The Lounge

Originally posted by Grant Fraser 01-09-2020

I was just at Free Geek. They take apart and refurbish computers. Wednesday's they have free computer help night. They sell the refurbished computers and parts. $20 for a laptop power supply. $1 for a hard drive magnet. Cords were around $5 each. Linux laptops were around $275. Recycling is done through ethical recycling companies. The computers and parts have a 14 day exchange and 90 day warranty. No refunds.

MIPS commented 01-12-2020

The Hackery is half a block around the corner and in the past have supplied us with assorted odds and ends.
FreeGeek is my #2 place to find old tech in BC at excellent prices.

Originally posted by Grant Fraser 01-08-2020

Garret H i agree we need to do something different with storage. I think we've run low on ideas that are free and will work. Nicholas Adams had talked about the space selling sheet goods. Maybe if we could buy what we need from the space we wouldn't need to have separate piles of inventory.

Garret H Commented 01-09-2020

It would cut down on stacks of new sheets for sure. I've got my own stack of a lot of half used wood that I'd still need. That's a lot of what I see taking up space.

Originally posted by Grant Fraser 01-08-2020

I found the photo wall. Each cell contains a members picture, name, and optional Instagram account. The smaller cells around the picture get filled with badges that represent training taken.

Garret H commeted 01-09-2020

This is the coolest idea!
It would really make the space more accessible for newer members so they can know just a little about folks around the space. Knowing who to talk to about things to learn can be daunting when someone just walks into the space

Originally posted by Garret H 01-08-2019

That's cool!

The subject of rentable storage came up at our members meeting this week, and we just got some lockers in the mudroom that are rentable.

I like how our membership is just one rate, and not with add-ons but I am really warming up to the idea of payable storage. Mostly for the sake of reducing clutter and the mystery of "someone else's stuff". The stickers seemed like a good idea but I don't really see them gaining traction. We've also been having problems where people will grab some stuff, use it, and maybe later notice a little name on it. That happened to me the other day, and other instances were mentioned in the meeting.

If people paid some low monthly fee to get a small section in the laser hall or woodshop, a little spot with their name on it and an easy mechanism to tell if they are still paying to use it. If not its easy to identify that spot to get cleared up. Otherwise your stuff goes into the free bin or home with you. Keep the fees really low though, $5/month or something. Just something that is more official "this is your spot, keep your stuff here or else its open to the taking" rather than the ongoing system where peoples stuff is spread out all over the place, half of it belongs to members who aren't even active anymore, and the other half belongs to current members that forgot they even have it there in the first place.

Originally posted by Grant Fraser 01-08-2019

I've been touring other makerspaces in the Vancouver area. There are things to learn from the way others do something. Makercube has these lasercut picture frames with names and Instagram accounts. The extra holes are badges for courses you've completed. Ive gone and lost the picture. They also rent out member storage at $1 per square foot or these lockable bins for $30 per month.