IIW welded art exhibition, 2021

ERIC MCCUTCHEON (Canada)

Eric McCutcheon, has been a welding instructor for the past 7 years at Northern Lakes College, Alberta, Canada and his place of employment is at Peace River Correctional Center where he trains the inmates to weld. Eric was a welder before becoming a Welding Technician and then a QA &QC manager on a major oil refinery. In 1990 he began teaching welding to the present time. To create greater interest for the trainees in the programme, he uses welded art exhibits as a key part of the training. The three exhibits shown were made by the inmates to improve their skills.

Contact info E-mail: Home fragerman@hotmail.com / Work mccutcheone@northernlakescollege.ca

Exhibit “THE SKULL”, “SCORPION, “SPIDER” To assist in training the students to improve their welding skills related to exhibits having both form and function, Eric used the exhibits shown. The Skull is named “The Dark Side”, the Scorpion is named “Precaution” and the Spider “Poison”. The objective for creating the skull was for the student to use Oxy-Acetylene Welding, Cutting and Brazing. The student was also taught how to use a multi-flame rosebud heating tip to heat up pieces and shape material. For the scorpion and spider, the Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) process was used with air grinders for shaping. There was no time frame put on completing the exhibits to enable the students to develop their welding skills correctly. At the end of each class, the students and the instructor would discuss their performance that day. Due to the skills which they have been taught, various students have now created their own welded art exhibits as well as students obtaining employment in the welding area. Dimensions “The Skull 6” high x 6”wide x 6”long “Scorpion” 4.75”high x 4”wide x 9” long “Spider” 4”high x 4” wide x 5”long

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