Artisan’s Asylum
Artisan’s is a 40,000sf. member-powered studio and fabrication facility in Somerville dedicated to advancing hands-on arts and sciences.
Open to the public 12:00PM to 10:00PM MON-THU and 10:00AM to 6:00PM FRI-SAT
Tours run at 2:00 and 8:00PM MON-THU, 3:00PM FRI and 2:00 and 4:00PM SAT, SUN
September 2019
Braille embossing on metal tags
This fiber arts class with heart introduces students to embossing braille characters onto clothing. If rocking a vintage hat and want to try your hand at metal embossing with a historic slate & stylus is your jam, this is the perfect class for you.
Find out more »Introduction to TIG Welding
This class is designed to introduce students to the process of TIG welding, a precise type of welding most often used in the manufacture of spaceframe structures like bike frames and roll cages. Students will learn how to weld primarily 4130 chromoly steel tubing, as well as different types of materials, shapes, and joints, and will learn how to use a range of supporting equipment (drill press, hole saws, grinders, etc.) and processes that come with welding.
Find out more »Jewelry 101: Intro to Metalsmithing – Evening
Class cost: $325 / Materials Fee: $45 payable to Instructor. Through this 7-week class, you will be introduced to the arcane and secret techniques of making fine jewelry. You will come away with new skills and finished pieces to show off and be proud of. We will work primarily in sterling silver, brass, and copper. No prior experience is necessary.
Find out more »Figure Drawing Monthly Pass – Sept 2019
Figure Drawing is an open studio class where people of all artistic levels are invited to explore the human form through drawing and painting. Figure drawing is a great opportunity to keep your artistic skills sharp whether you are a seasoned artist or a beginner: learn the basics of drawing from the nude form! Students are free to draw however they like.
Find out more »Figure Drawing Drop-In
Figure Drawing is an open studio class where people of all artistic levels are invited to explore the human form through drawing and painting. Figure drawing is a great opportunity to keep your artistic skills sharp whether you are a seasoned artist or a beginner: learn the basics of drawing from the nude form! Students are free to draw however they like.
Find out more »Tool Training: Tablesaw Fundamentals
This class is designed to introduce students to using the table saw which is often the most important power tool in wood shops and woodworking. The focus will be as much hands-on time as is possible so that students will leave the class confident in their ability to explore many of the additional ways to use the table saw on their own or in further classes.
Find out more »Art and Interactive Electronics
Class fee: $120 / Materials fee: $30. Electronics are everywhere, and now, they are becoming part of our art. This four hour coursewill introduce you to the Adafruit Circuit Playground, a wearable and relatively easy to programmicrocontroller/development board, that is based on the extremely popular Arduino platform, usedthroughout the world in many educational settings.
Find out more »Tool Training: Rough to Smooth – Using the Miter Saw, Bandsaw, Jointer, Planer and Sanders
After selecting and purchasing lumber, the next step in any woodworking project is to flatten and straighten the stock. Not that long ago, this work was laboriously done by hand. Fortunately, there are four machines available today that are specifically designed to take rough sawn lumber and process it into boards that are straight, flat, and true!
Find out more »Tool Training: Metal Lathe
In this class, you will learn how to precisely perform basic machining operations using the lathe. You will learn about tool selection, speeds and feeds, and how to use the DRO (Digital Read Out) to make precisely dimensioned parts. You will practice setting up the machine, use the 3-jaw chuck to securely hold work, change tools, and perform facing and turning cuts on aluminum stock.
Find out more »Directed Open Jewelry Studio
Each week, students will work on projects of their own choice. With personalized attention, students will be guided into problem-solving, tackling more complex design, soldering solutions and introduction to different tooling. The instructor will have projects to suggest for folks who may need ideas.
Find out more »Watercolor Workshop
Class Description Watercolor painting offers some of the most immediate and exciting results in art-making. In this class, we will…
Find out more »Directed Open Jewelry Studio
Work independently in our Jewelry Shop under the guidance of an experienced professional jeweler who can help you troubleshoot your metalsmithing projects. Must have previous jewelry-making experience or have successfully completed Jewelry Tool Testing at Artisan's Asylum.
Find out more »Tool Training: Woodshop Tools 101
Class fee: $115 / Materials fee: $5. This class teaches the correct use of the panel saw, compound miter saw, scroll saw, spindle sander, belt sander, disc sander, standing drill press and handheld power tools such as the drill, circular saw, jig saw, and reciprocating saw. Over two sessions, students will learn best practices for operating these tools and have the opportunity to demonstrate their competency in woodworking.
Find out more »Intro to VCarve and the Shopbot CNC router
Learn to use the Asylum's ShopBot CNC Router, and the easy-to-use VCarve Pro - Edition CAM package for creating tool cut paths from 2D and 3D CAD drawing.
Find out more »Tool Training: Bridgeport Mill
In this class you will learn how to use the Bridgeport mill to perform basic precision machining operations. You will learn about tool selection, selecting spindle speeds, and climb milling vs. conventional milling. You will practice setting up the machine, holding work in the vise, changing tools and performing basic cuts.
Find out more »Tool Training: Bridgeport CNC Milling Machine
Learn to operate the Artisan's Asylym Bridgeport Series I Computer Numeric Controlled (CNC) milling machine. CNC milling machines can be used to make parts that would be difficult or impossible to machine manually.
Find out more »Tool Training: Black Cat Labs Laser
Learn how to use Artisan's Black Cat Labs laser cutters to cut or etch wood, plastics, papers or textiles. Gain a solid understanding of what the machines can do and learn how to upload a file and run a cut and engrave. This class will cover the basics so that you will be able to operate the Black Cat Labs equipment unsupervised and in a safe and courteous manner.
The first half of the class will cover some laser cutting basics, safety, and operational procedure. The second half is more hands-on in that you will be guided through cutting and engraving some fun shapes and designs out of wood and acrylic to take home.
3D Print Optimization
Come learn to use optimize Simplify3D profiles. The class will cover customization of 3D printing profiles in order to facilitate design for 3D Printing and post-processing. Class is open to those who are interested in settings to make 3D prints come out great.
Find out more »Figure Drawing Drop-In
Figure Drawing is an open studio class where people of all artistic levels are invited to explore the human form through drawing and painting. Figure drawing is a great opportunity to keep your artistic skills sharp whether you are a seasoned artist or a beginner: learn the basics of drawing from the nude form! Students are free to draw however they like.
Find out more »Directed Open Jewelry Studio
Work independently in our Jewelry Shop under the guidance of an experienced professional jeweler who can help you troubleshoot your metalsmithing projects. Must have previous jewelry-making experience or have successfully completed Jewelry Tool Testing at Artisan's Asylum.
Find out more »Family Screen Printing
Class Fee $60 / Materials Fee $15. Family Screen Printing Class for ages 7 and up. This class focuses on family fun! Come learn the basics of screen printing in a casual print shop environment. It’s a great chance to explore a new skill and create something unique as a family. Send in the design that you want to print together and when you arrive, you and your child(ren) will be able to dive right into printing. The class will cover the basics of ink handling, pulling prints, and creative experimentation.
Find out more »Basket Making 101: Intro to Polish Bread Basket
Students will weave a small reed basket in a traditional Polish tatza basket pattern. Usually made from willow, we will be using hand-dyed rattan (reed) for a lovely basket suitable for use with fruit, rolls, cookies and the like. Students will receive a printed pattern and a choice of colored reeds. Finished dimensions: 8.75” diameter, 2” high
Find out more »Introduction To Screen Printing: Weekend Workshop
Class fee: $120 / Materials Fee: $10. Screen printing is a great way to put your designs on t-shirts, tote bags, cards, posters, and more. But it can be a tricky skill to pick up on your own! Join us for a two-evening class, and we'll take the mystery out of the process. Using the photo emulsion process and your design, we'll prepare screens and print on a variety of surfaces. And we'll do it all in a fun, relaxed environment.
Find out more »Lost Wax Casting – Part 1
This two-session class is designed to introduce students to the art of investment casting using the equipment in the Artisan’s Asylum casting shop. Students will learn the process of investment casting by taking an instructor-supplied model made of wax and casting it in brass.
Find out more »Intro to Pulse Arc Welder
The pulse-arc welder is a remarkable desktop machine for precision metal fabrication. In essence, it is a scaled-down TIG welder with a computer interface and microscope – which makes it a unique, high-end tool for joining, tacking, and repair of small items in any metal that can be welded, from steel and stainless steel to titanium, gold, copper and more
Find out more »Leatherworking 102: Make A Wallet
Class cost: $100 / Materials Fee: $35 Expand on basic skills learned in Leatherworking 101 and learn new skills such as hand stitching, creating pockets, and finishing natural leather with oil. Students will be able to choose from a small selection of designs to create a wallet from a pre-made template that they can modify. This class should run for about 3-4 hours depending on if students want to stay to finish their stitching.
Find out more »Anodizing Titanium
Class fee: $55 / Materials fee: $10 This one-session workshop will introduce students to the basics of using electricity to color titanium. This process (known as anodizing) uses an electrical current to change the surface color of titanium.
Find out more »Build A Cherry Side Table Part 1
Class fee: $400 / Materials fee: $200. This hands-on class will introduce you to fine woodworking furniture. We will start from one rough lumber Cherry board to create a Shaker style Cherry Side Table. The techniques and skills learned in this class will allow the student to approach any project size. In this class we will use virtually all the tools in the woodshop from Chisel to Tablesaw, Router, Band saw, Joiner, Planer and Miter saw.
Find out more »October 2019
Intro to Metal Fabrication: Build a Tractor Seat Stool
Class fee: $300 / Materials fee: $50. Build a badass stool in the metal shop! In this class, each student will fabricate a stool from scratch, upcycling a seat from a mid-century Ford tractor for the seat component. This class is intended for students with some beginner-level experience that are looking to improve their welding and metal shop skills.
Find out more »Tool Training: Metal Lathe
In this class, you will learn how to precisely perform basic machining operations using the lathe. You will learn about tool selection, speeds and feeds, and how to use the DRO (Digital Read Out) to make precisely dimensioned parts. You will practice setting up the machine, use the 3-jaw chuck to securely hold work, change tools, and perform facing and turning cuts on aluminum stock.
Find out more »Rotary Engraving with Lasers
Class fee: $80 / Materials fee: $5.Learn how to use the Rotary Engraving Tool with the Black Cat Lab laser cutters. The rotary engraving tool for the Black Cat Labs laser cutters is the best way to attain high resolution engravings on cylindrical objects. This tool is primarily used for engraving bottles, glasses, and other round objects.
Find out more »Tool Training: Bridgeport Mill
In this class you will learn how to use the Bridgeport mill to perform basic precision machining operations. You will learn about tool selection, selecting spindle speeds, and climb milling vs. conventional milling. You will practice setting up the machine, holding work in the vise, changing tools and performing basic cuts.
Find out more »Bicycle Maintenance 1
Learn how to maintain your bicycle! Students will be performing the maintenance themselves, on their own bicycles, after a short instruction and demonstration. This is a basic course, and some bicycle types may be outside of the scope of the course. However, the course does reach a level of detail at which students who are intending to expand their knowledge of bicycles find it helpful to do some light note-taking during lecture time.
Find out more »Make a Ring(s) Workshop
Class cost: $215 / Materials Fee: $35. Spend a weekend in the Artisan's Asylum jewelry studio learning to make several rings!! Starting with a simple soldered brass band ring, students will learn the basics of measuring, sawing and shaping your ring. Moving on to stacking rings, students will make three individual sterling silver rings with small soldered decorative elements.
Find out more »Metalworking 101 – Cut, Grind, and Drill!
Class fee: $110 / Materials fee: $15. Metalworking 101 will provide the students with the bare minimum of training to start working in the Asylum's metal shop and is the perfect warm-up to Artisan's welding classes. The class consists of formal training from the instructor who will demonstrate safe and successful usage of each tool, describe and demonstrate best practices, and inform students of unsafe and undesirable outcomes. Each student will have hands-on time with each tool under supervision.
Find out more »Leatherworking 101: Make a Belt
Class fee: $55 / Materials fee: $25. Over the course of 2 to 3 hours, this class aims to teach students the basics of leatherworking. This class will walk students through creating a basic belt design.
Find out more »Needleminders 101: Keep your mind & needles happy
Class fee: $30 / Materials Fee: $15. Ever lost a needle? Never lose one again! We will be making fun fabric buttons and then turning them into needle minders. Needle minders are a magnetic accessory designed to prevent your needle from getting lost when you need to pause stitching or as you are changing threads. Make an adorable and unique needle minder.
Find out more »Basic MIG Welding
Class fee: $120 / Materials fee: $30MIG Welding (Metal Inert Gas Welding) is a simple, versatile arc welding process that is generally considered to be the easiest to learn of the arc welding processes. Our Basic MIG Welding class is designed for the very beginner or for the intermediate welder that needs a refresher.
Find out more »Hands On Basic Electronics
Class fee: $225 / Materials fee: $30. Have you been interested in learning to work with electronics, but haven’t known where to start? This class is for you! It will be a hands-on, practical, crash course that will provide you with the skills to do simple electronic projects. You will walk away knowing the basics of circuit theory, how to prototype circuits on a breadboard, how to troubleshoot them, and how to solder them together.
Find out more »Intro to SolidWorks
3D modeling software is used worldwide in professional settings like engineering, animation, product design, architecture, and more. Designing parts in 3D modeling environments allows you to develop an idea in full before you cut any material, and then either make parts automatically on computer-enabled tools.
Find out more »Introduction to TIG Welding
Class fee: $345 / Materials fee: $20. This class is designed to introduce students to the process of TIG welding, a precise type of welding most often used in the manufacture of spaceframe structures like bike frames and roll cages. Students will learn how to weld primarily 4130 chromoly steel tubing, as well as different types of materials, shapes, and joints, and will learn how to use a range of supporting equipment (drill press, hole saws, grinders, etc.) and processes that come with welding.
Find out more »Tool Training: Black Cat Labs Laser
Class fee: $120 / Materials fee: $5. Learn how to use Artisan's Black Cat Labs laser cutters to cut or etch wood, plastics, papers or textiles. Gain a solid understanding of what the machines can do and learn how to upload a file and run a cut and engrave. This class will cover the basics so that you will be able to operate the Black Cat Labs equipment unsupervised and in a safe and courteous manner.
Find out more »Metal Fabrication: Welding a Geometric Sculpture
Class fee: $200 / Materials fee: $100. Create a unique geometric sculpture using oxy cutting, grinding, and TIG welding, while being introduced into the world of fabrication, tooling and welding. This class will guide students through three metalworking and welding processes. During this six-session course, students will learn how to use the Oxy-Acetylene torch cutter and the proper use of this tool, grinding techniques to shape your metal piece, and use of the spot or TIG welding to piece together pieces of your sculpture.
Find out more »Tool Training: 3D Printers (Weeknights)
This one session class will train students on how to use the Asylum’s multiple 3D printers safely and effectively, running through using the 3D model compiler (Simplify3D), printing parts, changing materials, properly removing parts from the beds, and properly disposing of all materials after the print: all the training you need to get going in one afternoon!
Find out more »Felting 101
This class is great for beginners interested in learning the basic characteristics and functions of the medium through step by step instructions. Students will be introduced to supplies, how to use and take care of supplies and best studio practices. The class is an introduction to the methods and applications of the primary textile construction technique of felting. Students will create their own artwork using this traditional skill.
Find out more »Tool Training: 3D Printers (Weekends)
This one session class will train students on how to use the Asylum’s multiple 3D printers safely and effectively, running through using the 3D model compiler (Simplify3D), printing parts, changing materials, properly removing parts from the beds, and properly disposing of all materials after the print: all the training you need to get going in one afternoon!
Find out more »Introduction to Surface Mount Circuit Assembly and Rework
Would you like to learn modern, surface mount approaches to circuit assembly, but need a quick introduction? This class introduces students to the basic techniques required in order to get up and running with their own DIY surface mount circuit assembly and rework, preparing students for prototyping and building their own SMD circuit board creations.
Find out more »Tool Training: Metal Lathe
In this class, you will learn how to precisely perform basic machining operations using the lathe. You will learn about tool selection, speeds and feeds, and how to use the DRO (Digital Read Out) to make precisely dimensioned parts. You will practice setting up the machine, use the 3-jaw chuck to securely hold work, change tools, and perform facing and turning cuts on aluminum stock.
Find out more »Tool Training: Rough to Smooth – Using the Miter Saw, Bandsaw, Jointer, Planer and Sanders
Class fee: $160 / Materials fee: $15. After selecting and purchasing lumber, the next step in any woodworking project is to flatten and straighten the stock. Not that long ago, this work was laboriously done by hand. Fortunately, there are four machines available today that are specifically designed to take rough sawn lumber and process it into boards that are straight, flat, and true!
Find out more »Tool Training & Testing: Jewelry Studio
This one session tool training is the perfect way to get trained up to operate independently in the Jewelry Shop if you already have some jewelry-making experience and don't have time for a long-form class. Testing is necessary to be certified to work on your own in the Shop. Choose the date that works for you!
Find out more »Tool Training: Bridgeport Mill
In this class you will learn how to use the Bridgeport mill to perform basic precision machining operations. You will learn about tool selection, selecting spindle speeds, and climb milling vs. conventional milling. You will practice setting up the machine, holding work in the vise, changing tools and performing basic cuts.
Find out more »Basket Making 101: Intro to Polish Bread Basket
Students will weave a small reed basket in a traditional Polish tatza basket pattern. Usually made from willow, we will be using hand-dyed rattan (reed) for a lovely basket suitable for use with fruit, rolls, cookies and the like. Students will receive a printed pattern and a choice of colored reeds. Finished dimensions: 8.75” diameter, 2” high
Find out more »Lost Wax Casting – 2
This course is for students who have already taken Casting 1 or have equivalent experience, and is primarily focused on model creation. In this course, you will learn wax working techniques, create your own design in wax, invest, and cast a finished piece- we will also cover mold making/wax injection, finishing techniques, and possibly casting from PLA.
Find out more »Leatherworking 102: Make A Wallet
Class cost: $100 / Materials Fee: $35 Expand on basic skills learned in Leatherworking 101 and learn new skills such as hand stitching, creating pockets, and finishing natural leather with oil. Students will be able to choose from a small selection of designs to create a wallet from a pre-made template that they can modify. This class should run for about 3-4 hours depending on if students want to stay to finish their stitching.
Find out more »Tool Training: Black Cat Labs Laser
Class fee: $120 / Materials fee: $5. Learn how to use Artisan's Black Cat Labs laser cutters to cut or etch wood, plastics, papers or textiles. Gain a solid understanding of what the machines can do and learn how to upload a file and run a cut and engrave. This class will cover the basics so that you will be able to operate the Black Cat Labs equipment unsupervised and in a safe and courteous manner.
Find out more »Build A Cherry Side Table Part 1
Class Fee: $400 / Materials Fee: $200. This hands-on class will introduce you to fine woodworking furniture. We will start from one rough lumber Cherry board to create a Shaker style Cherry Side Table. The techniques and skills learned in this class will allow the student to approach any project size. In this class we will use virtually all the tools in the woodshop from Chisel to Tablesaw, Router, Band saw, Joiner, Planer and Miter saw.
Find out more »Jewelry 201: Setting Faceted Gemstones
Class Fee: $225 / Materials Fee: $40. Build upon your Jewelry 101 skills and learn the art of setting faceted gemstones! In two evening sessions, we will cover how to set faceted gemstones in prongs (4-prong heads) and in small bezels, also known as tube-setting.
Find out more »Bag It! Sewing 101 Class
Class fee: $40 / Materials fee: $10. Learn to use the fiber arts sewing machines and make a bag to keep in your car for groceries or your boots and mittens.This four hour class will introduce the basics of planning a project, how sewing machines work, terminology, and how to make really useful things. Take your completed bag home at the end of the class!!
Find out more »November 2019
Tool Training: Bridgeport CNC Milling Machine
Learn to operate the Artisan's Asylym Bridgeport Series I Computer Numeric Controlled (CNC) milling machine. CNC milling machines can be used to make parts that would be difficult or impossible to machine manually.
Find out more »Intro to Pulse Arc Welder
The pulse-arc welder is a remarkable desktop machine for precision metal fabrication. In essence, it is a scaled-down TIG welder with a computer interface and microscope – which makes it a unique, high-end tool for joining, tacking, and repair of small items in any metal that can be welded, from steel and stainless steel to titanium, gold, copper and more
Find out more »Metalworking 101 – Cut, Grind, and Drill!
Class fee: $110 / Materials fee: $15. Metalworking 101 will provide the students with the bare minimum of training to start working in the Asylum's metal shop and is the perfect warm-up to Artisan's welding classes. The class consists of formal training from the instructor who will demonstrate safe and successful usage of each tool, describe and demonstrate best practices, and inform students of unsafe and undesirable outcomes. Each student will have hands-on time with each tool under supervision.
Find out more »Leatherworking 101: Make a Belt
Class fee: $55 / Materials fee: $25. Over the course of 2 to 3 hours, this class aims to teach students the basics of leatherworking. This class will walk students through creating a basic belt design.
Find out more »Anodizing Titanium
Class fee: $55 / Materials fee: $10 This one-session workshop will introduce students to the basics of using electricity to color titanium. This process (known as anodizing) uses an electrical current to change the surface color of titanium.
Find out more »Tool Training: 3D Printers (Weekends)
This one session class will train students on how to use the Asylum’s multiple 3D printers safely and effectively, running through using the 3D model compiler (Simplify3D), printing parts, changing materials, properly removing parts from the beds, and properly disposing of all materials after the print: all the training you need to get going in one afternoon!
Find out more »Basic MIG Welding
Class fee: $120 / Materials fee: $30. MIG Welding (Metal Inert Gas Welding) is a simple, versatile arc welding process that is generally considered to be the easiest to learn of the arc welding processes. Our Basic MIG Welding class is designed for the very beginner or for the intermediate welder that needs a refresher.
Find out more »Hands On Basic Electronics
Class fee: $225 / Materials fee: $30. Have you been interested in learning to work with electronics, but haven’t known where to start? This class is for you! It will be a hands-on, practical, crash course that will provide you with the skills to do simple electronic projects. You will walk away knowing the basics of circuit theory, how to prototype circuits on a breadboard, how to troubleshoot them, and how to solder them together.
Find out more »Introduction to TIG Welding
Class fee: $345 / Materials fee: $20. This class is designed to introduce students to the process of TIG welding, a precise type of welding most often used in the manufacture of spaceframe structures like bike frames and roll cages. Students will learn how to weld primarily 4130 chromoly steel tubing, as well as different types of materials, shapes, and joints, and will learn how to use a range of supporting equipment (drill press, hole saws, grinders, etc.) and processes that come with welding.
Find out more »Tool Training: Black Cat Labs Laser
Learn how to use Artisan's Black Cat Labs laser cutters to cut or etch wood, plastics, papers or textiles. Gain a solid understanding of what the machines can do and learn how to upload a file and run a cut and engrave. This class will cover the basics so that you will be able to operate the Black Cat Labs equipment unsupervised and in a safe and courteous manner.
Find out more »Tool Training: Metal Lathe
In this class, you will learn how to precisely perform basic machining operations using the lathe. You will learn about tool selection, speeds and feeds, and how to use the DRO (Digital Read Out) to make precisely dimensioned parts. You will practice setting up the machine, use the 3-jaw chuck to securely hold work, change tools, and perform facing and turning cuts on aluminum stock.
Find out more »Rotary Engraving with Lasers
Class fee: $80 / Materials fee: $5.Learn how to use the Rotary Engraving Tool with the Black Cat Lab laser cutters. The rotary engraving tool for the Black Cat Labs laser cutters is the best way to attain high-resolution engravings on cylindrical objects. This tool is primarily used for engraving bottles, glasses, and other round objects.
Find out more »Guided Bike Tune Up
Tired of taking your bike to the shop for a tune up? Learn to do this basic maintenance yourself and how to identify and fix small problems before they put your bike out of commission. Give your bike a tune up with the guidance of an experienced mechanic. In this class the instructor will walk you through an evaluation of your bike to find any potential problems and then guide you through the steps required to fix those problems.
Find out more »Tool Training: Bridgeport Mill
In this class you will learn how to use the Bridgeport mill to perform basic precision machining operations. You will learn about tool selection, selecting spindle speeds, and climb milling vs. conventional milling. You will practice setting up the machine, holding work in the vise, changing tools and performing basic cuts.
Find out more »Glass Enamel on Copper
Class cost: $200 / Material's Fee: $25 payable to Instructor. Learn to fuse glass enamel to copper in this weekend workshop! We will explore multiple enameling techniques: sifting, wetpacking, sgraffito, stencils, and embedding other elements using a small kiln for firing the pieces. Expect to create multiple enameled pieces for jewelry or wall hung paintings.
Find out more »Upcycled T-Shirt Basket
In the first session students will make yarn with their own old t-shirts. Then they will learn how to make a basket base with clothesline. In the second session, students will learn to various patterns possible with the twining technique and how to make a rim to finish the basket.
Find out more »Intro to SolidWorks
3D modeling software is used worldwide in professional settings like engineering, animation, product design, architecture, and more. Designing parts in 3D modeling environments allows you to develop an idea in full before you cut any material, and then either make parts automatically on computer-enabled tools.
Find out more »Cover It: Sewing 102
What do you need to protect from the weather, dust, abrasion? Make a cover for your bike, side table, hand/power tools, computer or musical instruments. Learn how to select the right fabric, measuring and patterning, using the industrial machines safely - this class takes you step by step.
Find out more »Tool Training: 3D Printers (Weeknights)
This one session class will train students on how to use the Asylum’s multiple 3D printers safely and effectively, running through using the 3D model compiler (Simplify3D), printing parts, changing materials, properly removing parts from the beds, and properly disposing of all materials after the print: all the training you need to get going in one afternoon!
Find out more »Tool Training: Rough to Smooth – Using the Miter Saw, Bandsaw, Jointer, Planer and Sanders
Class fee: $160 / Materials fee: $15. After selecting and purchasing lumber, the next step in any woodworking project is to flatten and straighten the stock. Not that long ago, this work was laboriously done by hand. Fortunately, there are four machines available today that are specifically designed to take rough sawn lumber and process it into boards that are straight, flat, and true!
Find out more »Tool Training & Testing: Jewelry Studio
Tool Training is the fastest way to start working independently in the Artisan's Asylum Jewelry Shop and is designed for those with some level of jewelry experience, whether you're an occasional hobbyist or a seasoned metalsmith. In one 3-hour session, students will get up to speed on our particular shop procedures and layout as well as safety and basic use of the air-acetylene torches, forming tools, flex shafts, and the polishing machine. For those who have more experience, other tools may be covered as time allows.
Find out more »Guided Bike Tune Up
Tired of taking your bike to the shop for a tune up? Learn to do this basic maintenance yourself and how to identify and fix small problems before they put your bike out of commission. Give your bike a tune up with the guidance of an experienced mechanic. In this class the instructor will walk you through an evaluation of your bike to find any potential problems and then guide you through the steps required to fix those problems.
Find out more »Leatherworking 102: Make A Wallet
Class cost: $100 / Materials Fee: $35 Expand on basic skills learned in Leatherworking 101 and learn new skills such as hand stitching, creating pockets, and finishing natural leather with oil. Students will be able to choose from a small selection of designs to create a wallet from a pre-made template that they can modify. This class should run for about 3-4 hours depending on if students want to stay to finish their stitching.
Find out more »Learn to Knit
Learn to knit! Ever wanted to knit yourself a hat, sweater, scarf, or toy for your cat? We'll teach you! We'll provide the yarn and needles, you just bring your hands and some patience. No experience required, just willingness to play with sticks, yarn, and the realization that it will seem awkward at first
Find out more »Tool Training: Metal Lathe
In this class, you will learn how to precisely perform basic machining operations using the lathe. You will learn about tool selection, speeds and feeds, and how to use the DRO (Digital Read Out) to make precisely dimensioned parts. You will practice setting up the machine, use the 3-jaw chuck to securely hold work, change tools, and perform facing and turning cuts on aluminum stock.
Find out more »Tool Training: Black Cat Labs Laser
Learn how to use Artisan's Black Cat Labs laser cutters to cut or etch wood, plastics, papers or textiles. Gain a solid understanding of what the machines can do and learn how to upload a file and run a cut and engrave. This class will cover the basics so that you will be able to operate the Black Cat Labs equipment unsupervised and in a safe and courteous manner.
Find out more »Weaving 101
This class is great for beginners interested in learning the basic characteristics and functions of the medium through step by step instructions. Students will be introduced to supplies, how to use and take care of supplies and best studio practices. The class is an introduction to the methods and applications of the primary textile construction technique of weaving. Students will create their own artwork using these traditional skills.
Find out more »December 2019
Bag It – Sewing 101 Class
Learn to use the fiber arts sewing machines and make a bag to keep in your car for groceries or your boots and mittens. This three-hour class will introduce the basics of planning a project, how sewing machines work, terminology, and how to make really useful things. Take your completed bag home at the end of the class.
Find out more »