Let's talk tools :)

We recently had a "Preview" party at the space, so friends and interested onlookers could walk our chalky halls and check out the Edge.  Surprising to us, we heard the same exclamation repeatedly, much to our chagrin.  "Wow, I didn't know you would have this many tools in the space."  Clearly, I'm not communicating clearly all of the exciting things we have planned.  What a tragedy, as talking tools is high on our list of "get to's" and not have to's.

Right behind community, but right in front of shop organization and cleanliness, is the importance of tool procurement.  Not just what tool, but the quality and dependability of the tools in the space.  Because the quality of the tool is as important as the type of tool.  Our desire is for you to nerd out on this stuff as much as we do, and you can only do that if you know what's coming.  So to that end, welcome to the pictorial walkthrough of our shop, room by room.

Today's room is the one that I have the most experience in, and conversely, is most exciting to me:  The Wood Shop:

The wood shop houses some of the more traditional tools that you would be familiar with: a Craftsman compound miter saw, sander, planer, joiner, scroll saw and drill press.  Most of these tools (than the saw) will come from Ryobi or Grizzly (we moved 20 years ago from Missouri, so a double bonus to use Grizzly, a midwestern company that is known for high quality.) 

An updated tool of shop standard, SawStop's industrial table saw has impressed us.  Not just with the safety features, but it also shines with a solid cast iron frame, it's large 7.5hp motor and a 30" front table surface for large projects.  She's a bute:

Some would say the star of the show is another update to a shop standard, the EZ Router CNC 4'x8' table router.  This was a great find for us. Most people know ShopBot as the industry standard, but we were impressed with the features of this small, Texas company.  It has all of the features of the standard industrial ShopBot, but with a few bonuses; a welded, thicker frame for stability, comes completed from the factory (including computer and software) and has the higher quality spindle (vs the router bit).

We are so excited to be working with EZ Router, and they are supporting us as well.  We've already talked with them about having classes in the space.  

As you can see, there is a lot of exciting machines going into the wood shop.  And, as soon as the Certificate of Occupancy comes through (hopefully Wednesday), we will start moving them into their new home.  If you have any questions, send us an email at Maker's Edge, or drop in for a look.  

"So...why this blogging thing?"

So there are a lot of topics that are running through my mind that I would love to talk about next:  the ideal contents of a makerspace, monetization, business plans or floor layouts.  These conversations  swirl around in my head.  Not to mention, how do I start up a Kickstarter? (and is it two words or just one ;)

  That's the function of a blog, eventually I can talk about whatever I want.  And trust me, I will. But that isn't my reason to blog.  I think of blogging as being authentic, a reflection of a core value.  This is a chance to speak to the idea of community.  

   Day after day I bring my dish to the proverbial potluck.  And it's only one dish among many.  It's not the best dish...at times it may be the worst.  And it will only make a great meal when I am willing to let others show me what they can create.  And not simply because there are a lot of fine cooks invited.  Rather, the conversation and acceptance of good friends transcends the gourmet (and covers a multitude of recipe disasters).  

   This is the fundamental belief that undergirds everything we do at Maker's Edge.  There is no good thing that we can accomplish that wouldn't be made better by the input and reflection of a friend.  Community drives this blog, and it drives our desire for this space.  A shared experience where every person feels the value he or she brings to the creative moment just by being present.  This is collaboration from inspiration to design, from conception to prototype.  And how can we cultivate this paradigm in the room if we are unwilling to embrace it as people? 

   I felt the need for this value to be clearly said before we ask people to invest in us or our vision.  We are open source to the core, and we embrace collaboration as a way of being, not just a business plan.