Making Do The Jua Kali Way of Life
metal or wire can be employed to lock in the position of the crank. One of the unsolved challenges for machine makers has been devising a tool that can churn out nails at an economically competitive cost. The jua kali spirit of fabrication is embodied in the jua kali workbench, a homemade tool employed by just about every shop at Racecourse (See Figure 3.5). Artisans start with a simple frame of square steel tubing, which can be used as flat surfaces and right angle edges. The jua kali then attach relevant parts to the frame as needed. For example, a large hollow cylinder can be welded to the frame, with which one can hammer sheet metal into a bowl shape. Welding on two short rods to the frame allows artisans to bend iron or steel wire between them, creating patterns that resemble wrought iron furniture designs seen locally in catalogs.
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HOW TO FASTEN WITHOUT NAILS OR SCREWS
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Figure 3.4 Riveting. The jua kali riveting process includes homebrewed tools and improvisational methods.
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