3 ms·

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

by 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.

by kbart 9y ago

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.