Boing Boing Video: Revisiting TechShop, as Portland Site Launches
(MP4 download here). TechShop founder Jim Newton tells Boing Boing, "I'm very excited to tell you that TechShop Portland is now open!"
And that's great news for tinkerers, builders, and makers in Oregon. TechShop is an open-access public workshop that's kind of like a health club with heavy machinery and sparks instead of treadmills. Tinkerers, inventors, and hackers pay a membership fee, and in turn receive access to professionally-maintained gear, workshops, mentors, and a community of like-minded makers.
Above, a Boing Boing TV episode from 2008 in which we visited the first TechShop site in Silicon Valley, which has been open now for several years. Jim Newton, who is a lifetime maker, veteran BattleBots builder and former MythBuster, says they plan to open a number of locations around the US -- and eventually, the rest of the world.
Here's the original Boing Boing TV blog post, with more about TechShop.
Jim Newton and the TechShop folks explain:
TechShop is a 33,000 square foot membership based workshop that provides members with any skill level to have access to tools and equipment, instruction, and a creative and supportive community of like minded people so you can build the things you have always wanted to make.Here's more on the newly opened TechShop in Portland, Oregon.TechShop is perfect for inventors, "makers", hackers, tinkerers, artists, roboteers, families, entrepreneurs, youth groups, FIRST robotic teams, crackpots, arts and crafts enthusiasts, and anyone else who wants to be able to make things that they dream up but don't have the tools, space or skills.
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This place looks awesome. I just wish that it really was in Portland. Oh well, still nice to have it near by.
#1: yeah, putting it in that part of "town" makes it borderline inaccessible for anyone using mass transit from 3/4 of the metro area. it's even on the inconvenient side for people with cars.
jeez, so organize a ride pool or shuttle bus! Do you have ANY idea of the envy this creates?
I wonder what the current plans for TechShops in other cities are? Supposedly they were going to open one here in LA by the summer of 09, but I haven't heard even a whisper in months.
I haven't given up on borrowing the boots.
Antinous: CATFIGHT.
@spurgeon, I'd guess that has something to do with the economy. Fewer people have dough to spring for memberships or as seed investors, hence less resources with which to expand. See the earlier post we did with the original BBtv piece for more on their funding model.
http://tv.boingboing.net/2008/05/01/techshop-a-community.html
Such a freaking awesome looking place! There needs to be one in New York City!
There is one in Durham, NC now as well. See Techshop Durham
hey- it's only two hours by bus from downtown pdx... one way.
One year membership for $1200? I could buy a lot of tools that will last me 15-20 years for $1200...
Not that I don't appreciate the fact that they did this, having a membership to a space like this would be great, but it isn't affordable to someone like me. It looks like they priced it to cater to Beaverton yuppies rather than people seriously interested in creating.
did you look at the shop? Twelve hundred bucks gets you one decent fixed power/machine tool. They offer a whole shop's worth. Yes, with time, patience and skill you can do almost anything. But what is the point? Go cut one sheet of ply with a handsaw and then a table saw and then come talk to me.
Part of the reason I have my own shop is so I don't have to deal with socializing wackos and their ideas.
Little laser cutters and 3D printers don't really appeal to me. Do it by hand.
Although it is technically in Beaverton it is not at an "inconvenient" location. You've got Highway 26 just a couple blocks from TechShop, that means it's an easy drive using any of the local highways, they all interconnect, you know.
You've also got bike lanes that do a good job of getting there too.
I think the only problem with the location is that it irks the downtown crowd who think Portland ends at the West Hills.
I predict a fairly swift demise of this enteprise.
Current economic conditions combined with Portland's love of fine Herb does not bode well.
As mentioned above, most of the tri-county area is full of whiners, the rest of us would rather go for a hike or stay home and BBQ.
@Location haters
Ride a bike. It's like 15 minutes from downtown Beavertron and you can get there from on MAX (just watch your feet). We're Oregonians! Don't complain about the distance; embrace the trip!
#4: They were going to build two of them in the Seattle area as well, but nothing's happened for a couple of years now.
#16: In other news, "Beavertron" is now my favorite name for a city in Oregon or anywhere else, ever.
@#18 MAN ON PINK CORNER, Beaverton is the town I believe, and Beavertron is the electroclash band.
Don't forget about the second TechShop location to open a month ago in Durham, North Carolina! http://techshopdurham.com/
I'd like to hope that a 'Beavertron' will be one of the first projects completed at the new TechShop.
@location haters
if you live closer to downtown there is a similar Industrial Arts membership shop called ShopPeople located close-in SE. they have blacksmithing, welding, wood working, clay, textile, jewelry studios, and a cafe/gallery. it's in a sprawling cavernous old building, and is bit funkier than TechShop appears to be.
www.theshoppeople.com
I wonder if North Portland could support a similar business. I want to go there.
@11 In the wood shop the spindle sanders are almost $5k each alone as well as the dual drum sander. Our ShopSabre router is about $45k as it is outfitted with tool changer and the like. The Dynasty 300 Tig welder is about $4k used. This is all equipment you would find in an industrial setting and that the point. This is a place where you can come and play with the real thing, not the cheap chinese stuff that is being peddled at most places.
Yes, we all wish it could have been in the city, but it wasn't possible, so we make the best of what is.
We've got a video up of some highlights from the Grand Opening now: TechShop Portland Grand Opening