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TechShop Announces Chapter 7 Bankruptcy; Closes All Locations

Posted by BeauHD on from the closed-for-business dept.

ewhac writes: To the shock and dismay of many, TechShop today announced the immediate closure of all of its U.S. locations and is entering Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceedings. Their homepage has been replaced with a PDF relating TechShop's history, and detailing the circumstances leading to shutting down the company. First launched ten years ago, TechShop was one of the first "shared maker spaces," a members-only machine and work shop where tinkerers, makers, inventors, and innovators were able to prototype their ideas, launch products, or even just fix their own stuff. Its closing will be a huge loss to the tech and maker communities.

3 of 66 comments (clear)

  1. To many classes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    It was a great idea but they made you take a class to touch just about every tool so for makers like me with a decade or more of experience it was never really an option. It would have taken me months and hundreds of dollars just to get certified on all the tools I already use and own.

    1. Re:To many classes by barc0001 · · Score: 3, Informative

      > no one seems interested in your certification status for woodworking equipment.

      Most woodworking equipment is robust enough that average misuse won't damage it, and gross misuse is usually harder on the meatbag attempting it than the machine. Example, in the contest of idiot vs lathe, always bet on the lathe. And have a phone handy for the 911 call.

    2. Re:To many classes by dex22 · · Score: 3, Informative

      Former member here. They had the table saws that fired an aluminum block into the blade if you touched the blade - to protect you. That would require the charge cartridge and block, and the blade, being replaced. Over $120 a pop. Nice for safety, except it would fire off for things like damp wood.

      What killed them was the required classes to use anything. You'd join ($100) then the random selection of stuff you'd want to use would cost $300-400 all in to get certified for. If the certification classes were a nominal fee, I would a) still be a member and b) have used a lot more gear.

      They were also crap at supporting electronics.