Author Archives: Becky Stern

Spring Class Lineup

By Becky Stern | Published: February 25, 2014

We’ve got a welding class each Saturday this spring! All sorts of people have come thru Madagascar Institute knowing nothing about a shop and have become capable metal workers. Get your start here. Artstar Hackett shows you how: Beginning MIG Welding w/ Hackett Mar 8, 2014 Mar 15, 2014* Mar 22, 2014 Apr 5, 2014 […]

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January Classes

By Becky Stern | Published: December 31, 2013

1/4/2014 6 hr MIG/TIG welding combo w/ Jim SOLD OUT 1/11/2014 6 hr MIG/TIG welding combo w/ Jim SOLD OUT 1/25/2014 6 hr MIG/TIG welding combo w/ Jim 2/8/2014 6 hr MIG/TIG welding combo w/ Jim In this all day mig/tig combo class, artstar Jim Tensen will walk you through everything you need to successfully […]

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November Classes – Welding and Silkscreen

By Becky Stern | Published: November 1, 2013

6 hr MIG/TIG welding combo w/ Jim, Saturday 11/9/13 11am-6pm In this all day mig/tig combo class, artstar Jim Tensen will walk you through everything you need to successfully learn to weld. First, you’ll some basic theory, then you’ll learn how the MIG machine works, general safety, why you won’t get electrocuted, and all those […]

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Hackett’s Bike Generator

By Becky Stern | Published: October 28, 2013

Hackett shows you how to build a bike charger for a deep cycle battery so you can power your life during the next natural disaster. Mike Davis’ 555 chip charging circuit

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The Transmission Problem – Pedicab Projector Tripod

By Becky Stern | Published: September 8, 2013

Hackett describes the projector tripod he’s building for the pedicab version of The Illuminator, and discusses what he refers to as the “transmission problem” when building things from obtanium.

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Remove Galvanization with Muriatic Acid – Hackett Demonstrates

By Becky Stern | Published: August 18, 2013

Hackett demonstrates an acid bath method to remove toxic galvanization from steel in order to prepare it for welding. Galvanized electrical conduit is a readily-obtainable building material, but welding it releases gaseous heavy metals. Removing galv from the areas you wish to weld is easy with a little muriatic acid, water, and baking soda.

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Hackett’s DIY Welding Rod article in MAKE Magazine

By Becky Stern | Published: August 18, 2013

Hackett wrote a how-to for making your own welding rod from coathangers, newspaper, and common household chemicals for MAKE volume 33. The full tutorial is available online, and you can download the article PDF!

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June Classes – Welding & Motorcycle Maintenance

By Becky Stern | Published: May 28, 2013

Beginning TIG Welding with Jim – Wednesday 5/29 7-10pm Beginning MIG Welding with Hackett – Saturday 6/1 12-3pm Beginning MIG Welding with Ryan – Wednesday 6/5 7-10pm Motorcycle Maintenance with Pat – Saturday 6/8 10am-1pm – Learn how to fix your own bike. In this small hands on class, Pat Cooke will teach you how to keep your […]

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October Classes

By Becky Stern | Published: October 6, 2012

Intro to MIG welding w/ Hackett Tues. Oct 9, 7-10pm $60 incl materials MIG welding is the handy hot glue do-all kind of welding, the primary kind of welding used in making traincars, art, cranes, etc.  All sorts of people have come through Madagascar Institute knowing nothing about a shop and have become capable metal […]

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Ride the Dueling Bulls at Maker Faire New York 2012

By Becky Stern | Published: September 23, 2012

Madagascar Institute will be in full bloom at Maker Faire New York 2012 September 29 and 30. We’ll be up on the hill near Coke Zero & Mentos– come say hi, ride the bulls, and pick up a t-shirt.

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Hackett to speak at “Beyond Thunderdome – The Science of the Apocalypse”

By Becky Stern | Published: August 19, 2012

Beyond Thunderdome!: An Evening of Beer, Science, and the Apocalypse Wednesday, August 22, 2012 | 7:15 PM – 8:45 PM Lolita Bar (basement space), 266 Broome St. Earthquakes! Disease! Technological meltdown on a global scale! The Empiricist League’s second FREE gathering will take place on Wednesday, Wednesday, August 22nd at 7:15pm at Lolita Bar’s basement […]

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July/August Classes: Welding and EL Wire!

By Becky Stern | Published: July 17, 2012

July/August classes at The Madagascar Institute (sign up on EventBrite): 6 hour MIG/TIG combo with Jim Saturday, July 28, 2012 11AM – 6PM EL Wire with Becky Stern – Materials Included Saturday, August 4, 2012 7PM to 9:45PM Beginning MIG welding w/ Hackett Saturday, August 4, 2012 from 12PM to 3PM Beginning TIG welding w/ […]

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Dueling Mechanical Bulls in progress

By Becky Stern | Published: June 13, 2012

The bulls are getting ready to go to the Google I/O afterparty in San Francisco later this month, and here’s the recent progress. Above is the first test of the upper deck motor/bucking mechanism. At first it’s solidon, then Hackett started to start/stop the motor manually. Then Colin got on it to see how it’d […]

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May Welding Class Schedule!

By Becky Stern | Published: April 23, 2012

Interested in taking a welding class? We’ve got some new ones coming up! Check out our Eventbrite page for the full lineup. Wed May 3, 7-10 pm Intermediate MIG welding w/ Mike $60 Sat May 12, 11am-6pm 6 hour MIG/TIG combo w/ Jim $125 Tues. May 22, 7-10pm Beginning TIG welding w/ Jim $60 (Photo […]

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Jim’s MIG/TIG class: welding success!

By Becky Stern | Published: April 14, 2012

Thanks to all the participants who learned to weld at Jim’s MIG/TIG combo class today at the shop! Sparks flew all afternoon at Jim’s multiple welding stations. Want to take a class? Check out our Eventbrite calendar.

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