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I was a member of Austin’s TechShop for two years. It was interesting contrasting it to the ATX Hackerspace. The hackerspace (a few years back, anyway) was mu

I was a member of Austin’s TechShop for two years. It was interesting contrasting it to the ATX Hackerspace. The hackerspace (a few years back, anyway) was much better at building a community. The fee was only $35/mo, and they had a starving student discount, and you were also free to invite your friends to tag along. As a result, there were always people just hanging out at the hackerspace. A lot of near-college-age space cadets and techno-dreamers, and they’d be there all day. You could go there to work on a project, or just to mooch off of the conversation. TechShop never developed a community. It felt sterile in comparison. The fees were more like $125/mo (at the time, and only went up from there). There was no central area to hang out in and chat. And inviting a friend along cost something like $20. These conditions resulted in the demographic becoming more like a bunch of upper middle class dudes who managed to get a few hours away from the fam to work on their project. There was no social core, it never became a hang-out. There were also some financial issues which really turned me off. I had spent about $1500 on classes early on (thinking I’d just get signed off on all of the machines asap so that I was free to work on anything), but I later found out that if you didn’t badge into a machine for over 12 months, your credential for that machine expired and you had to pay to take the class again. Boom, easily $1000 down the drain. By the time they started hiking up their membership prices, I was disillusioned and declined to renew.

kbart 9y ago
To each his own I guess, but socializing and constant noise around when others are socializing is the main thing I hate about hacker spaces. I would gladly pay extra to have a "sterile" workplace for my projects.
- IshKebab 9y ago
  Yeah if sterile means people don't leave shit around everywhere and dump their unwanted junk in case someone wants it then sign me up. On the other hand it sounds like the safety paranoia (have you been inducted to use this hacksaw?) is even worse than at hackspaces.
  - cr0sh 9y ago
    At TechShop they were really conscientious about safety, but I don't think that extended into "hand tools". Power tools, certainly. And I don't have any problem whatsoever about restricting access (and policing) to the larger or more dangerous equipment. Lathes and milling machines can easily maim and kill if not treated with respect and knowledge. Laser cutters must be supervised when running, or a fire is easily possible (not to mention understanding why you shouldn't cut sheet PVC in a laser cutter). Water jet and plasma table cutters are not toys for the uninitiated. I have zero problems with such rules. It's one thing if you own the tools yourself in your home shop; do what you want, whatever consequences result. But when you are doing it in a public or semi-public manner, having such rules and regulations should be a sign of quality of the space.
- saul_goodman 9y ago
  Obviously you have no interest in hackerspaces then which is fine. The community is half of the equation though, if there's zero value to you from the community then a more sterile TechShop-esq place is obviously your place to be. I was lucky enough to have visited both the Austin TechShop and ATX a few years ago while I was in town. Both places were great for different reasons. I'm pro-hackerspace but I was also very interested in seeing a TechShop first-hand. I was surprized how much community involvement was required to keep TechShop running despite being a commercial place. There were multiple tools that were pointed out on my tour that would "become available" once a volunteer had more time to get them running and develop a class. The sad thing though was just how expensive all the classes were. At ATX I heard that a number of members also paid for memberships at TechShop too. It was heartening to see that both places could co-exist without competing for funding/memberships.
sowbug 9y ago
I did a trial membership of the Menlo Park, California facility in 2009. It didn't have the vibe you mention, either, but it seemed like more fun than the quiet shared office spaces I was considering at the time. What stopped me from signing up after the trial was the no-kids policy. I think the age minimum was 16. While I understand why this was the case -- insurance requirements, danger, and you don't want other people's brats treating the place like a playground -- it completely ruled out joining. If I couldn't stop by there on the weekend for even half an hour while my kids sat quietly in the corner reading books, then all my hacker exploits would be hidden from them, and I want them to be exposed to that stuff.
uncletammy 9y ago
ATX Hackerspace has made a lot of progress over the last few years. It's one of the better hackerspaces I've been seen as far as sustainable growth, community, and business structure. If anyone has been displaced by TechShop closing, I'd recommend you give ATX Hackerspace a shot.

kbart 9y ago

To each his own I guess, but socializing and constant noise around when others are socializing is the main thing I hate about hacker spaces. I would gladly pay extra to have a "sterile" workplace for my projects.

IshKebab 9y ago
Yeah if sterile means people don't leave shit around everywhere and dump their unwanted junk in case someone wants it then sign me up. On the other hand it sounds like the safety paranoia (have you been inducted to use this hacksaw?) is even worse than at hackspaces.
- cr0sh 9y ago
  At TechShop they were really conscientious about safety, but I don't think that extended into "hand tools". Power tools, certainly. And I don't have any problem whatsoever about restricting access (and policing) to the larger or more dangerous equipment. Lathes and milling machines can easily maim and kill if not treated with respect and knowledge. Laser cutters must be supervised when running, or a fire is easily possible (not to mention understanding why you shouldn't cut sheet PVC in a laser cutter). Water jet and plasma table cutters are not toys for the uninitiated. I have zero problems with such rules. It's one thing if you own the tools yourself in your home shop; do what you want, whatever consequences result. But when you are doing it in a public or semi-public manner, having such rules and regulations should be a sign of quality of the space.
saul_goodman 9y ago
Obviously you have no interest in hackerspaces then which is fine. The community is half of the equation though, if there's zero value to you from the community then a more sterile TechShop-esq place is obviously your place to be. I was lucky enough to have visited both the Austin TechShop and ATX a few years ago while I was in town. Both places were great for different reasons. I'm pro-hackerspace but I was also very interested in seeing a TechShop first-hand. I was surprized how much community involvement was required to keep TechShop running despite being a commercial place. There were multiple tools that were pointed out on my tour that would "become available" once a volunteer had more time to get them running and develop a class. The sad thing though was just how expensive all the classes were. At ATX I heard that a number of members also paid for memberships at TechShop too. It was heartening to see that both places could co-exist without competing for funding/memberships.

sowbug 9y ago

I did a trial membership of the Menlo Park, California facility in 2009. It didn't have the vibe you mention, either, but it seemed like more fun than the quiet shared office spaces I was considering at the time. What stopped me from signing up after the trial was the no-kids policy. I think the age minimum was 16. While I understand why this was the case -- insurance requirements, danger, and you don't want other people's brats treating the place like a playground -- it completely ruled out joining. If I couldn't stop by there on the weekend for even half an hour while my kids sat quietly in the corner reading books, then all my hacker exploits would be hidden from them, and I want them to be exposed to that stuff.

uncletammy 9y ago

ATX Hackerspace has made a lot of progress over the last few years. It's one of the better hackerspaces I've been seen as far as sustainable growth, community, and business structure. If anyone has been displaced by TechShop closing, I'd recommend you give ATX Hackerspace a shot.