Liberty Arts

Clamps to Lamps: Functional Lighting in Metal

Clamps to Lamps is a hands-on class that blends metal fabrication with functional design, guiding students through the process of creating their own custom metal lamp. This class is an opportunity to explore welding as both a technical skill and a creative practice, resulting in a piece that is both sculptural and usable.

Students will begin by sketching and developing ideas in class, bringing multiple concepts to explore and refine during the session. From there, they will move into cutting, assembling, and welding their designs, focusing on strong construction and clean form.

Throughout the class, students will gain experience working with MIG welding, using grinders for shaping and finishing, and refining surfaces through polishing or coating techniques. The goal is to build both confidence with the welding process and an understanding of how to create functional metal objects.

By the end of the class, students will have completed a custom lamp that reflects their own design approach and fabrication style.

Schedule

This is a 3-day class that meets on the following dates:

Tuesday, May 6 | 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Design development, material preparation, and beginning assembly. If time allows, students will start welding their pieces.

Tuesday, May 13 | 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Continue building and assembling the main structure. By the end of class, the body of the lamp will be complete.

Saturday, May 17 | 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Students will configure and install lighting components while refining and polishing the surface using their chosen finishing methods.

Note: The first two sessions take place on weekdays, with the final session held on a Saturday.

Location

This class will meet at Liberty Arts Studio, located at 918 Pearl St., Durham, NC, United States.

Pre-requisites

Some familiarity with the welding process is helpful, but beginners are welcome.

Students should be comfortable working around heat, noise, sharp edges, and power tools.

Skills & Equipment

Students will learn how to move from concept to finished object while working with a range of fabrication tools and techniques.

Students will learn:
Basic sketching and layout for functional design
Measuring and planning for accurate fabrication
Cutting metal using shop tools
MIG welding for structural assembly
Use of grinders for cutting, cleaning, and finishing
Surface preparation and finishing techniques including sanding, polishing, and coating

Equipment used in this class includes MIG welders, angle grinders (cutting wheels, sanding discs, polishing discs), metal saws, clamps, measuring tools, and standard welding studio equipment.

Materials

Students will primarily work with square tubing along with a wide selection of available materials from the studio scrap area to build their lamp.

All core materials are included in the cost of the class.

Safety & PPE

Protective gloves, welding helmets, face shields, and ear protection will be provided. Proper protective wear designed for welding and metal fabrication will be made mandatory to wear.

What to Wear

Students should wear non-synthetic, long-sleeve clothing and closed-toe shoes. Natural fibers are recommended, as they offer better protection when working with heat and sparks. Hair should be tied back.

For everyone’s safety, the instructor may limit participation if proper clothing is not worn.

Notes / Important Info

This class takes place in an active welding studio environment and involves working with heat, noise, sharp edges, and power tools.

Students will leave this class with a completed functional metal lamp ready for display and use.