This included the use of the work shop but before being shown any of the machinery the first thing I was shown was all the fire exits just incase of a fire and where the emergency stop buttons around the room were and on each machine. Aswell as this I was shown where the first aid kit was kept by each sink and the Health & Safety board. Next was an induction to each machine and how they work, how to stand when using them and where goggles and gloves are kept. The key thing to remember in the work shop room, is the check and double check the machine is set up how you want it before using. On top of that none of the machines will work unless the extractor fan is turned on before using each machines. After being shown these things, I was shown how to turn on each machine and use them safely.
As well as the workshop we were shown around the clay and glass workshops and how to work safely in both. Having never worked with glass or clay I feel I'll be experimenting with these at some point just to get a handle on them and see what sort of effects i can get out of them.
However to quickly not down some of the key safety rules from each room, start off with Ceramics:
Like with any of the rooms, No eating or drink is in place as well as having phones turns off to avoid distractions. The ceramics room is very compact so having bags or portfolios would be a major tripping hazard so I was told to keep them out. The typical tidy as you work attitude and always returning stuff to where it could be. Clay dust is also a hazard if not cleaned up properly and remembering to wash hands after using any clay or glazes. When using sharp blades or scalpels to be extra careful to avoid harm. When shown into the Kiln room I was informed only the tutors are allowed to use the equipment in there, as well as the heavy plaster moulds which were kept in and around the room to ask for help when moving them. On the note of C.O.S.H.H [Control of Substances Hazardous to Health] data and the instructions on containers to be well informed and make sure I real all of them. For the data sheets themselves when I moved over to the workshop room, I was also shown where these were kept and the folders for each section but in the instance of ever needing them, It would be quicker to ask a tutor to find needed information.
Moving over to the glass workshop the same no eating or drinking rules apply throughout all work shops and to have phones turned off. As well as having no bags or portfolios on the floor to avoid tripping. Unlike ceramics, in glass goggles must we worn when working with the glass. That includes cutting and crushing, this is to avoid having small shards being transferred over to the eye. In the case of this happening each sink in every workshop has a first aid box for cuts, burns etc as well an eye wash hose. Hands and work stations to be brushed and wiped down after use, this is extra important after using stains or pigments [Which come with C.O.S.H.H data also]. With Glass you end up with alot of scrap bits and as such special bins are provided, this also means people don't end up putting scrap into general waste bins which could later cause harm to cleaners or other people. When stretching lead strip or wire, be sure to always maintain a well balanced stand. All machines in any room can only be used with staff supervision. Lastly in the glass room, it is key when using the sandblaster to wait until the dust has settled before opening.
Following in the morning of introductions, in the afternoon I was given a piece of styrofoam with my first 3D brief.
In quick one day brief was to produce a concept model for either a piece of jewellery/furniture/interior/exterior with a thought on how to join material together in a none traditional way such as glue. So after a quick sketching session to give myself a few ideas on shapes I could use.
What I liked about this brief was the amount of freedom we had, as we could make a chair but we weren't restricted by the style of it as long as it could function in some way as a chair. So from my quick sketches I worked from the letter 'h' a simple chair form into something abit more extreme and out there.
Once I moved over into the work shop, I did most of my work with a hotwire to cut out the shape i needed from the foam block and then did all the finer rounding work by hand with pieces of sandpaper.
Now thinking about how to join the pieces of the back and circles to the side was a very simple task. All I did was take some very short pieces of wire about half a cm and just pushed it into each piece. But overall I really like the way this concept piece came out, it stayed very true to much original idea of adapting the simplistic letter 'h' and just rounding out all the edges.
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