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Spring Class Lineup

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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Dueling Mechanical Bulls, Maker Faire edition

Small, barefooted people prepare to be humiliated. On the right, MB does an ancient dance of Canadian nerd rage. In the center we have Townsend: stunned; Leif showing his ability to slouch and lean on an invisible wall; Dale Dougherty and Philly, eyes asparkle, documenting. In the background are mocking reminders that we once had […]

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Dueling Mechanical Bulls at Google I/O 2012

Bull-riding is considered a super tough-guy activity, a chance for cowboys, rodeo queens, and wannabees to prove that they have what it takes to triumph in this quintessentially American pastime. In our minds, all mechanical bulls fall short of being truly American in that they lack competition, the opportunity to directly humiliate another person. To […]

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Hackett in NY Times

Art Star number 1, Hackett, was recently profiled in the NY Times.

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Take a Class

Pretentious artspeak dragging you down? Looking for something fun and different, without too much commitment? You’ve come to the right place. Here at Madagascar Institute, we give great art with out the fear of commitment. Our classes are up close and personal, short and cheap. Just like you like them. Coming up this next Sunday, […]

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Building a materials rack

Go Lindsay & Gaylen!

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