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.  

Many, many....many pieces

Well, I've been sitting for hours trying to clean up some work on our business plan.  Then, 5 seconds too late, I remember the #1 rule of the modern age..."Save early, save often!"  It is a battle cry at my house.  But alas, we don't always live by our own motto, and I now find myself sullen and counting the many little tiles on the floor of my favorite coffee shop.  I could get back to work, but I feel the need to wallow in my own despair before I put my big girl pants on and get back to work.  So I sit in my chair and contemplate the content of a new blog.

My Brain on business plan writing :p

Things I'm currently working on:  Kickstarter for an initial $500 to pay for incidentals (business cards, IP lawyer, bookkeeping program, TShirts and incidentals); Getting a bank account set up inrw and online; writing a business plan; marketing around the central Texas area; creating and distributing a survey for area educators; and keeping utd on the social media sites we have now.  Clearly, my brain is scrambled most of the time.

So, I have used SurveyMonkey to put together a survey to send out to educators and locals about what they would like to see in a makerspace.  I want to attach this to a kickstarter, so there is an action in place if they would like to help.  But kickstarter needs some type of A/V attached to it to be successful and a business account attached to it.  Amazon is tied in, as that works with Kickstarter.  But Amazon needs a bank account to pay into.  I can't stand Big Banks, so I'm trying to find a local to farm that out, but one that is also online.  In the mean time, I've spent $50 on a local advert at a school to sponsor a team, but had to use a personal check.  My mind is racing with business questions and I'm quite sure the IRS is going to nail me in the future, regardless of how I spent my $50, where the money came from, and they really won't care if my account was properly  approved by Amazon or not.   UGH!!!!

But, I'm greatly excited and energized by our latest community meeting.  We met with a bunch of engineer students at Baylor.  They remind me of why we are doing all of this.  There was excitement, joy and creativity in their minds as they helped us brainstorm some practicals.  I keep quoting Field of Dreams to myself and march towards just building it.  But as any teacher or parent would hammer (rightly) into my mind, laying the groundwork is fundamental to success.  

So it all comes back around to the many tiles on the floor.  At first, I noticed all of the many, little pieces that seem near-impossible to lay in place.  But now I see the fun little patterns as I tilt my head this way and that.  I may be laying little pieces of a grand plan, but I'm striving for the day when the pattern of our hope takes over what we see with our eyes. 

"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.

So what is a makerspace?  That is what most people ask when Rick and I talk about this business venture.  Well, it means a lot of things to a lot of people.  But the fact is, the idea of makerspace is exploding around the nation.   Milwaukee Maker Space put it well: We aim to foster a community of makers by providing an environment in terms of people, equipment and space that supports the creative process and personal growth. Modern software, the Internet and economies of scale have all come together to allow ordinary people with a little bit of know-how to begin blurring the lines between manufacturer and consumer. With some effort and the help of a growing community of makers it is possible for a lone individual to make things of amazing quality and functionality.  We envision a space that brings together a community of DIY people with wonderful fabrication equipment in a way that supports collaboration, creativity, ingenuity and personal development. Our long-term goal is to have a top-rated fabrication lab, community classes and individual pods that support startups and small-businesses.  Our hope is to build out this lab that is accessible to those in higher education, individual innovators and community youth groups (like 4-H and Scouts), but focused on the maker community in Waco.  For a better look at what this means practically, take a view of Artisans Asylum, ATX Hackerspace or Maker Works.  Then, dream with us as we think about how amazing this would be in Waco, Texas.

More like a Day 2, not really Day 1

So technically, Day 1 was yesterday.  And it ended not in a whimper or a roar, but with a nod and a wink.  Which is the cosmic way of saying, "keep going, you're on the right path."  Which is a great message to have.  After all, I've quit my job and gave up an income, we are eating a lot of beans and rice, shopping consignment and no longer buying Bulleit, but have settled on Jack (on sale).  So, to put it succinctly, my husband and I are devoted to creating a makerspace in Waco.

As I write this post, we don't have a single follower.  Which makes sense, as we don't even have a business.  But, we have a passion for seeing something new happen in Waco.  And not just for us or our clan.  We believe that Waco is waiting expectantly for a place where ingenuity, practicality, community and creation can come together.  And, yesterday we received a nod from Baylor and the Bric that they may be ready for it too.

So for all of the hackers, makers, tinkerers and garage innovators (as well as the academics out there), here we come.  This post is a celebration.  Tomorrow reality will come.  Today, we celebrate and say "Hello Waco!  Here we come!"  And thank you Jesus, for showing us the right road.