Hollow Form Fabrication
Hollow form construction is a great method for making very three dimensional and light shapes, and an excellent way to understand how sheet metal moves! Thinking in full 3D opens up many doors for your designs and also for your technical skills- especially working on fabrication issues and adapting to acheive the result you want in your pieces!
In this class, we start off by fabricating the basic shapes: cyliner, cube, sphere, cone, and pyramid. Then we move on to how to combine those shapes together into complex shapes. Students will learn how to use stakes, dapping tools, and punches to form and adapt their metal for seamless connection and fluid shapes. We will also talk about designing forms, how to map out your shapes and translate them into a 2D pattern and templates.
Join us for this exciting and informative dive into working with sheet metal in new ways!
This course is available as an in-person workshop or live online class. Please check this page for times and formats available.
Techniques covered:
- Pattern, measuring, and fabrication of the 5 basic forms
- Sphere
- Cylinder
- Cube
- Cone
- Pyramid
- Combining forms to create complex forms
- Adapting basic forms to more complex forms
- Maquette making
- Use of hammers, stakes, and punches to form metal
- Cutting apart shapes and fitting additional surfaces
- Fitting tapered sides
- Fitting complex curves together
- Forming existing shapes to change their profile
- Order of operations for hollow form fabrication
- Finishing hollow forms
- Creating patterns and templates for simple and complex forms
- Troubleshooting and fixing issues in fabrication
A kit of materials is included with this class.
Tools.
Classes at our school include use of tools, with each student having their own bench to use during class. Online students will need to have their own tools (see the list of tools below). Feel free to contact us with any questions.
A handout is included with the class.
Read what students have to say about our online classes on the testimonials page.
Tools Required for Online Students
This is a list of tools online students need to practice the techniques shown in class. (in-person students have tools to use at school)
A list of tools with links to recommended suppliers for the best prices will be sent to you after registration. If you have questions about the tool list, please contact us.
Bench pin
Saw frame and saw blades
Half round hand file
Half round slim hand file
Needle file set
Safe edge barrette needle file
Chain nose pliers
Round/flat pliers
Half round/flat pliers
Center punch
Scriber
Dividers
Ruler with metric measurements
Nylon, delrin, or plastic jaw pliers
Steel block
Bench vise
Dapping set
Fretz F-3 and F-6 stakes
Planishing hammer
Narrow raising hammer
Nylon or plastic mallet
Soldering set-up including: soldering surface, pick or tweezers, pickle, pickle pot, tongs
Third hand
Hard, medium, and easy solder
Brass brush
1mm drill bits
Radials and mandrel
Flexshaft or dremel
Sandpaper assortment
Sanding pads or fabric backed sandpaper
Baking soda and container for baking soda water
Card stock or thick paper
Scissors
Tape
A computer, phone or tablet to use the free Zoom app for class
Prerequisites:
Students must have taken at least 3 fabrication classes and be comfortable with soldering and basic metalsmithing skills. This is an intermediate course- confidence in the basic skills is necessary to be able to concentrate on learning new skills.
Instructor:
If a class is online, or is a combination online and in-person session, all students receive a link to a recording of the class demonstrations. In-person only workshops are not recorded. For staff instructor classes, students have access to the recordings for one year. For guest instructors, access is 30 days.
If a kit is included with the class, online students will have them mailed to them. Kits for in-person students are delivered at the beginning of the first class. More information about the kit is included with the supplies list which is emailed after registration.
International students may be charged an additional amount for shipping, because of the increased cost to ship abroad. Also, shipments to other countries may incur a tariff payable by the student. International students are welcome to contact us re: these costs and options for their materials. Please be sure that the address with your payment is the correct one for shipping.
If this class is offered online, it uses the Zoom app/website. Through Zoom, you’ll be able to see demos and follow instructions, ask questions and interact with your instructor. Zoom is easy to use and free for students to use for class, and works on most devices, like phones (iPhone, Android, etc), tablets (iPads, etc), and computers (Mac or PC).
Your instructor is also available during free Zoom office hours for questions and help.
For classes that include work time, online students work at home or in their studio. All of our recommended tools and the kit materials are chosen to be home studio friendly. Links to preferred vendors are provided in the supplies list sent after registration. Some classes, like our short demo only classes, don't require tools or materials to attend.
There are no requirements regarding COVID at this time.
As always, we clean and disinfect shared tools and benches after each class.
If you have tested positive for COVID, have symptoms that could be COVID, or feel ill, please don't come to class. Contact us for more information.
And now the fine print. Payment in full for class fees is due at the time of registration to reserve your place. We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and PayPal. Checks and cash are accepted only if you register at school. If you mail a check, your registration is not processed until it clears and the class may fill during the wait.
If the workshop is canceled by our school for any reason, all class fees will be refunded, or you can transfer to another class, or you can keep a credit on account with us for future classes or purchases,
Students can cancel, receive a credit or refund, or transfer to another class up to 21 days before a workshop, whether it is online or in person. No cancellations are accepted after the 21-day deadline, however, we will do what we can to try and sell your place to a qualified student. If we can sell your place, you can receive a refund less a $50 cancellation fee, keep a credit on account with us, or apply your fees towards a transfer to another class.
If you can’t make it to class, you may send a participant who has the necessary prerequisites in your place. Please call or email us immediately with any changes in the student participant information. If a class includes an online section, your class will be recorded and you can watch later to make up a class you miss.
Students must be at least 15 years old to attend a class, and students under 18 must have a legal guardian sign our liability waiver form. We have had younger students attend classes, on a case by case basis. If you’re interested in enrolling your child, please call or email us.
If you sign up for a class and fail to have the required prerequisites as listed in the class description, you are still subject to the 21-day cancellation policy, listed above.
Lodging and meals are not included for in person classes.
If you don't come to class, there are no refunds, credits or transfers.