I've joined a local woodworkers' group: now have access to all the big tools

[Stan Tillinghast]

After months on a waiting list, I recently joined the San Diego Fine Woodworkers' Association. It is one of a very few woodworkers' groups in the country, apparently, that runs a full-size shop--all by volunteers.

I now have been checked out on all the big conventional tools except the lathe; but they also have laser cutters, CNC machines, and 3-D printing. My Festool experience was a plus in being accepted as a member.

I've told everyone who will listen that this group changes woodworking from a solitary hobby to a communal hobby; where one can learn from many people with vast and varied experiences.

Ironically--given the horrific disorganization of my own garage shop--I've been put in charge of organizing all the stuff in two large assembly tables. I call it my penance for my own disorganization.

From a practical standpoint, I no longer need to think about having to buy large stand-alone floor machines; and am encouraged to do more low-tech work with hand tools, or finer tools like scroll saws to make children's toys.

There are multiple sub-groups within the shop membership: toy building; hand tools; the specialized tools noted above; woodturning; and many others.

This has now become a major attraction to make me want to stay in San Diego.

Do any of you have any similar opportunities?

 

[ChuckM]

None that I know of in my city or province.

How far away is the place from your home?

 

[mino]

Problem with this concept, why it is so rare, is it is generally not economically viable. It is also very difficult to establish something like this from scratch and very easy to dissolve it once the original "founders" move on.

Unless someone, or a very small group of people, sets it up with equipment from their own pocket, any such faces the huge chicken-egg problem.

One cannot get enough paying (enough) members if no big (and expensive) tools and one cannot get enough big (and expensive) tools without having enough members. This augmented by the big and expensive tools being, well, big. So even sustaining the rent for the space needed is tricky. Then comes the need for volunteers to maintain them ..

We have a hackerspace with a wood corner, and, frankly, sustainably paying just the rent and utilities for the space eats between 80-120% of the membership fees. From what we know, it is this way in most similar organizations which do not have some kind of an external (e.g. a city) or internal (rich member, taking it as a charity) sponsor. Value it greatly while it works. These places are anything but something to take for granted.

ADD:
And, no, finding a sponsor is not a solution, it is the problem. Being dependent on a sponsor for operating costs is effectively a death knell. *ANY* sponsor will inevitably go away, politics, family, economic, there will come a situation that will cause the sponsor to disappear sooner or later. So any sustainable establishment needs to grow organically over a couple years, more like decades, with the base memberships income covering the operating costs at all times and sponsorships coming in the form of tools etc. on. Hence why so hard and rare as it takes very long to get into the big tools budget game. If even, before the setup breaks down in some way.

 

[luvmytoolz]

In OZ we have numerous woodworkers groups, probably the better known ones are the "Men's Sheds", originally setup in the 80's to help combat men's suicides and mental health issues, there's currently over 1000 active Men's Sheds groups, which get funding from the state and federal governments under general and health grants, as well as member fee's, fundraising, etc.

They've been hugely successful here generally for the last 4 decades.

 

[mcfal12]

I would imagine one of the most prohibitive expenses, aside from the rent, and the machines, is the cost for insurance.

I am a board member of my community lake, and every year we have to choose between cutting back on a service or raising fees to cover the ever increasing insurance premiums.

And while drowning is a serious risk at a lake, I can’t imagine how insurance companies view people hanging out around large power tools that can maim- particularly in light of the alarming statistics about how often woodworking turns into a visit to the ER.

 

[Packard]

I did not read all the posts, so maybe someone already posted this. Fine Woodworking has a directory of these clubs:
https://www.finewoodworking.com/2012/10/22/woodworking-clubs-directory

And a Google search reveals others:
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-m&q=local+woodworking+groups&spell=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwju6OD86-D-AhUSF1kFHX1oC-UQBSgAegQIFhAB&biw=1144&bih=728&dpr=2

 

[Crazyraceguy]

There is a woodworking club here in town, but it's more of an "association" not a community shop. Strangely enough, it's the only one you find from searching, though there is another one. It doesn't go by such an easy to find name. It's called Buildmore workshop. It's a fully equipped shop, including CNC machines and lasers etc. It has been around for a long time, but checking the website surprised me.
For some reason, it says that they are not accepting new members at this time?

Something like this seems like it could be a great pass-time for retirees. It's something to do and potentially human interaction, if you are so inclined.

[member=75933]luvmytoolz[/member] that's fantastic. It nice to see the government getting involved and actually being helpful. It has to make this more sustainable and somewhat immune to the problems that mino pointed out.

 

[Stan Tillinghast]

There was an article in the Wall Street Journal just a few days ago about the Men's Sheds. They seem to be much smaller and more limited in scope than the large shop in San Diego.
The San Diego group is gradually working up to a shop membership of 400; there are over 1100 total members (shop members pay more; are obliged to hours of volunteer time in cleaning up and various specific roles; and must be checked out on the traditional power machines).
This group has had its shop since 2017. Here is their history, from the SDFWA website:

In 2017, SDFWA realized a long sought dream – to open a community workshop. After years of planning, and a successful fundraising campaign, we signed a lease on an industrial facility, furiously put up walls and installed electrical and painted, then moved in truckloads of woodworking equipment, and opened the doors to our Member Shop in June. A full complement of power and hand tools allows any Shop member to complete almost any woodworking task in this facility. Plus a contingent of Digital Tools – CNC router, CNC laser, and 3D printer allow people to experiment with high-tech ways of making things. In addition, there is a large classroom with workbenches and audio and video which has allowed a great expansion of woodworking classes offered to both SDFWA members and to the general public. The facility now also houses the SDFWA woodworking library – including DVDs, VHS tapes, hundreds of books, and scores of magazine totles – including full sets of Fine Woodworking and others. We have also formed Special Interest Groups which meet in the shop – Carving, Digital Tools, Women Who Woodwork, and Luthiers.Finally, the front part of the building is subleased to Woodshop Wizards – with programs for teaching woodworking to kids from grade school through high school. This facility truly offers an avenue to woodworking for everyone.

The group is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization; and the leaders spend a huge amount of time with organization and delegation of needed tasks. I can see why there are so few of these.

BTW, the shop has a Domino 500 and a Makita track saw; it has no MFT or equivalent. My "boss" in organizing the refitting of the shop currently has his own Festool tools at home, however.

 

[kmickey]

There was an article in the Wall Street Journal just a few days ago about the Men's Sheds. They seem to be much smaller and more limited in scope than the large shop in San Diego.
The San Diego group is gradually working up to a shop membership of 400; there are over 1100 total members (shop members pay more; are obliged to hours of volunteer time in cleaning up and various specific roles; and must be checked out on the traditional power machines).

There’s a much bigger, for-profit version down the road near Miramar/15. Very expensive for a casual user, targeted at people who do this for a living. (and metal work). Most of the pros who used MakerPlace moved there.https://www.maketory.com/

 

[peacefulandpatriotically]

mino spelled out why these places are such a rarity. it is a shame too since there is demand.  Here on the north east coast of USA (new york area) these "hackerspaces" (as they have been termed) are scarce outside of urban areas and even there, they are not exactly as well-organized as this one in San Diego.  I'll admit it, I am a bit jealous of you Stan! Have fun there and make some new friends.

 

[John T.]

I'm a member of a similar place in Austin (https://asmbly.org). One of the members is also a member of the SD space you're talking about.

This one has a lot more than just woodworking. It's more like the now-defunct Tech Shop, but a non-profit.

They're always worthwhile in my opinion because they have equipment like large CNC routers that don't make sense for a personal shop. I think they provide a lot of value to the community for those who can't build out expensive personal shops, or are just beginning and looking for instruction.

 

[Adamsse]

Los Angeles has a good woodshop called LA Community Woodshop in Glendale.  They use SawStops and Festool sanders, dominos, etc.  As you’ll see from their website, they have simple projects to encourage people to try woodworking.  However, you can also use the shop to work projects after taking the safety class.

They were the ones who introduced me to Festool when I built my first project in an effort to decide if woodworking would become a hobby for me in retirement. I paid one of their guys to advise me over about 5 hours total to speed up my learning curve.  After completing the project 2 months later (part time), I was hooked, more informed, and soon bought my MFT, TS55, CT26, and sander for my own home shop.
https://www.communitywoodshopla.com/

 

[Packard]

In order to provide those well-equipped shops for their members to use, they have to hav a significant revenue stream.

That either means a very large membership, or high membership fees, or they produce some products for sale.

I think it is rare for all the necessary pieces to the puzzle gets put in place.

 

[Stan Tillinghast]

SDFWA's only fund-raiser is an annual Christmas sale; there is a sub-group that makes wood gadgets for that sale. There are also membership fees, of course.

 

[luvmytoolz]

A lot of the ones in OZ get bequeathed tool collections by the widows when members pass. A lot (or most) end up selling quite a lot of duplicate stuff online or in the woodwork forums with the help of other members, which helps towards the kitty. Same for machinery, when they are offered a newer machine they sell the older one off. Quite cheaply from what I've seen really, not at all exorbitant.

 

[Stan Tillinghast]

Glad to hear that, luvmytoolz--I just picked up a bunch of hand tools from the sister of a deceased member of SDFWA, including some nice planes--Records, and some wooden planes; and Record Marples chises. I don't plan to keep them all. SDFWA has an "old tool swap meet" three times a year where we can sell tools that are "surplus to our requirements".

I think the "Men's Sheds" idea is great, and it sounds like they are pretty self-sustaining (of course it being Oz, the government is involved too); and definitely create a sense of community among guys who can work side by side rather than talk face to face, as the stereotype goes.

 

[Mini Me]

I did a lot of education seminars on dust extraction for Men's Sheds and they are definitely a facility that is needed and every single one of them is well utilised. Everyone involved in running them is a volunteer and they all do an awesome job with very little reward except the satisfaction of seeing their shed give others the outlet needed for men in the local community. I knew of workmates who did not retire because they admitted they would be bored and have nothing to do and it is those who the MS is aimed at.