Learn to TIG weld at the Columbus Idea Foundry!

Instructor: Jesse Mills

The Columbus Idea Foundry is offering an intro to TIG welding class, taught by Jesse Mills.  TIG welding is a sophisticated welding process that can be used with typical steels, as well as stainless steel and nonferrous alloys such as aluminum, brass, bronze and copper.  This class will teach the basics of steel and aluminum TIG welding over the course of three weeknight sessions, each 2-3 hours long.  The first session will discuss initial setup of the machine and the basics of material preparation. The second session will teach the practice of steel TIG welding, and the third will teach aluminum TIG welding.  No experience is necessary, although students who have taken an intro to MIG welding class or a stick welding class, at the Idea Foundry or elsewhere, will be better prepared to learn TIG.  Class size is limited to the first 6 registered students.  The cost of all three sessions together is $100, with an additional $25 for materials, for a total of $125 per student.  As with all the classes and equipment taught at the Columbus Idea Foundry, once students have learned how to use our tools, and have proven their competence with them, they may use the equipment for their own practice or personal projects at an hourly rate.

Note that this is a 3-day class, August 23rd, 24th, and 25th (Monday-Wednesday).

For further information, email Jesse Mills at jessedmills at gmail dot com.

The Columbus Idea Foundry invites makers, racers, and enthusiasts of all types to our 2nd annual Ohio Tool Racing Championship!  Saturday, August 21st, we will be encouraging people to race their power-tool racers down our 75 foot long track, competing for fame, infamy, and prizes…  A rough schedule of events includes:

2pm-4pm – Art Car design with Ramona Moon and Greg Phelps
2pm-4pm – open house and live demonstrations at the Columbus Idea Foundry (smithing, casting, CNC machining, and more)
4pm-4:30pm – Art Car belt-sander races for the kids (kids can decorate a “stock” beltsander with arts and crafts, race it down the track, and go home with their decorated chassis; prizes for all participants in this event!)
5pm-5:30pm – “Stock” power tool races
6pm-6:30pm – Art Auction (live auction and silent auction; come to sell your art, or come bid for your own new pieces)
6:30pm-7pm – “Top Fuel” class power tool racers

Register for a Stock or Top Fuel race for $25; register for an under-18 beltsander race for $15; or simply come to watch for free!

Limited beverages, food, and beer will be available for purchase at the races.

Please visit www.ToolRaces.com or www.ColumbusIdeaFoundry.com for more information, or to register your racer for the event.  Please note that the Columbus Idea Foundry will be hosting an “open build” night on Wednesday, August 18th, from 7pm-10pm, for anyone who would like to build their racer at our shop.

To submit art for the art auction, register for any events, or for any other questions, please direct correspondence to:

Matt at ColumbusIdeaFoundry dot com

or

matt.s.bowman at gmail dot com

We’ll see you at the races! 

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The Idea Foundry’s 2nd Annual Power Tool Drag Race will be Saturday, August 21st!

Power Tool Drag Races, events for the kids, demonstrations of classes and crafts at the shop, and much more!  Stay tuned for further details soon….

Adlai is offering a bladesmithing class at the Columbus Idea Foundry, Thursday, June 10th, ~6pm to 9pm.  Participants will learn basic blacksmithing and bladesmithing techniques.  They will be forging a small forge finished all steel utility knife or letter opener similar to the ones pictured below.  Please wear all natural fiber clothing.

Fee is $30 and $10 for supplies (for a total of $40).  Email us at info at ColumbusIdeaFoundry dot com for more information.

Thank you!

Greetings all-

To ring in the Spring, the Vintage Sheets Collective is offering a container gardening class at the Foundry.  Details below.  If interested, please email VintageSheetsCollective at gmail dot com.

Curious about container gardening?  Want to start doing it on your own?  Successful container gardening is more complicated than it seems!  Join us for a lovely Saturday afternoon container gardening tutorial.  We’ll explain the ins and outs, take you step by step through the process, and offer the tips and advice of seasoned gardeners.  And you’ll leave with your very own, soon-to-be-thriving container plant!

For more information or to reserve your spot, contact The Vintage Sheets Collective at VintageSheetsCollective at Gmail dot com

Who: ages 15+
When: Saturday May 8, 3pm to 5pm
Where: Idea Foundry (2038 Leonard Ave)
Fee: $10 (includes all supplies)

The Vintage Sheets Collective is a group of artists and educators dedicated to fostering creative problem-solving, self-sufficiency, art-making and community-building in Columbus, Ohio, through creative skills classes that are affordable and accessible to all.  To learn more about the group visit us at www.VintageSheetsCollective.blogspot.com.

Many of our classes take place at the Idea Foundry located at 2038 Leonard Ave.  To learn more visit www.ColumbusIdeaFoundry.com

(Click image below to view flyer)

These skills are meant to provide a foundation for spindle turning as used in furniture and other fine craft.

Please note that the Foundry has a growing collection of woodworking resources, including a woodturning lathe on long-term loan (many thanks to Paul for this).  Thus, students who attend this class, pass a safety training test, and purchase a membership to our shop will have access to the lathe for further practice and personal projects.

Alex Bandar and Mike S. have been working fervently on a fantastic commissioned project this week.  Sorry to say, the contents won’t be fully released until this Friday, since this project is a surprise!  Still, we just couldn’t wait to leak a little info about what we’ve been up to.

The new ShopBot has been flexing its muscle lately, and proving it can cut through various types of material: wood, MDF, plastic, etc.

Finally, the very first sign was engraved this week.  The ShopBot can cut aluminum, too!  We’re really excited, since this opens up a whole new realm of possibilities!

For now, all we can offer are these photos of the aluminum stock and a few working shavings.  Check back on Saturday for a full recap!

The ShopBot is the most recent addition to the workshop.  With a 4 foot x 8 foot cutting area, and 6 inches of plunge cutting depth, the possibilities are endless for this machine!

The Idea Foundry wanted to give a special thanks to all the people that helped out on the iF A-holes project (in alphabetical order):  Jay Amstutz, Alex Bandar, Matt Bowman, Ethan Dicks, Mandy Howenstine, Alli Meade, Mike Newmann, Nikki Padgett, and Mike Schoenborn. Without the combined effort of the team, the project wouldn’t have been such a success!

Much thanks to Couchfire Collective for dreaming up this wonderful event. We had a blast! Also, congrats to all the groups that built holes. Everyone did an amazing job.

The Idea Foundry would also like to give a special shout-out to Wild Goose Creative and Super Collider Theater for letting us borrow some pretty critical tools the day of the build. Your kindness was much appreciated!

Just a reminder that A-holes begins today at 5PM. Hope to see everyone there.

The iF has been invited by Couchfire Collective to participate in A-holes! Info about A-holes from CC’s website:

“The idea is simple. Get 18 art groups to make 18 holes of miniature golf, add refreshments, invite the public. What you end up with is a unique event that mixes art and fun without all the pretentious attidues. Come join us, have a beer, and play a round.”

Dates and Times:
March 19, Friday 5pm-12am
March 20, Saturday 12pm-12am
March 21, Sunday 12pm-5pm

Location
Gateway Film Center
South Campus Gateway
1550 N.High St
Columbus, OH 43201

Price
$8 to play all 18 holes
part of the proceeds going to each group
discounted movie tickets with purchase of a round of golf!

Should be a great time! Hope to see everyone there. For a taste of what iF has to offer enjoy this sketch  of Columbus’ skyline by Alli Meade. C-town will act as a backdrop for our A-hole.