Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by Gigachad 958 days ago
They exist in most places as makerspaces. Only problem is they are quite expensive making them inaccessible to anyone but the most avid maker.

I’m not really sure what could be done about it though since the machines and floor space is inherently quite expensive. Seems like something that should be somewhat government run like libraries to promote socialising.
2 comments
defrost 958 days ago
Depends on the groups around the sheds, many seek sponsership or do some fundraising

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bdws0rrfK6I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3p1mQvyA7NE

others have a central interest (bookbinding | restoring ferries) and get grants based on the projects they undertake.

In the Australian rural district I'm in the local Men's Shed is more of a community shed (plenty of women using the space, doing related work, etc) with a lot of the equipment and land being pooled from the fully and semi retired who use the shed.

I have a tangential computer IT support|consult involvement, donate a bit of free time to give advice, and gave them a 48 TB NAS for pooling DVD collections of days gone by.

Also drones, gps, tractor hacking, etc.

link
peebeebee 958 days ago
If I'd start a non-profit organisation, I could ask the government for grants probably.

Maybe start a system where people could lend their devices to the space, so they could earn some money on them long term. Depending of the initial cost of a device, I'd pay 10EUR-20EUR every time I'd use a special device. 10% of the profit goes to the makerspace, 90% to the device-lender. With 50-100 uses, you'd start making money. I could see something like this work.

link
justinclift 958 days ago
Most of the cost for running Makerspaces seems to go towards rent, at least here in Australia. :(

---

On that note, if anyone knows of good potential locations for a large Makerspace in Brisbane, Australia... "Hackerspace Brisbane" (HSBNE) is looking for a new home:

https://www.facebook.com/HSBNE/posts/pfbid0iAakLGAK39h8qDA7N...

link
Gigachad 958 days ago
Seems to be a bit of a problem where in low rent areas, people would just have a shed with all the tools, but in high density areas where you’d most want it, the rent is going to be highest.
link
justinclift 958 days ago
Yeah, fully agree.
link