Group use woodshops

Our local woodturners club meets once a month at a large woodworking shop. There is no formal agenda—-we average 6-10 guys a month from beginner stage to expert stage. Everyone helps each other with projects and in sharpening techniques. In the fall we will designate a couple of months dedicated to turning ornaments for our annual sale that benefits the charity that owns the woodworking shop. Also, from time to time we will announce that there will be a hands on session to learn how to turn a particular item. Our club members are also going to start doing shop tours on a regular basis to the shops of members who have volunteered to host the sessions.

In addition the woodturning club meets formally once a month.

-- Genius is immediate, but talent takes time.

Thanks for the comments Jeff

-- Ron in Osseo, Minnesota

Are you referring to public access workshops? Shared ownership? Workshops for rent?

-- Dave Herron, Boise, ID -- How hard can it be? It's only wood!

I would love to join something like that, I have a very generous friend who helps me alot, but I hate imposing on him all the time. How would you find something like that?

-- www.robneves.com

i know several that tried and failed. Renting time in a shop requires supervision. Stores like woodcraft offer courses, but they tend to be designed to sell the tools and supplies that are used in the class.

A community style multiperson use workshop could work if there are enough people interested in woodworking that you could fill the shop most of the time. You need to pay for a lot of insurance, supervision, safety guards, etc. Lets face it, you can’t just let some guy that claims to know how a table saw works loose on a table saw, well, not unless you you want a finger collection.

I think that one of these could work if a person who is a businessman first and woodworker second creates the right business plan. Turning a hobby into a proefession takes a special kind of discipline.

-- making sawdust....

I guess I need to explain a little more about my request for comments. The building I live in is a senior corp. (we each own the unit we live in). It is about 5 years old. I moved here last Sept. There are about 10 guys that use the woodshop. Most of the equipment has been donated by a resident when they moved in. Some use it a lot and some use it very little. We have no rules, When someone moves in, nothing is said on how things are run. There is a room next to the shop that has some wood in it but no one knows who owns what. I have a hard time with all of this. I want some changes made and by being the new guy I do feel that I can say a lot at this time. So, I would like some help from you LumberJocks so when I do say something I can say that my comments come from people that have been there and know what works best.

-- Ron in Osseo, Minnesota

sounds like it is time for an organizational meeting. Get all the guys together and write up some rules. This is a cool concept. Have fun and learn from each other…

-- making sawdust....

Ron, what you have is a dream come true for someone living in a “Condo” type atmosphere – I use that term for lack of a better way of describing your situation. It doesn’t sound like any of you guys have a space that could be called your own to set up a shop. I think that what you guys have is special and if it were me, I don’t think that i would rock the boat. I suspect that most of the guys there have been in this environment (shopwise) for some time and are all, obviously, comfortable with the way things work. I think that you will be viewed as a newcomer that is trying to rock the boat – and consequently will be treated as an outsider. Just my opinion, for what it’s worth. I do wish you luck with whatever you decide.

-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/

Thanks Bill. I think you are right. This building has been fully occupied from day one. There is a long waiting list to get in. It took us 1 1/2 years. It seems that those that use the shop the most, know-the ropes. They have been here for a while. I only started using the shop the past two months. When we moved in I was told, by management, that what is brought into the shop belongs to the shop for everyone to use. That seems to be partly true. I brought in a 12” Dewalt miter saw and a few other items, but the shop has most of the basic machines, so I gave most of my stuff to my son.

-- Ron in Osseo, Minnesota

A few Woodcraft locations in the Maryland area have “The WoodWorkers Club” integrated into them. Basically its a members only workshop. You pay your monthly dues and you can use the facilities. I think you have to either take classes on each tool before you are allowed to use it, or demonstrate your knowledge of using the tool. You can check it out on their website. Sadly the closest location is about an hour from where I live, so I’m not a member. I have considered it though.

Dave

Why don’t you (and your wife) ask one or two of the woodworking folks (and their wives) you seem to get along with best over for an evening. Start to develop a little more friendship and then ask them questions on what they perceive would help in the shop. I know that I often have difficult times getting to know folks and having a small group helps that get started. Wives generally can talk about family things and you have a common interest in woodworking. Might have some of your past work that you can show to your neighbors.

While it is nice to have such a group (I have 5-7 guys over my house every Wed nite to make sawdust) I think woodworking is basically a solo hobby.

Lee

-- No piece is cut too short. It was meant for a smaller project.

Ron:

There is a large retirement condominum complex in Fort Myers FL, Seven Lakes, that has a fully equipped woodworking shop for the benefit of the residents. I’ve seen some great projects that have come out of this shop.

I’m sure that they have worked out all the legal aspects, insurance requirements, rules and operation. Rather than re-invent the wheel, why don’t you contact their association. www.sevenlakes.net

By the way, I’m not associated or affiliated with them in any way.

-- "Heaven is North of the Bridge"

Thanks for the comment 8iowa. I sent them an email.

-- Ron in Osseo, Minnesota