Replies

1. 
   pantalones868 | Jun 17, 2022 01:38pm | #1

   I guess nobody has.
   I can think of a thousand reasons why I wouldn't do it and only one reason I would do it-- money! I mean, is there money in it? You provide the tools and the space and you get what? Someone comes into your Dr shop ,dulls your tools and then stuffs their hand in a jointer and sues the crap out of you!
   There is no public makerspace that I can find around me. I would like to find one for cnc stuff,like making patterns mainly. I found one in San Francisco but they said I have to be nonbinary to be able to join. Since I know I'm not made of 0's and 1's I said " I don't know what I am" that ,apparently, was the correct answer.
   I've let people use my shop from time to time but they're people I know know what their doing. When it's someone that is doing something for themselves I don't charge them anything but if it's someone that is doing something commercially then I charge for use of my shop.

2. 
   rob_ss | Jun 18, 2022 12:19am | #2

   I think that a desire to share our spaces and to have people use tools that are quiescent is quite strong in many woodworkers. Almost as strong as the desire to be left completely alone. Strange that, but we are by and large fairly community-minded people.
   Sadly I think that the dulling and risk of theft aside, there is also the problem of someone else needing your machine left set up their way when you wanted to use it. That rather blows through the purpose of having your own shop in the first place.
   I am lucky enough to live where you can't sue anyone for personal injury (you should try it, it's really nice) so insurance would not be a big thing, but even so, letting more than a few carefully vetted friends do some occasional work with the big tools would be a challenge emotionally, I think.

3. 
   pantalones868 | Jun 18, 2022 03:03am | #3

   Can't sue? No lawyers! I'm coming! Ah...where am I going?
   I never considered woodworkers in terms of community minded,I just figured we were unemployable.

4. 
   john_c2 | Jun 18, 2022 05:57am | #4

   I let my friends use my tools. Strangers I tell to get off my lawn.

   I have some tools I will lend, to those who know how to use them. I have other tools that no one is touching.

5. 
   gulfstar | Jun 18, 2022 09:17am | #5

   There are a couple up here, I live in a country that tends to ignore lawyers. https://www.les-affutes.ca/en/
   https://laremise.ca/ateliers/bois/

6. 
   user-7627473 | Jun 18, 2022 11:57am | #6

   What exactly would "how successful were you at it" mean?

7. 
   mattk41 | Jun 18, 2022 02:03pm | #7

   I have always been intrigued by the concept of a "makerspace" and there is one not too far from me in the Manyunk section of Philly. And, I have a friend who belongs to one in the Dallas area. So a few years ago, on a visit to see him, I went with him to try and make a square frame at his makerspace. They had all kinds of different spaces--a machine shop, jewelry making area, welding/auto, ceramics, and even a video editing area. The small CNC and Laser cutting/printing stations were shared across disciplines. Rumor was is was funded by a silicon valley honcho. The largest area though was for woodworking. A separate bench area and machine room. The machine room had a pair brand new Saw Stops...big 5hp ICS models, one with a sliding table installed (this was about the time that SS had just introduced the slider attachment). And, there was a milling station with a matched set of powermatics-- 15"planer and a 8" jointer both set up with helical heads. Everything piped to a cyclone dust collector.

   So we take the stock to the jointer...its spitting shavings everywhere. Friend goes to the collector...drum is pack and the shaving are backed up into the cone. He takes the drum out to the parking lot. We try as we can to clean out the cone (who knows what the fine air filter looked like). Back up and running...the stock we've brought is skip planed from the dealer so not too much to flatten but the jointer clearly making a wedge out of the board. But at least it seems flattish...take it to the planer and the teeth are clearly nicked the entire width of the head. Tracks every 1/2' or so. Take it to the saw and the fence has saw marks on it and the slider attachment is not installed coplanar with the saw table. Decided it wasn't safe...as we head out of the machine room two guys are having a argument that seems on the verge of turning into a fight over who had claim use of the bench first/who had it and went to the bathroom. I was like doesn't anyone run this place? Who makes sure the tools aren't abused or throws out misbehavors? I don't remember the answer...based on my observations, it was a rhetorical one anyhow.

   It didn't take seeing this to put me into the camp of,"I am meticulous about about the tuning, maintenance, sharpening and care for my tools --both hand and machine--and am happy to help a friend with an operation, but not let them just work in my shop." When I took classes at Philadelphia Furniture Workshop, I asked if they ever had open time to work on a project. The founder kind of squinted at me a little and said something about just keeping up with student use/classes. 13 years and 2 shops of my own...and I get it. Open my shop...my SHOP! With my carefully curated tools...to the public? For what $100/day? Or $150/month? Frankly, if I owned a boat or a vintage sports car I couldn't see tossing some random dude the keys to that either.

8. 
   EdWeber | Jun 18, 2022 03:04pm | #8

   "Has anyone opened up their own private wood shop to be used as a makerspace"

   I assume this is a serious question but if I can answer with a question of my own, are you out of tour mind?
   At the risk of sounding like an old curmudgeon, No to the entire idea.

   I don't lend tools to ANYONE and I would call it a shop, not a "makerplace"
   I really don't understand why anyone would or could do this and how they would be "successful" at it, what ever that means.
   I'm not trying to be a jerk but I really don't get it at all.

9. 
   pantalones868 | Jun 18, 2022 07:48pm | #9

   My son was involved in this..worked for a high-end furniture design ,manufacturer..in NY ...you know ,show rooms in NY, London, Paris, Milan..from there he moved into project based learning and set up a "Maker Space" and taught at a private school in NYC. He came back to California and set up programs at a least 3 schools here. He did set up a couple of commercial " maker spaces" here as well. One was quite close to me but even as he was making it he stated to me that it would fail because the business model that the owners had was out to lunch. It got built and opened and disappeared in pretty short order. He then got hired to do the samething at a private school in Bangkok. It was great for me because he came up with a woodworking ,building project for me over there and I got to be there for a few months. He came back here but moved into aerospace, building satellites then VR.
   To me a makerspace is not my shop but OUR shop and comprises mostly of high tech stuff - large scale CNC, 3d printers ,etc + capabilities to do electronics,metal work, machine shop,, maybe some woodworking all shared and paid for by members. The programs my son did were for schools for very wealthy kids and I doubt that much of this exists in public schools.

10. 
    chiwoodworker | Jun 19, 2022 10:42am | #10

    There are a couple community woodworking places in my area. I used to use one of then for their bandsaw until I got my own.

    Most want you to take classes 1st before you are set free in their tools space. All will make you sgn some sort of hold harmless document.

    My own personal shop would never be open to the public for many of the reason previously stated. I have however had small private groups like scouts and their parents over to work on pinewood derby cars. Personal friends have spent hours with me making things. I have also done small demonstrations for private groups. I just can't see the gen pop using my machines.

11. 
    [email protected] | Jul 06, 2022 09:47pm | #11

    My shop was across the hall from the Philadelphia Furniture Workshop and will second the comment that there shop"Was Not For Rent".Tha t said,occasionally if I needed to plane a very wide board ,I would be accommodated .That building had 5 shops in addition to the school and all of us were very wary .of anyone using our equipment The community spray booth was the prime example of why sharing does not work.I sometimes took my stuff to a finisher since the shared booth was so filthy.
    My current ship is in downtown Philadelphia.Just up the street is an attempt at a shared wood and metals shop.They also have (had?) a second in Delaware. A visit to the facility would create questions concerning the accuracy and maintenance of the equipment ...

12. 
    chuckvandyck | Jul 06, 2022 11:52pm | #12

    I work out of a shared shop. I and others have been “successful”. The owner, I believe they are “successful”, as they rent to probably 20 people, a mix of woodworkers, blacksmiths, ceramicist, jewelers, etc.
    I used to have a personal shop. I could only ever afford mediocre equipment.
    At the shared shop I have full access to a saw stop, a great slider, 12” jointer, large planer, big bandsaw, big lathe, forge, mig/tig, kilns, the list goes on. Oh yeah, large amounts of space for large projects and tons of lumber/material storage.
    Not a mention a great community and someone is always around to help flip your workpiece over or help carry it to the finish room.
    So much of it comes down to the shop tech, whether the owner/manager is willing to bounce those who aren’t a good fit, and the members keeping in mind the compromises that must be endured for access to so much.
    Everyones’ individual businesses aside, the shop space itself is a business and must be run as such.
    I hope to start my own one day as I truly think spaces such as these are a huge asset to the community. We supply many interior designers and architects in NYC. We are always referring each other, freelancing for each other, and teaching each other. Its a good way to do it if you ask me. You gonna do $1m in revenue in a shared shop? No way. But a couple hundred k in revenue, certainly doable.