Makerspace CT

October 30, 2023

Makerspace CT

I visited MakerspaceCT in Hartford, and WOW! It is located on Main St in downtown Hartford in the Historic G. Fox building, the same building as Capital Community College. It is a maker community that runs on a monthly membership. MakerspaceCT has the space that libraries don't have, so they are able to offer more than what libraries offer. The larger space also allows for the ventilation needed for welding and blacksmithing.

There are different options for a membership:

Main Facility and all shops: $99 a month

Main Facility and one shop $72 a month

Partnerships (students, educators, retirees, veterans, active military, first responders: $65 a month

Family: $149 a month

Textile Special (textiles, leather, and jewelry): $49 a month

The main facility includes the computer lab, Digital fabrication, 3D printing, and electronics.

Members also receive discounts for materials from local providers for wood and metal.

When you walk into MakerspaceCT, the desk is in front of the doors. Behind the desk is the laser cutter with computers next to it. There are tables with computers so anyone can work on their digital creations. There was an area with many 3D printers and a separate electronics area. Off of the main area were the shops: woodshop, metal shop, and machine shop.

I found the woodshop to be the most fascinating, probably because I love wooden furniture. Sometimes, it can be hard to find, or I don't like what I found. I have a desire to make what I want, but I don't have the space or the equipment. Some members build for hobby or to learn for a job. Some people come to create something for their home, and some come to use the space for their business. They make items and then sell them.

material storage area members get their own cubby to store their materials.

The Metal shop has a welding area and a blacksmith forge area.

While touring MakerspaceCT, I met a local artist who has been working on a sculpture that will be displayed in downtown Hartford.

Machine Shop

a block of metal and what it can be turned into in the machine shop

Textiles and Jewelry shop was what I was most excited to see. I enjoy sewing and embroidery jewelry making, which I used to do during my undergrad. The jewelry making isn't beads and string; it's with leather, stones, metal, etc. During my undergrad, I took a jewelry class where I made rings, a chain bracelet, a necklace, and a belt buckle out of scrap materials. The rings and necklace had stones in them. I had to make a metal plate in the back to hold the stone, then wrap it with a thin silver material, and everything had to be soldered in place. I loved this class, but it got difficult at times. Working with a torch can be tricky; if you bring the torch too close to the metal, you can burn a hole into the metal. You also have to make sure all the pieces line up so that when you solder it, the solder pieces melt and hold everything together. If the pieces don't line up when the solder pieces melt, the pieces won't connect, and you'll have to try again. It

The belt buckle I made during my undergrad. The hole was an accident; I brought the torch too close and kept it there too long. You can see the other spots where I almost burned a hole through; it left a pretty cool texture.

ring made out of sterling silver

Two rings with a stone setting.

I made the bands, and the backing, wrapped silver around the stones, and soldered everything together.

The textile shop has commercial sewing machines, a serger, a walking foot sewing machine, a cutting table, and tools for cutting. Soldering blocks, metalsmithing tools, mini torches, jewelry polishers, and many more items. They have fabric for people to use, but most people bring their own fabrics.

Soldering area

Textile shop

Classes:

Makerspace Ct offers an array of classes, some of these classes include:

Introduction to Blacksmithing

Introduction to MIG welding

Laser Basics

Sewing Basics

Resin 3D printing

Introduction to Lathe

Click on the link to see the class schedule-- MakerspaceCT Classes.

Some of the classes are included in the membership, some aren't, and are open to both nonmembers and members (for a discounted price.) MakerspaceCT will even give entry-level training to people going into certain lines of work, like welding.

There are other Maker spaces in Connecticut that also run on a monthly membership.

MakeHaven Inc. is in New Haven, CT

SPARK makerspace is in New London, CT

CT hackerpace is in Watertown, CT

NESIT is in Meriden, CT

I didn't get a chance to see the plastics lab or computer lab. I would purchase a day pass for $25 just for the jewelry shop to see what I could create, maybe eventually joining as a member.

I wish there was a space for photography where you learn about working in a dark room and developing pictures. I remember taking a photography class like that in summer camp when I was in 7th grade. As I got older, I would look for classes but never had luck; every photography class I found was about digital photography. Even when I moved to Argentina, I took a photography class, but I learned about Photoshop and nothing about developing film.

MakerspaceCT is a space for anyone and everyone. You can be like me, a person who learned a skill many years ago and wants to start it up again, someone who is picking up a new hobby, or even someone who wants to learn a new trade.

Children's books about making: