Workshops, Tech Support Ideas and Exhibitions to enter

This section is a compilation of help from members - read it to the end and contribute to it next month!


Kangaroo Valley Arts Festival is well established and hosts a great sculpture segment: www.artsinthevalley.net.au

Entries close on 25th March 2019

*******************************************

Wandin Blacksmiths’ Workshop

A Taste of the Art13th of April 2019 (9.00am to 4.00pm)

Session one, demonstrations in:

Leaf making, Rose making, Fire welding, Basic knife making (railway spike)

Session two: Making one of the items demonstrated in the morning session

Lunch provided.

Cost: $120.00 per person

Maximum class size: 12 people. (Must be over 18 years of age.)

The workshop is suitable for both men and women.

Venue - Mont Delancey Homestead, 71 Wellington Road, Wandin North Bookings – call Oskar Huecherig – 0434 533 217

SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

Sturdy shoes (no open toed shoes allowed) Non-synthetic clothing, Long hair must be tied back. Other equipment will be provided
************************************************
 Moving heavy sculptures

At the meeting last week at her studio, Jenny Whiteside talked about needing to carve a heavy piece of stone on the floor because she was unable to lift it onto the workbench. Some of the larger limestone blocks I use can also be pretty heavy, so after a bit of research online, I bought a lifting trolley to make the task easier and safer.

There are a few brands available, and I chose one called the ML1 Material Lifter, manufactured in Taiwan by KSF. (https://ksf.com.tw/portfolio-item/ksf-material-lifter-ml1/) It can be purchased with a platform but I find the forks better for sculpture. It can lift up to 150kg to a height of 105cm. When moving a heavy block or sculpture, you lower the forks, tilt it back and use the large wheels like a normal hand trolley. When lifting the sculpture, using the winch handle on the back, the small front wheels keep it stable and allow it to be rolled forward. It is effectively a mini hand operated forklift.

I used the ML1 to install my sculpture "Synergy", weighing 130kg and 150cm tall, at Tesselaar, which required it to be lifted around 50cm, rolled forward and lowered onto the rod supporting it. The trolley made this simple, controlled and safe, with a piece of plywood providing a smooth surface for the small wheels. (I did need to design the plinth to allow the front wheels to roll underneath.)

The ML1 cost around $1,500, but has proved very useful and no doubt saved me from a sore back on many occasions. As I said, there are other brands, so it is worth looking around. I chose the ML1 based on price, weight capacity, lift height, large wheels and ease of transport. I bought mine from JIA Lift in Knoxfield (https://www.jialiftaustralia.com/ml1).
John Bishop
(and thank you John for getting the ball rolling on the sharing of useful information)

 

***********************************************