Pay as you go workshops

Rabs

I just found out about this..  There are several workshops around the country where you can just book a day and use the facilities' of a full workshop without the full time costs..

I do want to get a workshop at some point but I need things to build up a bit more first so im going to try it out and see what its like.. Looking through their site they have CNC machines, laser cutters and most of the other things you would expect and even a spray booth...  The other interesting side of it is that there is a community of different workers with different skill sets who use the shop so if you need metal work or some design work done there are people there for you to work with and as well as that I think if you join they put your profile up and its anther way to get some work.

This is the one im going to try.. Literally  just up the road from where I live

http://buildingbloqs.com/

And this page gives a list of various different shared workshops around London

https://wiki.london.hackspace.org.uk/view/Open_Workshops_in_London

Anyway.. just thought id share that as it seems like it could be a cool thing to try and some of you other guys may be interested.

I will report back if or when I go and try it out 

Anyone ever tried something like this out?

One of my first thoughts im quite excited about is getting my headstock logo laser etched.. I think thatd be cool.

tampaxboo

it sounds a really interesting idea, though the absence of any pricing on the website makes me suspect it is hideously expensive. eg 'if you have to ask you can't afford it'.

i think the rub is separating out people with some skills and faciilty who can self-direct (and are able to do so without killing themselves or each other), and those in need of intensive guidance and support through every stage. one size fits all pricing would be tricky. insurance must be a nightmare too.

i miss my college/uni workshops badly. but renting a shoebox flat without outside space means (no lots of sawdust, no machinery loud noise, no paint fumes) my guitar diy daydreams are off the menu longterm.

Rabs

tampaxboo said:

it sounds a really interesting idea, though the absence of any pricing on the website makes me suspect it is hideously expensive. eg 'if you have to ask you can't afford it'.

Yeah I had a similar thought..  I  have sent them an email so I will let you know what the costs are if they mail me back.

Nomad

Found a price list...

https://indd.adobe.com/view/5c567ce9-3a5c-4c6b-95ad-4c23ac3de9ed

14 quid a month for membership, 23 quid a day for the use of a space 2.7 x 2.4m, with access to machines, etc. Price breaks for longer bookings, but generally around 400 quid a month.

Although access to the machines might be a plus, the space is quite small (about half a lockup garage), and it's debateable whether it's worth the cost if most of the machines aren't actually needed, or only needed occasionally.

Rabs

Nomad said:

Found a price list...

https://indd.adobe.com/view/5c567ce9-3a5c-4c6b-95ad-4c23ac3de9ed

14 quid a month for membership, 23 quid a day for the use of a space 2.7 x 2.4m, with access to machines, etc. Price breaks for longer bookings, but generally around 400 quid a month.

Although access to the machines might be a plus, the space is quite small (about half a lockup garage), and it's debateable whether it's worth the cost if most of the machines aren't actually needed, or only needed occasionally.

Cheers for that.

Well im not looking to use it on a daily basis..  I was thinking more that I could take a batch of wood.. Use the planners and jointers, use the band saw to cut some of the thicker stock out and maybe use some of the other bits and bobs like the spray booth occasionally...  I can then take the shaped wood and glue and route it back in the garage as I normally do...

Nomad

Rabs said:

Well im not looking to use it on a daily basis..  I was thinking more that I could take a batch of wood.. Use the planners and jointers, use the band saw to cut some of the thicker stock out and maybe use some of the other bits and bobs like the spray booth occasionally...  I can then take the shaped wood and glue and route it back in the garage as I normally do...

Yeah, it looks like it would be viable taking that approach, and you could conceivably get through quite a lot in a day, so potentially quite cheap. (Didn't see if the membership costs are on-going, though.) Got any plans for tarting up your workshop yet?

Rabs

Nomad said:

   Got any plans for tarting up your workshop yet?

When I get the time 

tampaxboo

Nomad said:

Found a price list...

https://indd.adobe.com/view/5c567ce9-3a5c-4c6b-95ad-4c23ac3de9ed

14 quid a month for membership, 23 quid a day for the use of a space 2.7 x 2.4m, with access to machines, etc. Price breaks for longer bookings, but generally around 400 quid a month.

Although access to the machines might be a plus, the space is quite small (about half a lockup garage), and it's debateable whether it's worth the cost if most of the machines aren't actually needed, or only needed occasionally.

@Nomad thank for digging around to find that pricelist.

if you are local and have a van or big car so you take a shitload down for an intensive day session, then it makes sense. but it's clearly not really designed for the smalltime amateur hobbyist. more semi-pro, like under the arches business start up schemes.

i can't drive so i would have to approach it more like a school lunchtime woodwork project. put a diy neck & body in my ruckie, bus down, do an hour or so, then leave off to allow glueing drying time. but reading about this has inspired me to ask around locally again to see if anywhere new has popped up i could do that.

if you get in there and do something, all the best with it.

tampaxboo

..... edited this but it came out a double post after getting the error message. see below for comment.

tampaxboo

Nomad said:

Found a price list...

https://indd.adobe.com/view/5c567ce9-3a5c-4c6b-95ad-4c23ac3de9ed

14 quid a month for membership, 23 quid a day for the use of a space 2.7 x 2.4m, with access to machines, etc. Price breaks for longer bookings, but generally around 400 quid a month.

Although access to the machines might be a plus, the space is quite small (about half a lockup garage), and it's debateable whether it's worth the cost if most of the machines aren't actually needed, or only needed occasionally.

@Nomad thanks for digging around to find that pricelist.

if you are local and have a van or big car so you take a shitload down for an intensive day session, then it makes sense. but it's clearly not really designed for the smalltime amateur hobbyist. more semi-pro, like under the arches business start up schemes.

i can't drive so i would have to approach it more like a school lunchtime woodwork project. put a diy neck & body in my ruckie, bus down, do an hour or so, then leave off to allow glueing drying time.
but reading about this has inspired me to ask around locally again to see if anywhere new has popped up i could do that, so interesting post anyway.

if you get in there and do something, all the best with it.

Rabs

tampaxboo said:

Nomad said:

Found a price list...

https://indd.adobe.com/view/5c567ce9-3a5c-4c6b-95ad-4c23ac3de9ed

14 quid a month for membership, 23 quid a day for the use of a space 2.7 x 2.4m, with access to machines, etc. Price breaks for longer bookings, but generally around 400 quid a month.

Although access to the machines might be a plus, the space is quite small (about half a lockup garage), and it's debateable whether it's worth the cost if most of the machines aren't actually needed, or only needed occasionally.

@Nomad thanks for digging around to find that pricelist.

if you are local and have a van or big car so you take a shitload down for an intensive day session, then it makes sense. but it's clearly not really designed for the smalltime amateur hobbyist. more semi-pro, like under the arches business start up schemes.

i can't drive so i would have to approach it more like a school lunchtime woodwork project. put a diy neck & body in my ruckie, bus down, do an hour or so, then leave off to allow glueing drying time.
but reading about this has inspired me to ask around locally again to see if anywhere new has popped up i could do that, so interesting post anyway.

if you get in there and do something, all the best with it.

Cheers. And yes this IS totally the point..   I want to do this full time and if it ever builds up enough I will get a workshop... Currently I use hand power tools and work in a garage...

It would just be nice to be able to access some bench tools like jointers and thickness planners.. Stuff like that as currently getting wood to size can be a bit of a pain.   If however I have to pay for a years subscription it may not be so worth it.

They at least have a sensible policy of doing a tour before you join so you can see if it will work for you or not.. I should be going Thursday evening so I will see what they say.

danishbacon

I've been part of something like this in Denmark. I wish there were more spaces like this around.

olafgarten

This one is a lot cheaper, presumably because it's a non-profit.

https://southlondonmakerspace.org/join/

Corvus

The price doesn't too bad for an easy-in to commercial premises (rent & rates round here is insane, at least), though the space is small maybe the access to tools makes up for that, to some extent.

olafgarten

Another Option would be to try and use the labs at local universities, they might let you in for a small cost, I know UCL allows access to their Labs for students from other Universities at around £10 a month.

Rabs

I went along to the tour of the workshop this evening. 

And it all seems very good. Some real nice bench tools..  Check this for a thickness planer

https://i.imgur.com/Sq0vRae.jpg

And a huge CNC machine

https://i.imgur.com/yMWXVSF.jpg

Plus as I said a laser cutter and even a spray booth.

Now they don't just let people walk in off the street and start using their equipment and since I haven't ever used any of them I do have to pay for some training. Then you get assessed by someone who says that you are allowed to use it unsupervised. Which is a bit of a pain but I totally get why they do that..  They even go as far as to say that its not for everyone and they want the people who use the place to be at a certain level...  And I told him my experience in using hand tools only but he seemed to think that I would be very suitable and probably wouldn't take me long to learn what I need.

ALSO im pretty sure you can actually just use it on a pay as you go structure. BUT obviously you still have to do the training bit first..  So from what I remember it was £14 a month to join for a minimum of a year then £23 a day for a small bay. If you don't join its then £42 a day.

So it seems pretty good.. For me I wanted to know how long it would take me to get up and running and for that I need to make an appointment with the trainer and he will decided what I need to do after talking to me.

I reckon I probably will do this actually..  For me getting wood to size can be a bit of a pain.. This would make my life much easier, im sure of that.