Day 8

Day 8- Design and Fabrication 

The class period began with Mr. Gotterson, coming in and explaining to us how acrylics and plastics are molded. He demonstrated it by putting a piece of plastic into a toaster oven to unmold itself. When the plastic became hot and malleable, he ran it under cold water to set the new shape.

After that, we learned how to use a scroll saw, a hack saw, and a drill press.

This is a scroll saw. This can be used to cut intricate curves in wood. It is very important to hold the edges of the wood down firmly, as the scroll saw can cut very easily. 

              

This is a hack saw. This tool is useful for cutting straight through pieces of wood. When using the hack saw, it is crucial to hold down the corners of the wood so it will not move around. It can be dangerous for the user if the wood is not held down properly.

                                               

This is called a drill press. It is a machine-tool used to drill holes into pieces of wood. When using this tool, it is very important that nothing gets caught in it. Things like shirtsleeves and hair can easily get stuck in the drill press, so it is crucial to roll sleeves and tie long hair back.

                                                        

We also learned how to use a drill. The picture below is an example of how not to hold a drill. It is tilted at an angle, which can cause the drill to tip over easily.

                                                        

The picture below is the right way of holding a drill. Compared to the last picture, the drill is held at an angle that is much straighter. It is important that this is done slowly and precisely for the best results.

                                                             

The rest of the class period was spent practicing using the tools, and reprinting our kamon designs. Overall, today was a very productive and educational day.