Welding

I've always been interested in welding and using the ocy-acetylene torch. These processes involve using either an electrical arc or a very hot flame to reduce steel to a pool of molten liquid.

Its a little dangerous and very, very useful around the farm. So I decided to take a class in welding offered by The Crucible (www.thecrucible.org)
If you are interested in woodworking, jewelry making, glass blowing, fixing bicycles or motorcycles, or simply making the biggest, baddest fire-breathing dinosaur/golf cart in next years Burning Man - this is the place for you.
They offer classes in lots of different subjects and have dedicated volunteers and excellent equipment.

In one weekend I learned that welding is not as easy as it looks. But I think I have the basic skills needed for simple and ugly repairs on the farm.

We were given the option of making a sculpture in our welding class. I thought that I would just concentrate on practicing welding on random scraps of metal - it seemed more important than doing a half-assed art project. But my random scraps of metal quickly assorted themselves into a primordial man sculpture.
Then I thought I would leave it at the Crucible because it would be worth more as scrap metal than as something that would just clutter up the house.
But as the day progressed, I became more and more attached to my little man and now he is sitting here on the couch with me.