Community Workshop?

[Jimbo]

Is there such a thing as a community workshop where people come together (much as we all do here but in reality) to share ideas and get ideas on projects and then use a shared workshop to make them a reality? Instead of everybody buying their own tools and equipment and working in their own workshops, everything would be shared and maintained by the group. Advice would be given and sought in a friendly fashion and joking and ribbing would be free. In addition, if demand existed, formal classroom courses could be given on specific topics.

Just a thought .......

[Russ Stanton]

If you are near Greenville SC the Greenville Woodworkers Guild does just what are writing about. They have a fully equipped shop for use of guild members and they have frequesnt classess on use of the machines, various fabrication techniques, finishing techniques etc.

[SonomaProducts.com]

Closest thing I have seen in San Francisco area is many co-op shops where some person or group of persons has a site with equipment and workspace and as a commercial venture leases out access and space. "Some" sharing can happen if you get good people but you also have prima donnas, aholes, incoherents, whack jobs, etc. all possibilities also.

Another similar is a community old folks center that has a woodsh> Is there such a thing as a community workshop where people come

[RonB]

Some towns with military bases offer rental facilities. Wichita, KS had such a facility years ago but I don't know if it is still there.

RonB

[DejaVoodoo]

Since public schools are public property, would you not be able to gain access to a public school woodshop? I used to jog on the local highschool track all the time.

Mark

[DJ Delorie]

We have that in NH, it's called "sharing" :-)

Seriously, we have our guild:

We have meetings throughout the year, with subgroups for given interests (turning, hand tools, luthiers, etc), and most meetings include a demo or instructional topic where members can share experiences and ask questions. We have two publications that are also geared towards sharing and collaboration, the "Old Saw" for meeting notes and the "Journal" for how-to articles.

As for the shop space, well, we just share. For example, a friend and I are building a set of desks together in my shop, last year I did some turning at someone else's shop. My dad often shows up to use the specialty tools I have that he doesn't. This sharing tends to "just happen" if you have the social network, no organization is needed.

Heck, the guild's BIG (Beginners and Intermediate Group) subgroup does a shared project over the course of the year, just what you're talking about.

[dpb]

DejaVoodoo wrote: ...

... You'll play h-e-double-hockey sticks finding a school w/ a woodshop w/ power tools these days... :(

And, if you do, it's even less unlikely there will access to it outside an adult education class.

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[dpb]

Have you asked about insurance coverage under this arrangement?

I've read of one case where this type or arrangement ended up in a large liability suit for a member as the semi-formal arrangement negated the homeowner's liability policy w/o a rider to cover such activity.

Not to be a poopy-partier, but...things to be concerned about/take care to cover these days, unfortunately. :(

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[SonomaProducts.com]

With liability today and the way the greens run the schools, I don't think us tree killers have a chance.

I did however get my Powermatic table saw and shaper from a local school that was shutt> >

[Nova]

Insurance issues usually prohibit the shop's use unless enrolled in a sanctioned program.

[Chris Friesen]

Around here liability issues seem to prevent them from letting normal people use the shop.

Chris

[DGDevin]

Well, you could try a prison job training program, but there's a downside to the free shop time....

On a more serious note, there are lots of woodworking clubs out there:

[Artemus]

Depends on where you are. Is there a TechShop in your area?

[Artemus]

[Nova]

It doesn't look like they offer much in the way of wwodworking equipment.

At $50 per visit or $1,200 per year I think I'd pass.

[Nova]

The best I can find, along with the list on their own web sites say there are currently three location and they are in the process of building about nine more. It appears they've been saying that since 2007.

[Derek Lyons]

Almost all of which are coming 'mid 2008'.

D.

[DJ Delorie]

The guild has insurance for guild meetings. As for shop space, hey, if a friend wants to come over and use a few tools, that's between them and me. The guild doesn't get involved per se, it's just that everyone happens to know someone nearby who has a shop.

[J. Clarke]

If there's a Woodcraft in the area it does no harm to walk in and ask where one can rent or borrow shop space.

[SonomaProducts.com]