TechShop - NC, OR and CA Bay Area

**Ghost of Spookie** · 05-21-2010,10:30 PM

Just came across a place called TechShop, a "membership-based workshop that provides members with access to tools and equipment, instruction and a community of creative and supportive people so they can build the things they have always wanted to make". What a great idea especially for those without space for a workshop or without all the tools or knowledge to use them. It would be nice if every city had a place like this. Anyway, here a link to the website. Right now there are locations in Durham, NC; Portland, OR; and Menlo Park, CA with new locations opening this summer and fall in San Francisco, CA and San Jose, CA.

If there was a location closer to my home I could see asking for a month's membership as a Bday/Xmas gift and learning some new skills during that time and working on something there. BTW I noticed that you don't have to be a member to take classes there and they have all kinds of equipment to learn on or use for a project--from arts and craft equipment to computer controlled vinyl cutters, from machine shop equipment to robotics, from welding to woodworking. How about laser cutting or laser etching. They have electronics too. I laughed when I saw a current class offering on making a RoboBunny, "make it's eyes glow, it's heart purr. Make it sing a song..." My husband didn't think the picture looked much like a bunny and I agree--it looks more like a haunted bear but right up a haunter's alley!

Oh and I have to say I was also impressed with their class on using a laser to cut and etch food.