Fournier Metal Shaping Workshops present valuable information, demonstration and hands-on-experience in metal shaping skills and English wheel use. The 3-day courses are an intense and focused experience in which students learn traditional metal shaping techniques.
We firmly believe that metal shaping students should learn not only through research and demonstrations, but also through hands-on, project-based experience. Our workshops provide just that. During the workshop, students are taken through a series of ability appropriate exercises and projects. It is essential that the student develop strong basic skills before attempting more advanced projects and a sequential, technique-based workshop lays the foundation for high quality metal fabrication and shortens the learning curve. Our workshops have been helping amateurs and professionals alike since the early 90's!

Metal Shaping Workshop:

• Due to COVID restrictions please call us for availability of our 2021 metal shaping workshops.

 

Workshop Details:
To ensure individual attention for every participant, we enroll a maximum of 4 students per workshop. The workshop meets on 3 consecutive days, from 8:30 am until we have finished the projects for the day, with a one hour lunch break. Workshops are held in Mt. Clemens MI.

• 3 days of instruction;
• 4 students per class, maximum;
• No charge for materials used for practice work & projects;
• All tools and equipment are provided for students to use during the workshop;
• Certificate of achievement upon completion of course;
• Students may take home the projects they create while at the workshop. We will ship your projects upon request;
• Students also receive a book and DVD;
• Tuition $1,000 per person. Please carefully review registration form for complete registration & payment details.

Special Requests:

If you have at least 3 people willing to commit to a certain set of dates with deposits we will take your date requests into consideration. If the dates work with our schedule we will book a class for you on those dates even if they are not listed under our predetermined dates. 

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Workshop Testimonials

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ADVANCED METAL SHAPING WORKSHOPS

In response to requests from students, we developed an Advanced Metal Fabrication Workshop for people who wish to continue to develop and expand skills learned in Metal Fabrication Workshop I. The workshop quickly became popular, and continues as an annual offering. In this workshop we take the skills learned in the first workshop and apply them to a more challenging project similar to those found in an actual shop. The parts are shaped using a buck and then gas welded and metal finished.

Due to the nature of the craft and the need for continual practice and skill development, we encourage students to attend the Advanced Workshop on multiple visits to enhance and continue their professional growth.

Course prerequisite: we require that the student attend Metal Fabrication Workshop 1 prior to attending the Advanced Workshop. It is also essential that the student has practiced the skills taught in the first workshop in order to gain maximum benefit from the course.

Benefits Include

• Four-to-one student/teacher ratio provides valuable one-on-one attention and mentoring;
• Increased technical ability and productivity;
• More efficient use of shop tools, supplies and equipment;
• familiarity with the design, construction, and use of bucks;
• A more effective approach to intermediate and advanced metal fabrication projects.

Advanced Metal Shaping Project

Students will fabricate a small, aluminum car fender from multiple pieces using a buck. If the student would like to bring their own buck to work off of instead it is allowed. Any outside student projects must be approved by the instructor before the class. 

Welding

Continuation of demonstration, exercises and practice in gas and some TIG welding. Students will achieve a higher level of welding expertise in this course for use in the automotive, motorcycle, aircraft or metal sculpture industries.

Pattern Development & Layout

How to create and transfer patterns for finished metal components. Marking, fitting and transferring patterns are the foundation of high-quality body panels. Significant time is devoted to the thorough explanation and demonstration of these skills.

Advanced Metal Shaping

Shaping metal with specialized equipment such as: shrinkers and stretchers, shot bags, forming/flanging heads and English wheels are demonstrated, taught and applied in a hands-on environment. A variety of English wheels, including full-size and custom-designed wheels are available for students to use for practice and project development periods.

Large Sheet Metal Equipment

Sheet metal brakes, sheet metal rollers and beaders, bandsaw and metal shear are available for use and discussion.

Workshop Design

To ensure individual attention for every participant, we enroll a maximum of 4 students per workshop. The workshop meets three consecutive days from 8:30 am until a good stopping point is reached, with a one hour lunch break. Workshops are held at our facility in Mount Clemens, Michigan.