The biggest barrier to being a maker is tools. There are so many tools that can make your life easier but obtaining them can be both cost and space prohibitive. We do all our work in a small garage. Our workspace is shared with gardening tools, camping equipment, bicycles, and automotive tools. Renting a space is an option but is another cost and you still need to stock it with tools. What’s a maker to do?
MakerSpace to the Rescue
Several years ago we purchased a 3D Printer and we were looking for somewhere to learn how to use it properly. Our local MakerSpace came up in our search and we ended up spending an evening there learning the ins and outs of 3D printing. While we were there we noticed a full woodshop, pottery wheels, vinyl cutters, CNCs, and a host of other tools.
For those of you unfamiliar with Makerspaces they are collaborative workspaces full of all manners of equipment where different creatives can share tools, experience, and learning. You pay a monthly fee and, provided you take classes to learn the equipment, take care of the tools, and clean up after yourself, you have full access to planers, routers, drills, table saws, and a host of other tools.
…with Great Power (Tools)
So we often find ourselves picking up a batch of wood and heading up to MakerSpace to plane them down, cut them to size, and sand them. Eventually, we’ll learn how to use routers and CNCs to further hone our crafts. Unfortunately, our MakerSpace’s lease is expiring and they are looking for a new home. This means that the future of this great resource is up in the air. We’re hoping that they find a space large enough to house all of this great equipment for all the people who rely on them, not just makers. Hobbyists, students, the weekend warrior who wants to make a dining room table out of a piece of driftwood he picked up. Having this type of collaborative workspace is invaluable to all of these people.
