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Project: Bio Sand Water Filter Project - Metal Mold Construction (DRAFT)
February 2014 – Present
- Kono District- Eastern Province - Sierra Leone
Working with local metal artisans in Koidu; Using the CAWST manual, technically trained and closely supervised construction of metal mold for CAWST bio sand water filter, mold completed April 2014.
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Challenges: A major constraint was local artisans were unsused to making high precision measurements, angles and cutting, and welding, had to teach basic technical drawing, accurate drawing out on sheet metal. Artisans used a process of overcutting then grinding down metal to avoid undercutting. Some of the higher thicknesses were too expensive to purchase in large quantities for the small amounts that were needed. It was necessary to scavenge waste offcuts instead. Close supervision was only possible on weekend visits from Kayima to Koidu, artisans were not confident to work in my absence, this delayed construction, extending work over a number of weeks. However provided the metalworkers with time to digest and upskill new techniques and standards.
The video above shows an innovation I'm looking forward to trying
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Lessons Learned:
Do not assume angles correct despite assurances, have set squares, metal markers and engineering rulers handy for accurate measurements (they used simple tape measure), check all measurements and angles thrice and weld once.
Actions: Next phase; construction of concrete filters and community training, due to commence August 2014, suspended due to Ebola crisis. Target for aggregate sourcing (remote control) Jan 2015. Target for Concrete filter construction training March 2015.
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| Mr Sesay Metalworkers at Gunpoint Koidu |
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| In the final stages the metal workers solved extractor problem with minimal supervision |
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| In the final stages the metal workers solved extractor problem with minimal supervision |
