Workspaces and Workshops

[FjerrFjerrson]

G'evening

For once I shall get straight to the point and try not to be too verbose. The following post/questions/rant/etc. is aimed at anyone and everyone.

Firstly, does anybody know of any UK alternative to the USA based TechShop (Membership-based open access workshops and classes)? Perhaps I may have not been looking in the right places, but I can't seem to find any such thing over here. I notice that there are a handful of HackerSpaces / MakerSpaces but I can't seem to find anything decent local to Co. Durham.

Secondly, I was wondering what you guys have done if you've ever been in the situation where you simply run out of space and good-will with the people you live with? I know there will probably be tons of people out there in exactly the same situation or worse, but it has kinda been getting me down a bit more than usual lately. Is it better to simply put a complete halt on your creative/tinkering activities and try to forget it? Or is there any hope of finding a solution that isn't going to break the bank? I mean heck... I'd love nothing more than to go rent an industrial unit somewhere but that just ain't gonna happen whilst (hopefully temporarily) unemployed. *sigh*

Anywho, looking forward to hearing responses from you guys. Moreso about the first question I asked. I guess the second thing was more of a personal rant really... oh wells. I'll try and keep the teenager-style angsty venting in my head in future.

-Fjerr

 

[ibrooks]

Closest thing I know of commercially is the car repair places where you rent space for x-hours to do a job on your car. OK in theory in my view but doesn't let you get into anything big as you're left wondering what happens if it goes wrong partway through and you need to order a bit or it takes longer than expected?

I share space in an industrial unit that we rent - we are set up as a club and pay a monthly membership per car. I'm the Chairman. Problem is that to make it economically viable we've had to pretty much cram the place full so there's little room to actually work on the cars. Driven by price again is the fact that it's a bit of a nasty hole (cold/damp) we could maybe do some things about this but are reluctant to throw time/money at it since we might lose it on fairly short notice (the previous unit was lost when the landlord decided he was expanding his business and wanted the space back so didn't renew our lease and it's left us wary). The treasurer and I are also hacked off with some of the members over some of the admin/maintenance tasks like emptying bins or cleaning up as others just don't do it so if we want to use the place we spend our first hour tidying the place up before we get to actually do any of our own jobs. A lot of this is down to the other members and we would dearly love to kick them into touch but we are then left with space that isn't paying for itself and would likely lose the place altogether.

I can see our club's model being commercially viable but..... it would take time to show a return and would need someone to man the place. I don't have the up-front money to buy and equip a place that I could then start charging rent on and to leave my day-job to go and monitor to make sure people are working in a clean, tidy and safe manner.

Iain

 

[Keith 66]

Its the old problem, money or lack of it.
I rented a unit on a farm back in 84 & had it for 15 years, only person to make money was the landlord. The rent though cheap was always a worry as my trade (boatbuilding & repairs) is very seasonal & unpredictable.
In the end i pulled the plug on it as at the time our son was born it was unviable.
Today i would kill to have it back!
Trouble with clubs or cooperatives is there will always be those with big ideas & shallow pockets or who wont clear up after themselves.
It also strikes me that in a time of recession units are standing empty for ages while agents ask for top dollar.

 

[penfold]

Speak to your local council; they often have commercial units available at low rates, and if you convince them it's a start-up business you may even get a rent holiday! A mate did just that; he rented a yard for his courier business, the council administrator practically forced him to accept a yard bigger than he wanted and not pay for it for 6 months.

 

[Wedg1e]

Find a girlfriend with a big garage? Worked for me

 

[Pete.]

Find a girlfriend with a big garage? Worked for me

Is that a euphamism or does she really have a lot of workshop space?

 

[Windy Miller]

Is that a euphamism or does she really have a lot of workshop space?

Nice one Pete!

 

[madkayaker]

Farming girls often have access to old barns and can often be very useful with tools

 

[brightspark]

Farming girls often have access to old barns and can often be very useful with tools

oh aye

 

[tigler]

Find a girlfriend with a big garage? Worked for me

I'll bang an ad up on Gumtree now !!

 

[Wedg1e]

Is that a euphamism or does she really have a lot of workshop space?

Errr...

Workshop 40 feet by 19, 3-phase ring main, 110v ring main, compressed ar ring, inspection pit, two electric hoists on an RSJ running full length, security doors, paging alarm... plus another single garage and a double carport.
I think I'm in love

 

[Pete.]

Definately the foundation of a long-lasting relationship

 

[ajlelectronics]

Girlfriend wanted. Must be self reliant, have GSOH, patient and understanding. Must have large workshop. Please send photo of workshop.