Welding students at MCHS are putting together window frames that will be installed inside the Mason City Fire Department’s fire tower.
“It’s pretty cool to be able to say that you built something,” senior Caleb Shannon said. “I like to see that they’re investing more in the trade programs at the school.”
Senior Dakota Hjelle, who is welding together a frame for a metal box, said he’s grateful to have his work going out into the community.
“This is going to the airport,” Hjelle said. “They’re using it for a fire truck sitting out at the airport. I’m not exactly sure what it’s for, but I know it goes into a fire truck.”
Welding teacher Richard Patras first discovered the fire tower project by reaching out to the community.
“We went to the Chamber of Commerce and just let everyone know we are looking for projects,” Patras said. “The fire department said, ‘Hey, we have something for you. ’”
Using the expertise of Curries, another community partner and a manufacturer of metal doors and frames, the collaborators were able to make the project happen. Curries donated a lot of the materials for the project.
“Curries allowed us to go out there and have my kids trained by the people who do it every day,” Patras said.
Students also learned quickly that their work needs to meet a certain standard, especially regarding project deadlines.
“We’ve had to redo a lot of stuff because it’s just not getting the quality, and it has to be correct, so that’s probably been the biggest connect for these kids is that sometimes it’s just not good enough,” Patras said. “It should have been a week ago, we’re about two weeks behind and hurrying.
Welding offers opportunities for students open to trying something new. “It’ll be wonderful for these kids to drive by there and say, ‘Hey, I built those windows,’” Patras said. But for every student like Hjelle, it is a good opportunity to learn even though it isn’t a future career he wants to pursue.
“It’s awesome to see that the stuff we do in class is getting put out in the community,” Hjelle said. “I may work somewhere over the summer welding, but for a future job, this isn’t the route I wanna take, but it is a good thing that I think people should learn how to do.”
“The benefits for students participating in welding allows them to see if there’s something they’d be interested in doing,” Patras said. “Sometimes it’s good to know you don’t want to do it, that’s why you experience it.”
Patras said welding collaborates with Sukup Manufacturing, Iowa Mold Tooling, Stellar, and J & J Manufacturing in Mason City.
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Screen mesh for window frames.
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A welded corner joint of the window frame that is going into the fire tower.
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Welded window frame going into the fire tower.
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Welded window frames going into the fire tower.
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Fire tower at the Mason City Fire Department
