Thread: Any Beginner Metalwork & Woodwork Courses in Brisbane?

what exactly do you want to know? machining? sheet fab? blacksmithing? boiler making?

i think most TAFE's just do the welding side of things but some high schools may have night classes for people who want to learn the basics and its only the basics but i don't think there will be any in Brisbane

if you want to travel the Ipswich TAFE runs Blacksmithing courses at the Ipswich rail museum its a very cool place

Thanks for the quick reply.
I do not have any experience with any metalwork at all. I have never worked with metal at all and not really sure what some of the things you mentioned refer to. Sorry to say I do not know what a boilermaker does.
I have had basic classes in woodwork at school but a begineer course would be great to start so I can get back into woodwork.
Thanks for your suggestions.
Cheers
Troy

ok ill try explain a little

a boilermaker is basically a welder but they know great stuff like working with plate steel where bends are calculated and made accurately give him a drawing and he can make you a anything from a box trailer to the huge dragline buckets for the mines. as for the name boilermaker it came about because they used to make the boilers in trains and engines and riveting on bridges i think

a fitter is like a boilermaker but puts things together he has all the know how to take machines apart and reassemble them properly sort of like a mechanic but they do everything from putting the seats in trains to assembling huge mine equipment

a turner is a machinist they work with lathes and mills that cut metal into there desired shapes in general lathes make round parts and mills do pretty much everything else you should google these as they generate a lot of excitement in people ....like me

blacksmiths well they shape metal into gates, knives, hammers and art work they are very skilled people with lots of know how in tool making and metal hardening. unfortunately blacksmiths are a dieing bread and there is not much call for that trade anymore

there are lots more trades but i wont go into those i suppose you work more with the welders and fabricators

Originally Posted by designdude74

Basically, I have been designing some building fascades and pieces for projects I'm working

Troy,

Perhaps if you can enlarge on the above may we might be able to help you,more than we currently are. Some similiar examples of work elsewhere would be helpful.

Is it falling into the decorative art metal work type thing.The type of materials and thickness have a large bearing on the way they are worked.


Grahame

I did the MIG Welding course at the Bundamba TAFE.
can highly recommend it.
they also had lots of lathes there, but could not find any courses that used them at all.!?!>
they are doing some blacksmithing courses. (not my interest )

They do teach other things.

I also did the French Polishing course there, run by the local ipswich furniture restorer. And I can say, that this was the best course I have ever taken. The guy was a genius. (only had 6 in the class, and it was expert hands on)

but asking them what is going on is almost impossible to find out. have left my name there for a few other courses, and never been called back or gotten any further info.. (and I only live at the bottom of the hill below them) they need to take a course in customer relations i think.

Regards
Sandy

Thanks for the help guys.
Yep, I think the thing I'm interested in at the moment is working with purly decorative metals at the moment. Sheet metal no thicker than 1-2mm thick and welding tubular metals to it.
Basically I want to start playing with small pieces first, then look to bigger things later.
Cheers
Troy