Makerspace Checklist

I’ve been working on a series of posts as I brainstorm the kinds of things I’d recommend for a makerspace.  The below is more of a checklist while they link to the various blog posts where I go into more detail about each item.  If you just want to peruse those various posts, you can find them all here.  But, if you want more of a grab-and-go checklist list, here you go:

  1. List Philosophy
    1. Deprioritize unitaskers, bulky, or expensive tools
    2. Support local makerspaces
    3. Borrow, experiment, thrift, build before buying
  2. Basic Home Tools and Equipment
    1. Hand saw, hacksaw, hacksaw blades, coping saw, coping saw blades.
    2. Utility knife, razor blades.
    3. Hammer, wrenches, screwdrivers, hex wrenches.
    4. Wire cutters, wire strippers, pliers.
    5. Measuring tape, yard / meter sticks.
    6. Vise, duck tape, electrical tape, masking tape, wood glue, zip ties, machine oil, WD-40.
    7. Needles, threads, old clothing, scraps of fabric.
    8. Sewing machine, free motion presser foot
    9. Wet / dry shop vac
  3. Basic Office Supplies
    1. Laser printer, laminator, paper shredder, thermal label maker
    2. Hole puncher, stapler, scotch tape, post-its
  4. Basic School/Craft/Art
    1. Regular batteries (9V, AAA, AA), coin cell batteries, small solar panels.
    2. Crayons, color pencils.
    3. Pipe cleaners, googly eyes, craft foam, construction paper, paints, paint brushes.
    4. Cardboard, utility knives, craft knives, scissors, tin snips, fabric scissors.
    5. Masking tape, blue painter’s tape, scotch tape, white glue, glue sticks.
  5. Basic STEM/STEAM
    1. LED’s, conductive copper tape, conductive thread, AVR programmer, wire, microcontrollers, USB cables.
  6. Basic Tech Tools
    1. Soldering iron pen, soldering iron station, solder, flux, helping hands
  7. Home Maker Tools
    1. Vinyl cutter
    2. 3D printer
    3. Plywood CNC cutter
    4. Heat Tools
      1. Heat gun, clothes iron, hot plate, toaster oven, panini press, microwave, hot wire foam cutter
    5. Shredding / Mixing
      1. Blender, spice or coffee grinder, mixing attachment for a drill, office paper shredder
  8. Consider Building Before Buying
    1. DIY vacuum former vs any vacuum former
    2. DIY cardboard table saw instead of ChompSaw
  9. Industrial Fabrication Tools
    1. CNC mill
    2. Low Rider CNC
    3. Laser cutter
    4. Lathe
    5. Plastic injection molding machine
  10. Personal Protection Equipment
    1. Corsi-Rosenthal air scrubber, fume extractors, exhausts, fans, air scrubbers
    2. Masks, respirators, safety glasses
    3. Aprons, gloves for sharp things, gloves for hot things, gloves for caustic things
    4. Fire safety plan, fire extinguisher, fire blanket, smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector, radon detector
    5. First aid kit, eye wash system/station

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