Page 7 - HIWT Spring 2012 World of Welding

hiwt@welding.org HOBART INSTITUTE OF WELDING TECHNOLOGY

HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION

(Continued from page 6)

In a building as large as a football field
with 40-foot ceilings, Polich Tallix has the
ability to create a piece up to 60 feet long
from a 6-inch model. The foundry currently
employs 50 highly skilled craftspeople.

Charles explained the differences between
welding at Polich Tallix and welding in a
general fabrication shop. “Polich Tallix
uses mostly TIG and some MIG welding to
work on primarily stainless steel, bronze,
and silver. The welds must be of high
quality because of the aesthetics. The
welds are generally highly polished which
brings out the defects in a weld.”

No two sculptures are identical. Welders
must deal with the impurities and defects
within the casting, often times working Charles and a co-worker put finishing touches on an installation of another angel
overlooking the bay.
with multiple types of metal in the same
piece or welding of dissimilar metals.
Varied thicknesses of the metals and different grain structures their art, and the foundry is often called upon to facilitate and
in a casting may present challenges as does color matching of implement the expanding range of tools and techniques that
varying alloys. Welders also must take into consideration the have become available.
environment where the sculpture will be placed. They may be
dealing with corrosive elements, such as salt from the ocean The art community has also been greatly affected by the
or with changing temperatures of the outdoors. The use of downturn in the economy and layoffs are part of the result.
patinas and polishing can help in protecting the piece and in Charles is prepared for whatever may come his way and is
achieving a desired color or effect. considering positions in industrial settings.

“In the artistic setting, form is generally more important than “I received a high-quality education from Hobart Institute that
function,” said Charles. expanded my horizons and make me more competitive. With
that and my eight-years of experience, I am ready to face new
Another challenge is often times presented when a sculpture challenges,” Charles concluded.
is placed in a public setting where theft may be an issue.
The installation must be very secure and the pieces must be Location of some of the pieces created in the Polich Tallix Fine
“locked down” and bolted into place in a way that is not easy Art Foundry:
to remove. Bolts and welds and other connections need to be “Dorchester Voices/Dorchester History” in Edward Everett
hidden from sight.
Square, Dorchester, MA
The art community is moving more toward computer design “Sleeping Moon” in Peabody Square, Dorchester, MA
and rapid prototyping that remove the human error side of the
design and can also cut down on the amount of work needed “Abraham Lincoln and his horse” at President Lincoln’s
to complete a project. Rapid prototyping is the automatic Cottage, Armed Forces Retirement Home campus in northwest
construction of physical objects using additive manufacturing Washington, D.C.
technology. It is used for producing models, prototype
parts, and for a much wider range of applications to include ‘Three Legged Buddha’ at the Storm King Art Center, New
Windsor, NY
manufacturing quality parts in relatively small numbers. Many
sculptor s are utilizing this digital technology now to produce Further information may be obtained from:
www.polichtallix.com

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