Anybody been to (or a member of) "techshop"?

[batk30msu]

http://www.techshop.ws/

Heard about this on NPR today, a workshop that works like a gym membership. Any insight?

[merrill77]

I haven't been to their new location. I took a class at their previous location - ShopBot 101. It was a blast. We made shop stools...I use mine nearly every time I'm in the shop :>



They do groupons occasionally where you can take a bunch of their classes at a big discount. That would be a great way to try it out without committing to a membership. Next time 'round, I might take the welding class.

[CarvedTones]

I have been to it a number of times helping someone with a project but I was not a member. There were some issues with things being in good working order sometimes; I would make sure to get up with a couple of current members before committing.

[Alan in Little Washington]

I visited two Techshops in the SF Bay area. With sillicon valley right there, as expected, they were big on electronics and CNC machining, a little weak in the WW area. A great place to go if you need someone to CNC mill a prototype. Not sure a WWer would be happy there.

[DavidF]

Other than a shop Bot, the one in Durham was very short on WW equip. As has been posted, big on metal work and electronics. I was going to be a Solidworks instructor there, before I found I was moving back to the UK

[manfre]

The various TechShops seem to have changed recently to be more of a cohesive franchise, instead of independent establishments that shared a name. They had a grand reopening last week and it seems they've updated their tools. http://techshop.ws/durham.html

I was briefly a member there, prior to building the workshop.

From when I had my membership:

Pros:

• Awesome metalworking shop
• laser cutter
• shopbot
• various welders
• Staff do all tool maintenance, including blade changes
• Some very knowledgeable instructors

Cons:

• Out of the way location that required driving past crabtree (a few minutes north of woodcraft). Traffic sucks around most holiday, most weekends, and M-F 5-6:30p.
• Various tools were marked as broken every visit. Not always one I needed to use, but sometimes.
• Expensive. Over $100/mo or ~$1000/year + SBUs
• Cost of SBUs (Safety & Basic Usage classes) adds many one time fees to use the tools.
• Waiting to use tools. You could reserve some of the CNC tools (laser cutter, shop bot, plasma CNC), but I was never able to find a free time slot for the laser cutter because month to month members couldn't reserve as far in advance as longer term members.
• Tools are heavily used/abused. Must calibrate every tool every time you use it. Whenever I used the SawStop, the blade was dirty or dull, which burned wood and resulted in waiting for them to clean it.
• Staff do all tool maintenance, including blade changes, which often happens when you notice it needs to be done and then must wait.
• Not all instructors are good. Had one instructor who said, "don't do what I just did" during the bandsaw portion of the woodshop safety class.

I almost became an investor, which would include a lifetime membership to TechShopRDU. The fact that I chose to build a workshop and buy my own tools is the most honest review I can provide.

With the recent reopening, they advertised buying another laser cutter, adding some better woodworking tools, and have many more months experience running the business. They've probably improved upon some of the cons, but if you're on the fence I'd recommend waiting for a sale as a cheap way to try them out. They have been on the deal sites a few times and sell discounts at various events; state fair, sparkcon, etc. You should be able to get a month membership and 1 or 2 classes for under $100.