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  1. #16
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    Mar 2009
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    Yep. They are becoming a thing. There is a place called Makerspace in Sydney - in my suburb. They used to run it sort of like a gym where people paid by the month and that meant they could go there a certain number of times in that month and use the machines. I don't think it worked. Now they seem to have permanent residents and run a lot of classes. They do metalwork, woodwork, ceramics and other stuff.

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  3. #17
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    Dec 2008
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    Australia
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    Fair enough. Also you might need insurance, both for tools, and also liability, incase someone hurts them self. Combined with the cost of replacing blades etc, and your time in having to be present when other use the shed, might make it less attractive.

    If you wnat it ot pay for itsselve, make cutting boards, they are a real money maker, just pump out a few extra each month.

  4. #18
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    Mar 2009
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    Sydney
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    Yep, I would definitely need insurance. My wife has it for her ceramics studio next door, so it would be an extension of that. If I can extricate myself from work in a year's time, I will be spending a fair bit of time in the shed. I do some timber stuff, but also steel and other projects. One of these days I will make wine from the grape vine in the yard.
    I'm also thinking about school holiday classes for kids - 6 at a time. I have run that idea past some local parents and they love the idea of getting kids off their phones and doing something practical. (A long time ago I was a school teacher.)
    It's all pie in the sky stuff now, but the day will come.

  5. #19
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    Dec 2003
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    lower eyre peninsular
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    After spending a few days with Matt owner of SANE makerspace, I seriously looked at setting similar up here, but..cons were...
    my age far side of 65
    getting better quality machinery,
    no knowledge of metalwork or other mandatory skills... Wife would have done sewing, cooking, painting
    Insurance
    having to be there 60-70 hours a week, you can start off with limited hours but if clients dont build up, is it because of lack of interest, hours available, cost, etc.

    Matt was only too happy to share his wisdom, He had also done some high income employment for a number of years so had the $$ and tools behind him.......6 years after starting he now has other 'leaders/teachers on staff, so it must be successful. But hell the stress in getting it off the ground.
    I would love to grow my own food, but I can not find bacon seeds

  6. #20
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    Mar 2009
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    Sydney
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    Yes, it's a long slog if you want to set up a commercial operation.
    Around the corner from me a bloke called Stuart Faulkner runs a business called Heartwood - great name. He was the director of the Sturt School for Wood for a few years, so has a pedigree. He and Carol made a significant investment in tools and machinery and they do well, but the early years would have be a slog. They're good people and it is a well run business.
    I have no aspirations to do anything like that. I currently get about $15,000 in rent for that building. All I would seek to do is get $15,000 in income from it - to justify to myself the indulgence of having a big shed. Along with the income, I would get some company and meet some new people. I have two mates who are keen for it to happen. I think they realise that if they are going to hang around and use my machines they will be paying for the privilege.

  7. #21
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    Mar 2009
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    Sydney
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    I've been talking to a few more people about this - including a bloke who was involved in MakerSpace near me in Sydney. You will recall it had the monthly membership model. It took a lot of work keeping track of people a big proportion of the people who joined had ambitions that outstripped their abilities. That meant they were needy and the machines were mistreated. MakerSpace is also run as a NFP, unlike SANE in Adelaide which looks like it has more money behind it.
    My current thought is to find two furniture makers just starting out who might like access to a shed in the Inner West for $150 each per week. They will have their own hand tools, but use my machines. I won't require them to sign a lease, so it won't be an onerous commitment for them. They will tend to use the space during on weekdays, which will mean I can use it in the evenings and on weekends. I had this idea after a chat with a friend of a friend who just finished at the Sturt school. It's interesting that Sturt don't do any business or marketing training, so I'll help the resident makers with that.
    I am yet to investigate insurance beyond public liability which I have, but I'm thinking it might be possible for the two makers to have their own insurance and give me a copy of the certificate of currency.
    Your thoughts?

  8. #22
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    Feb 2006
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    Perth
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    Quote Originally Posted by scottbr View Post
    I've been talking to a few more people about this - including a bloke who was involved in MakerSpace near me in Sydney. You will recall it had the monthly membership model. It took a lot of work keeping track of people a big proportion of the people who joined had ambitions that outstripped their abilities. That meant they were needy and the machines were mistreated. MakerSpace is also run as a NFP, unlike SANE in Adelaide which looks like it has more money behind it.
    My current thought is to find two furniture makers just starting out who might like access to a shed in the Inner West for $150 each per week. They will have their own hand tools, but use my machines. I won't require them to sign a lease, so it won't be an onerous commitment for them. They will tend to use the space during on weekdays, which will mean I can use it in the evenings and on weekends. I had this idea after a chat with a friend of a friend who just finished at the Sturt school. It's interesting that Sturt don't do any business or marketing training, so I'll help the resident makers with that.
    I am yet to investigate insurance beyond public liability which I have, but I'm thinking it might be possible for the two makers to have their own insurance and give me a copy of the certificate of currency.
    Your thoughts?
    I'm pretty sure the owner of the property/gear will have to have at least some insurance since it's largely what they "say-goes" with regards to the shed and machines. The other thing to consider is that If you regularly instruct them for payment then you are (self) employed and legally might have to meet Worksafe requirements.

    Another issue to think about is storage. It depends on what the other workers make but won't take much to soak up 60 sqm with materials and half built projects for 3 users.

    If you are not getting them to sign a lease I would think you would still need a clear set of "rules" and a simple/clear/prearranged exit strategy that is signed off in case things become awkward..

    I personally couldn't cope with the stress but good on you for considering it, I can see a need that is not being met.

  9. #23
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    Aug 2008
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    Sydney - North Shore
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    Check out woodwork classes at Splinter Workshop in Marrickville: Fine furniture, hand crafted and custom made | Sydney | Splinter Workshop

    John

  10. #24
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    Mar 2009
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    Thanks for the thoughts, Bob.
    Yes, I would need some sort of insurance, but I will explore the idea of them having their own as well.
    It would be a lease agreement, so not an employment arrangement.
    I had not thought enough about storage for materials and projects. Clearly it's not going to work if they are doing big tables, but that will be obvious to anyone who looks at the space. With three mainstream timber places in the suburb and Anagote in my street, they might not need to store too much. When I move into the big shed, I can make one of my current sheds a timber store. But I agree, someone making a living out of furniture ill need to have a lot of things on the go.
    Another thought I have had relates to Heartwood around the corner. Stuart does classes tat take people up to a level of great proficiency - far higher than I have. I suspect when people finish the classes, there is not enough room a Heartwood for them to keep making stuff there. Some of these people would be retirees who live in apartments and can afford to rent a space to pursue their new hobby. These people will not be high volume makers.
    John, I am familiar with Splinter - some beautiful stuff comes out of there. I'm not sure what they charge to rent a space - people need to apply before costs are discussed. I know a couple of makers there do classes - that's where the money is.

  11. #25
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    Feb 2006
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    Perth
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    I think the hardest thing would be finding someone who wants to do this on a regular basis. The great majority of men’s shed members are irregular attenders on a needs/project basis and for that they’re paying something like h$75/year plus a few $ each time they attend.

  12. #26
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    Yes, it's not really the Men's Shed crowd who would be interested in this. The retirees who do timber classes at Heartwood are cashed up - expensive classes. There are people in our part of Sydney downsizing into expensive apartments with plenty of money and the time to indulge their new hobby.
    So the two groups I would target are the above retirees, and young makers starting out. It's all year away, but I need to have some confidence in the model before I invest in machines. I'll have to go and see Stuart at Heartwood and see if my theory is correct.

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