Pretoria
Pretoria school maker week
Studio benches and shared jigs for a high school fabricate week.
Field notes: Pretoria school Maker week
The Highveld winter was sharp in the mornings but gave way to open, sunlit afternoons, so we organised our set-up for the practicals around the school’s central quad. The brief called for durable, modular benches and accessible shared jigs for a week-long fabrication programme involving learners from multiple grades. We brought up our Studio Benches, built of locally sourced saligna, each 2.1 metres long with steel cross-bracing for stability. Veld Trays in birch ply were included for storing small tools, screws and offcuts, and our Ceramic Studio Jig, a plywood fixture with adjustable pegs, was set up for clay and wire shaping.
The space in the quad was uneven, with a few cracked concrete sections, so our benches’ adjustable feet were essential. Learners moved between stations freely, so all bins and jigs had to be robust and quickly reset. Dust was a factor, especially in the breezy afternoons, but the trays kept small items contained.
What worked and informed later jobs
Several details from this week proved valuable for future education and workshop settings. The adaptability of the benches and the containment features of the Veld Trays stood out. Sessions ran at a fast pace, so every object and fixture had to handle knocks and regular repositioning. These learnings carried well into other workshop and group build environments, especially in spaces where surfaces are less than perfect.
- Adjustable bench feet coped with sloped or damaged floors.
- Veld Trays prevented tool and parts loss outdoors.
- Ceramic Studio Jig’s simple peg system adapted to many small-object tasks, not just ceramics.
- Quick reconfiguration meant more time on task, less time moving equipment.
What we would change next time
If we return for a similar week, we would pre-attach rubber padding to the bench feet for even better grip and to minimise scuffing on tiles. The quad’s exposure meant that lighter trays sometimes shifted in the wind, so adding removable weights or friction pads would help. We also noted that the jigs could use a clearer system for checking out and returning pegs and fixtures to keep things organised as groups rotated.
A simple whiteboard or painted plywood board for tool check-out would have helped keep things on hand without confusion. For communication, if there are supply runs to make, a bakkie on standby would save time juggling multiple trips. Any queries or requests can always be directed to atelier@creationafrica.co.za.