As we approach the end of the semester, Jasslyn Dahlberg decided it was time to give an update on her panther’s progress.
With more than 100 hours in the project, Dahlberg has been focused on the panther since Jan. 28, staying after class to make sure she finished the panther before she graduated from the Welding/Fabrication program.
After smashing the SCTCC Art Contest, the panther had taken a tour of a few events, and then Dahlberg was able to continue her work.
“I did most of the welding and asked Chuck if he could help…while I was grinding some of the welds flat. I spent two days grinding all the welds down so the corners/angles were sharp so you couldn’t see the weld,” she explained.
After her part was finished, they sent the panther to All Pro Powder Coating & Sandblasting where they sandblasted it white. They use garnet to sandblast, which creates an ideal surface for powder-coating. This cleaned the panther and prepared it for outdoor conditions.
When the panther was finished at All Pro, it was time to take it to Line-X, where they primarily offer spray-on bedliners. The panther got an extra layer of protection with a textured, black bedliner spray. With the tabs Dahlberg attached to the panther’s feet so it can be bolted to the ground, it’s ready for a life in snow and sun.
“Both companies donated their time, material, and resources, so I’m very thankful to them,” Dahlberg said. “I’m thankful to (instructor) Chuck for letting me do this project and letting me go and accomplish as much as I wanted to. Thanks to (instructor) Eric as well for letting me work in his class and help me with a lot of the problems I ran into while making the panther. And of course, thanks go to (classmates) Logan and Josh for helping puzzle together the panther and help me when I needed it.”
The panther will be displayed at commencement held May 16 at the SCSU National Hockey Center. After that, it will be auctioned to help fund the Welding/Fabrication program. Watch for more details on the auction!
