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Workshop Clubs

A workshop where people can access space and tools for projects
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Ever wish you had more or better tools in your workshop? Perhaps you don't have the space for a good workshop in your home. Or you need some help and comaraderie while doing woodwork, metalwork or practicing some other craft.

This would be a subscription type service (like a health club) that offers you access to a well supplied workshop with quality tools for working in wood, metal etc. The target market would include people who are downsizing and no longer have the space for their own shop, students, renters or anyone who wants to learn more about shop craft.

desperado, May 07 2004

is this the one that [LL] referred to? http://www.halfbake.../idea/Rent-a-Garage
[po, Oct 04 2004]

(?) Rent a darkroom http://www.thedarkroom.it/darkrooms.html
There are lots of these. [ldischler, Oct 04 2004]

(?) Automotive bay rental with tools for checkout http://www.yuma.usm...to-rv.htm#AUTOHOBBY
located on a USMC military base. [booleanfool, Oct 04 2004]

Rent a Lab http://www.halfbake...idea/Rent_20A_20Lab
I thought this was more all round mad scientist than it actually is. Its only slightly related to this idea. [RobertKidney, Oct 04 2004]

The Crucible, Oakland http://www.thecrucible.org/
Classes in various fabrication techniques (metal, wood, neon, glass, mold-making, jewelry); $250/mo rents you half a studio with free subscription to all the labs. It's not quite cheap and random-access enough, but a step in the right direction. If you're in the area between 10 and 6, have a volunteer show you around. [jutta, Oct 04 2004]

TechShop, Menlo Park http://www.techshop.ws/
Since July 2006. [jutta, Apr 28 2006, last modified May 20 2007]

http://hackerspaces.org/ Widely baked. Click the wiki link to find one near you. [notexactly, Feb 04 2018]

[link]






       Thats awesome! I'd get a membership.
swimr, May 07 2004
  

       Every military base we've lived on in the US and overseas has a wood shop, auto shop, metal welding shop and others. I bet some of them are available to the gen pub also. in fact I know The Woodworker Store, (i think that's the name) an upscale hardware store in Virginia has Saturdays open to the public for projects, advice and use of the tools there. ..so baked...
dentworth, May 07 2004
  

       Not baked 'round here! I wish it were, though. I'd rent me an anvil and forge for an hour each day. Screw that wussy health club Nautilus crappola.
justaguy, May 07 2004
  

       Sorta similar to my garage rental space idea, (which was baked), and definitely something we need.
RayfordSteele, May 08 2004
  

       Yes, this is baked. I don't have the time today to prove it. Under the new rules this is not a mfd item, because it isn't widely know to exist and isn't easily found with a web search.   

       The last time around, we discussed the increasing costliness of insurance for something like this. [edit: see po's linked idea]   

       Oh, and welcome to Halfbakery, [desparado]. Watch out for the baptism by sarcasm. It's coming. It always does.
Laughs Last, May 08 2004
  

       At least I thought I posted something on it. I must've deleted it for redundancy.
RayfordSteele, May 08 2004
  

       [po], that was the one I was thinking of. As a future politician, I am cognizant that sometimes it is very difficult to remember when or who did or said what, depending on what 'is' is.   

       If a (wood) workshop club existed in my area, I would join up in a heartbeat. Workers of a single neighborhood, Unite!
Laughs Last, May 08 2004
  

       Yes this idea is a lot like the rent-a-garage - just more general I suppose. I hadn't thought in terms of an auto shop per se. The clearer focus on autos may make it a stronger business idea. On the other hand, I think a broader shop environment appeals to a wider market. At least it's what I would want.
desperado, May 09 2004
  

       It's tough enough to keep a workshop clean without having to tear down and build up the different stations all the time!   

       I disagree that this is just equipment rental with more floor space. This requires a lot of supervision - it's almost inevitable that the place would have to turn into a bit of a teaching facility. Not just because tools can damage people; it's easy to have people damage tools by cutting the wrong stock with the wrong saw, not properly lubricating, etc.
jutta, May 09 2004
  

       As [dentworth] I used the auto hobby shop many times and really loved having access to tools that I could not otherwise afford or store. But as [jutta] I think it is much more. There were some old dudes who sat around and gave advice to us "kids" when we couldn't figure something out. I learned an amazing amount because I was very motivated to figure it out.   

       My only concern would be for the insurance and potential lawsuits. But I'd love to see this happen.   

       I'd buy that for a dollar!
James Newton, May 09 2004
  

       Sorry, I worked out the pricing to be $25 per month outside of major urban centers in the US and Canada. Slightly higher in NYC, LA, SF, etc.
desperado, May 12 2004
  

       I've been a member of a woodworking one in Canada for the last couple of years. Its more of a private club, 5 members only, limited due to the size of the shop. We are in the phonebook, so it is semi-advertised.
ayt, May 12 2004
  

       just a point but this is the internet ok so this site is English language, but this means that an idea that is half baked in one country could be widely known to exist else where.   

       Back to the idea... Tool rental shops will rent you most things these days so surely having 1 or 2 work areas wouldn't be too hard for them, all you need is a good lawyer to set up the rental agreement for the tools and the space. As for supervision or advice there must be a fair few old mechanics etc out there who are retired but want to keep their hand in.
engineer1, May 12 2004
  

       We are opening a full service do it your self auto hobby shop. Just like on militray bases but with a civilian application. The only thing stopping us is the right space in Charlottesville,VA. My email is tracylcarver@yahoo.com
MERCNRY, Mar 06 2005
  

       I had a dream about this just the other night. I had a dream there was a wood shop in the shopping mall, right next to a do-it-yourself craft store, so you buy your materials, and go next door and assemble it.
evilsheep, Mar 07 2005
  

       I joined a communal car workshop at university. It closed before I even got a chance to look around. Shame.
wagster, Mar 07 2005
  

       Have you considered enlarging the living room door?
MaxwellBuchanan, Feb 04 2018
  

       But surely, [Ian], advances in computer technology can solve your problem of not having enough space for music equipment? Simply implement the house and wife in software, and use the newly-available space for your synths.
MaxwellBuchanan, Feb 04 2018
  
      
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