 Trying something new. I found some compact mirrors with a blank top. I decided to use this to allow the students to work with the laser cutter and then use the resin casting unit, which teaches them how resin works and some of its properties, to finish it off. Here are some of the results.

Pewter castings for year 9

 This year we experimented with the laser to create molds and were able to get far more accurate work than when using the cuttle-fish bone. This encourages the students to take on more challenging designs and also limits the wasted pewter. Enjoy!

Fun with bandsaw boxes.

 Once students have covered the basics of the bandsaw their second project can be a bandsaw box that

many of them enjoy making.

Creative clock

As part of learning to work on the bandsaw, this student made this lovely clock using huon pine and stringybark

 

Tidy little table

In year nine the students use brazing as an introduction to working with the oxyacetylene. In year 10 they move on to gas welding and complete a little project. This table was made by one of the girls in year 10 with her own designed top on it.

 

Chess board

The chessboard is a good exercise to test accuracy. Senior students learn to use the circular saw, thicknesses and compound mitre saw to make it.

... more creative work from my students

Some more creative work from students with varying ability levels.

With good or average skills there is always something that you can make that will challenge you or inspire you. The trick is to apply yourself to the task and endure through to the end. Then be proud of what you have made. May this inspire you to continue today, tomorrow or some time in the future.

Some of the final brazing items for the year. Pressed decals were purchased from Metal Craft where we also  purchased our scrolling tools that will easily scroll all mild steel flat bar up to 20 x 3 when cold. The students find it easy to use and like exploring new ideas using scrolling. Some the joints are riveted but larger items are brazed or gas welded depending on their skills

Horseshoe owl

Two shoes and washers and a little 6 mm rod  Finished with a grey hammer tone paint

Birds head

 Simple but effective 10mm flat bar

Guinea-fowl design

3.5 mm mild steel rod with an black finish with white speckle

Balancing rings 

12 mm flat bar with an aged copper look

Wall hooks

20 mm flat bar  with mat-black finish

   

Jig saw and bandsaw mirror

9 mm plywood with acrylic mirror

Bandsaw boxes

Most our bandsaw boxes are made from trees that have fallen in storms and cyclones. This gives us access to some unique timber and many of our pieces of timber may never be identified. Our thanks goes to all the great parents that supply us with this wonderful resource.

A tree trunk light

Cross section or a trunk that has been cut out with  Jigsaw

a

A fun project

 Resin casting

Some 'she oak' That had some good sized cracks in it. these were filled with resin and finished off