Why should I support the Rochester Makerspace?
- We’re an educational organization – we teach people how to use tools and to make things because they learn useful skills, problem solving, perseverance and to plan ahead. We also encourage interest in the skilled trades, engineering, science, technology and the arts.
- We improve the quality of life in Rochester – many people enjoy spending their leisure time making, fixing or creating things, and being around others who share their interests. We help make that possible by providing low cost access to tools and workspace that the entire community can use. We also provide free programs and services to the community.
- We want to help new businesses get started – we hope to encourage entrepreneurship by creating a large community of smart, creative and experienced people with many different skills, and giving them access to workspace and sophisticated tools.
- We’re nonprofit and run by volunteers – we keep our costs low and carefully use our member’s dues and the donations we receive.
How can I help?
- Join – become a member
- Donate – money, tools and equipment
- Volunteer – what we’re trying to do is big, ambitious and complicated. We need lots of help and you don’t have to be a member to volunteer.
- Teach – we need instructors to teach classes and mentors willing to spend time in the Makerspace and help those who need it
- Lead – we need volunteers willing to start and lead group projects that our members and visitors can work on. They can be anything (art, robotics, flight simulator, etc.) but we would like to create some projects that will use our manpower, tools and skills to benefit the community.
- Lease us tools and equipment – we’re still working out the details but we hope to have a program in place to soon lease large tools and equipment for 2% of their value each month, plus we’ll take care of maintenance and repairs. We’re interested in leasing things like a laser cutter, full-size mill, TIG welder, metal fabrication equipment, lamp / flame -work torch and accessories, etc.)
- Tell others about us – we’re new and almost no one knows our name or what a makerspace is.
Where are you located and when can we visit you?
Please call 585-210-3213 before visiting us to make certain someone will be available to show you around and to make certain the parking lot gate and the outside door to our building will be open. Or, come on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6 PM to 9:30 PM, and Saturdays from 9 AM to 3 PM.
We’re located at 850 St. Paul Street, at the corner of Scrantom Street, about three-quarters of a mile north of the Genesee Brewery. We’re easy to get to from Rt. 490. Just take the inner loop exit, then the St. Paul exit, and head north about 1.5 miles.
You’ll need to go down Scrantom Street to the rear parking lot and enter the building through the door that has our sign on it, or through the loading dock if its doors are open. We’re in the left rear corner of the building (when looking at the back of the building) and we’re not hard to find even though the landlord still hasn’t put a sign up for us.
What are your hours?
Members can access the makerspace from 8 AM to 10 PM daily with a keycard. We’re usually staffed on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6 PM until about 10 PM, and on Saturdays from 9 AM to about 3 PM. We’re hoping to expand those hours soon.
How much do memberships cost?
We currently charge $40 per month for an individual, family or student membership because we’re new and someone is generously subsidizing our rent. Our membership fees will eventually increase to $60, $75 and $50 but you can lock in our “introductory” rate by paying in advance.
Can I use the makerspace for free?
Yes, on our Thursday “Open” nights from 6 PM until about 10 PM. We invite you to bring your projects to work on or help us with ours. We also encourage you to bring things you’ve made to show others, or to just come to see the makerspace or meet other “makers.” Sorry, but for safety reasons you won’t be allowed to use dangerous or fragile tools unless you have a considerable amount of experience and can prove it.
Do you rent space for private work areas or studios?
Not yet, but we hope to physically expand later this year so we can do that. So please let us know if you’d be interested in renting space at a very reasonable cost. In the meantime, we expect to soon rent a limited number of “parking areas” for 3×6 foot workbenches on wheels.
Can I store my stuff at the Makerspace?
Yes. Right now you store your personal tools and supplies in a large plastic storage bin or a tool box for free. Please talk to us if you need more space than that. We’ll try to accommodate you if we can. But you can not store any dangerous items or flammable substances that might require us to comply with expensive or time consuming safety regulations.
Sorry, but we have a limited amount of storage space and bills to pay. So we’re probably going to someday charge a small amount for storage.
Do you provide everything I might need?
No. We’re just getting started and we’re broke. Maybe someday we’ll be able to provide you with every tool you might need but right now we simply can’t. So we don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect you to provide some of your own small tools, especially things that are inexpensive or which don’t hold up well to shared use. For example, drill bits, lathe bits, end mills, precision measuring tools, chisels and carving knives. We also can’t afford to provide materials or supplies for your personal project.