Los Angeles public fab and machine shop

[customsfactory]

Hi everyone,
I wanted to tell all the LA members about a public fab and machine shop I am trying to open. It should be a great place to work on small projects and have all the great fab and machine tools at your disposal. Take a look at my kickstarter page where it explains more about how i'm trying to get this going and what you can do to help. If you have questions please ask them on the kickstarter page as I cant get to the forums as quickly as I would like.
Lou
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/484352983/diy-machine-shop-los-angeles-open-access-prototype

[John510]

Hi everyone,
I wanted to tell all the LA members about a public fab and machine shop I am trying to open. It should be a great place to work on small projects and have all the great fab and machine tools at your disposal. Take a look at my kickstarter page where it explains more about how i'm trying to get this going and what you can do to help. If you have questions please ask them on the kickstarter page as I cant get to the forums as quickly as I would like.
Lou
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/484352983/diy-machine-shop-los-angeles-open-access-prototype

What about if somebody hurts themselves on a machine? Sounds like a great idea but as a business owner you need to think about that. Insurance would be crazy money for a shop like that.

If somebody cuts off a finger or something then here come the ambulance chaser attorneys. Even if they don't win it will cost you major $$ in attorney costs fighting it.

[SuperSport]

Great idea but, I don't see how this could work. I can already picture a bunch of people mistreating or endangering the equipment or themselves.

[214Chevy]

I looked at his link yesterday and he wants to raise $50k by May of 2012. It's nearly April and all he had in donations were $145. If this is what you are passionate about doing, regardless of the risk, etc, you'd better look for some other source of funding than donations. It will nearly impossible to raise $50k in just over 30 days. Just my $.02.

[camcojb]

yeah, liability insurance would be very important, and once you tell them you want to insure regular people who are for the most part untrained to use dangerous equipment...................... :willy: gonna be near impossible to find, and ultra expensive if you do. ESPECIALLY in California.

[customsfactory]

its workable...check this out.
www.techshop.com

I do understand your concern but it is already delt with as far as insurance goes. As far as funding goes I have a lot of sources that I have not even contacted yet about it, and crazier things have happened...but yes if it does not work this way then i will get traditional funding.

Lou

[camcojb]

its workable...check this out.
www.techshop.com

I do understand your concern but it is already delt with as far as insurance goes. As far as funding goes I have a lot of sources that I have not even contacted yet about it, and crazier things have happened...but yes if it does not work this way then i will get traditional funding.

Lou
yeah, as long as you have enough cash flow to pay the bills it'll work. I would not cut corners on my liability insurance company though, because it is not a question of if, it's a question of when someone gets hurt. And if it's a bad injury you may have trouble securing insurance from then on.

Good luck, like the idea, liability part scares the heck out of me.

[69znc]

I grow up as a military brat. The on base shop that provide this to the car lovers, new enlisters and senior officers, was an amazing place of equality, bonding and sharing. I know the insurance issue is different as it was Air Force sponsor but yet accidents were very very rare. More importantly the demand was huge. I think you would need to have teachers and managers to avoid the issues but I think the economic could work. This is one of my thougths upon retirement. The capital is significant but I would not over invest in tools few could use.

I would go for it.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Its a good idea but you could have to run it like a gym or the techshop. you pay a membership fee and release all liability with a form. Good luck with it. If you ran it like a tech school focusing on unemployed workers. CA has grants and programs to help funding.

[John510]

When I opened my second store I wish people would have donated me 50K....:lol:


But no I was stuck getting a loan:rofl:

[Vince@Meanstreets]

at least you got a loan!! :mad: lol

[frankv11]

Good luck

It's not crazy just a different approach.
Go for it.

[69znc]

I agree. Like a track club. Flat initiation fee either one time or yearly plus monthly or yearly dues give you so many hours. After that it is by the hour or usage.

[toddshotrods]

The shop (Columbus Idea Foundry (http://columbusideafoundry.com)) where my cars are going together is part community workshop. In fact, that's how it started - as a 2500 sq-ft, community workshop. It has since (in ~3 years) grown to a 24,000 sq-ft community workshop/business incubator. The Inhaler Project is a new start-up collaboration between my personal biz and that workshop/incubator, housed in a studio in the complex.

I said all that just to stress the point that I am very familiar with what you're starting. It's a great concept and works extremely well. Our complex is absolutely flooded with talent and creativity, and has gained a great reputation and loads of respect in the community.

We also did a Kickstarter to help with the expansion from 10,000 sq-ft to 20,000, and now 24,000 - it was much smaller than what you're seeking but was successful by almost 100% over the goal. The key is finding a way to target thousands of people who think it is a good idea for the community and see their contribution as helping with that goal. These community workshops really can do that. We sponsored a local high school robotics team, that went on to place at or near the top in national competition. We have interns from schools and colleges who get a real taste of what American creativity and ingenuity look like, outside the classroom. It's one thing to read about designing and manufacturing stuff in class text, but another to see it actually happening - I love seeing the faces light up (even with a lot of older folk). Those are the things you have to pitch for the Kickstarter, to the people who they mean something to.

:cheers: Here's to you reaching that exponential growth period, so I'll have a place to start my next hot rod project, when I move there! :D

[Fluid Power]

Lou,
Man, lots of neysayers today.

Here is another place that figured out the logistics.


http://www.buildmoreworkshop.com/

Best of luck

Darren

[camcojb]

Lou,
Man, lots of neysayers today.

Here is another place that figured out the logistics.


http://www.buildmoreworkshop.com/

Best of luck

Darrennope, just me. :lol: Being self-employed for 25+ years and dealing with lawsuits involving injuries has me looking at things differently than most. I try to stay low risk, and to me that's above average risk of injury, but I do like the idea in general. As long as he's covered with liability insurance and doesn't mind the occasional lawsuit/depositions, etc. that our sue-crazy world has made a part of life for a business owner, then go for it.

Never said it couldn't be done, like the idea, just for me personally I would never want to own it just because of the liability part. I am sick and tired of being pulled into bs suits that I was not responsible for, but got hauled into because an attorney threw out a net and grabbed everyone who had ever set foot on the place an injury occurred. I just wanted him to be aware of that scenario, but if he's good with that go for it.

[Ron in SoCal]

As a kid I traded my sister a Vega for her 1970 Camaro. Engine blew two weeks after; I was broke and devistated. My Uncle first kicked my a**, had me move in with him for the summer and after work everyday go to this shop in Culver City called 'Self-fix.' They supplied space, tools and walked me through pulling, machining and replacing the motor. Best experience ever.

I hope this shop comes to fruition and has the insurance in place...:thumbsup:

[sik68]

If you're looking for more companies to model your idea after, The Crucible (http://thecrucible.org/) is another shop in the bay area. It's ran as a school, but you can also rent time/space/equipment for your personal projects. :cheers:

[Fluid Power]

nope, just me. :lol: Being self-employed for 25+ years and dealing with lawsuits involving injuries has me looking at things differently than most. I try to stay low risk, and to me that's above average risk of injury, but I do like the idea in general. As long as he's covered with liability insurance and doesn't mind the occasional lawsuit/depositions, etc. that our sue-crazy world has made a part of life for a business owner, then go for it.

Never said it couldn't be done, like the idea, just for me personally I would never want to own it just because of the liability part. I am sick and tired of being pulled into bs suits that I was not responsible for, but got hauled into because an attorney threw out a net and grabbed everyone who had ever set foot on the place an injury occurred. I just wanted him to be aware of that scenario, but if he's good with that go for it.

Not singling you out Jody. :thumbsup: I have been self employed for 19 years and started 3 companies from scratch. I got tired of people bringing up obstacles when I was starting my stuff. I say go for it and find somebody that knows how to insure the thing (and you) properly.

Darren