Menclo Park, CA - Techshop - open machie shop

[WolfeMacleod]

My wife just learned about this on her FJ Cruiser forum

http://www.techshop.ws

This has got to be one of the best ideas anyone has done. They say they're looking into a Seattle location. If they do, I'll join in a heartbeat.

Open machine shop, membership based. Lots of equipment.

Makes me want to move to California. Badly!

From the front page:

What Do YOU Want To Make?

TechShop is a fully-equipped open-access workshop and creative environment that lets you drop in any time and work on your own projects at your own pace. It is like a health club with tools and equipment instead of exercise equipment...or a Kinko's for geeks.


TechShop was founded in 2006 by Jim Newton, a lifetime maker, veteran BattleBots builder and former MythBuster. TechShop is located in Menlo Park, California, on the San Francisco peninsula 25 miles south of San Francisco.

Anyone can come in and build and make all kinds of things themselves using the TechShop tools, machines and equipment, and draw on the TechShop instructors and experts to help them with their projects.

TechShop is designed for everyone, regardless of their skill level. TechShop is perfect for inventors, "makers", hackers, tinkerers, artists, roboteers, families, entrepreneurs, youth groups, FIRST robotic teams, arts and crafts enthusiasts, and anyone else who wants to be able to make things that they dream up but don't have the tools, space or skills.

The TechShop workshop provides a wide variety of machinery and tools for the open and unlimited use of its members, including milling machines and lathes, welding stations and plasma cutters, sheet metal working equipment, drill presses and band saws, industrial sewing machines, hand tools, plastic working equipment, electronics design and fabrication facilities, tubing and metal bending machines, electrical supplies and tools, and pretty much everything you'd ever need to make just about anything all by yourself.

TechShop is for EVERYONE! If you already know how to use all the stuff at TechShop, that's great. But most people only know how to use a few of the tools, machines and equipment at TechShop. If you want to learn about the equipment and tools you have never used before, you can take a short group "Building Block" class to get up to speed in about an hour, or take a more in-depth class on any subject to learn about it more fully. Don't be afraid to try new things, no matter if it is welding, using a milling machine, working with fabrics and leather or plastics, or cutting keyways in a gear. The whole point of TechShop is to enable you with a wide variety of new capabilities so you can start to see the pathway that lets you make new and exciting things.

[nut11]

Now I know what I'm going to do when I retire.

87 blk coupe

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by nut11

Now I know what I'm going to do when I retire.

87 blk coupe

Me too. When the franchise comes down this way, I will join as a adviser and instructor in the areas I know and hope to pick up on the rest.

Unfortunately, history show these ventures don't last.
.

[Aerkuld]

The only reason I'm an engineer is so I can use the workshop and I am a supporter of the "Car Parts for Donuts" scheme. I've always wanted my own at home, but this would be pretty close.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Great idea, but the insurance companies will find a way to destroy it.

[Tishabet]

I wish I could find a garage like this... one of the major problems I have with condo living is no place to wrench on my cars.
A lift... Mig welder... some diagnostics equipment... a man has got to dream!

[craigster59]

I have a friend in Spokane, Wash. who has been looking into building something similar. His plan is for large metal industrial buildings with parking and chin link "lock ups" for your tools and valuables. There will be a "common area" with machine shop, welders and lounge area. Apparently the only problem he has run into insurance wise is that he will have to put in "grease pits" as opposed to lifts.

[WolfeMacleod]

It's really tempting for me to join up, make a week or two trip down there and stay with a friend, just so I can make some of the tooling that I need for the company. Stamps and dies and stuff.
Heck, they've got laser cutters. It would amost be worth it to buy the fibre materials, go down there and cut loads of parts, and drive back. Cheaper than what my current supplier is charging me, for sure.

[URY914]

I like the classes they offer.