Industrial Arts–Ratings

Welding:  The gluing together of solid pieces of metal with some melted metal. Apparently very lucrative if you can stand becoming an archetype of a construction worker on countless police procedurals.  The amount of "construction" on TV shows that is performed solely by using a arc welder is immense. Entire buildings are created from solder and sweaty iron beams.  How can one not love something so visual yet so immensely understated in real construction.  When used as an artform, it takes on an almost "touristy" vibe.  One comes for the giant finished sculptures, but stays mostly for the fellow with the arc welder.  I like the pretty lights.    B+

Glassblowing: I read a book once where the main character looked up to a glassblower.  That was a crap book and so is making bubbles in liquid glass. POP POP.    D

Blacksmithing:  Forcefully forming metal into a specific shape after heating it so much that it starts glowing white or yellow.  This is not simply hot metal.  Low-carbon steel has a melting point around 3000° Fahrenheit. This is just short of sub-MOLTEN.  Striking a length of steel into submission via your will and your forearm is something that all future politicians should respect.  It takes work and perserverance. Also a little bit of burning dinosaur entrails.  Raptor spleen.  raptorspleen.  raspleen.  A-

Torchcutting: I guess you use hot electricity for cutting some stuff into shapes.  But the metal cant be too thick.  And the shapes can't be too complex. maybe they can, but how complex can you make a cookie cutter?  Still, using a jigsaw made of electricity sounds like some superhero type action.   The Skilsaw of Thor.  Zeus-cut iron alloy.  Godscrolled Metal.  Sounds a bit like my new Nordic ska band. C+

Ceramics:  Throw a penis. It's super effective!  B-