Gallery: Weekend Warrior Tools That Turn Your Garage Into a TechShop
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Sew Much Possibility -------------------- Sewing machines seem medieval in an age of laser cutters, but these aren't your grandmother's stitchers. New machines have built in LCD screens and can embroider fabric based on designs you create on your laptop. These machines are capable of mending a dress or embroidering complex, multicolor images. __What to Buy:__ [Brother](http://www.brother-usa.com/Homesewing/ModelDetail.aspx?ProductID=NV2800D) and [Singer](http://www.singerco.com/products/2168/futura-xl-400) are the two market leaders in the United States and offer affordable embroidering systems. But our favorite may be the [Pfaff Creative Sensation](http://www.pfaffusa.com/us/31398_31436.html), a fully featured CNC sewing/embroidering machine that that could have been designed by Dieter Rams. Safety Third ------------ *Dirty Jobs* host Mike Rowe coined that phrase, pointing out that the primary goal in any dangerous situation is to complete a job, not to optimize for safety. Serious industry brings with it risks that should be known, but can't be prevented. [Grainger](http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/safety/ecatalog/N-bit) offers a broad range of safety supplies that should be part of any hackerspace shopping list. Good tools are expensive, but having 10 fingers is priceless. As one of my professors in art school once said about the workshop: "You will get burned, you will get cut, you will have fun." *Above: Modern sewing machines can embroider highly detailed patterns as well as fix a hem. Photo: Courtesy of Pfaff*
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Turn up the Heat ---------------- 3-D printers require users to learn complex CAD software in order to print out small, coarse plastic parts. With a small kiln and precious metal clay, creative types can sculpt a design by hand, bake it, and have a robust metal part which can then be polished or incorporated into another design. Each part costs a bit more, but for many applications the cost/benefit analysis will make a kiln the better choice. __What to Buy:__ The Lilly Kiln is the most consumer-friendly mini-kiln (which isn't saying much). There are alternatives that offer larger chambers, but getting one can be an arduous process. *Above: Kilns allow artisans to work with metal, glass, and ceramics in a safe and controlled manner. Photo: Courtesy of Paragon Industries*
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'Bot Wars --------- 3-D printers are flooding the market and offering makers plenty of options. MakerBot is the leading entry-level model with the strongest community, but [PrintrBot](http://printrbot.com/) produces larger-sized parts at a lower cost, while the [Ultimaker](http://blog.ultimaker.com/) provides high accuracy, and [Cubify's](http://cubify.com/) hermetically sealed design promises single-button ease of use. Can't decide? The the open source [RepRap](http://reprap.org/wiki/RepRap) project that led to all of these 'bots is still in need of volunteers. Do some research before you choose which model is right for you. These kit-based printers have a lot of potential, but can also be trouble to maintain and create diversions from the task at hand. "A lot of kit 3-D printers, CNC, lasers, etc. are not actually tools, because owners spend more time tinkering with them than using them," says [Steve Grathio](http://projects.grathio.com/), an award-winning designer and inventor. "This makes them hobbies themselves. And that's fine, but don't mistake a hobby for a tool or you'll be constantly frustrated." __What to buy:__ The [MakerBot](http://www.makerbot.com/) is the best bet. Kit-based 3-D printing technology is flaky and MakerBot has the biggest, most engaged community. [PrintrBot](http://printrbot.com/) is the low-cost alternative. *Above: PrintrBot had over 2,000 presales on Kickstarter. Photo: Courtesy of PrintrBot*
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Make the Cut ------------ If you won't rest until you own a computer-controlled power tool, a CNC mill is a great place to start. They're flexible, capable of shaping a variety of materials from wood to plastic to soft metals at small and large scale, and can handle both 2-D and 3-D projects. The software that powers them has been refined over time, and there is a community of [rabid fans](http://buildyourcnc.com/) to help you troubleshoot. __What to Buy:__ The [Shapeoko](https://www.inventables.com/technologies/cnc-mill-kits-shapeoko) is a small starter system. [ShopBot](http://www.shopbottools.com/) offers a wide range of products targeted at the "Prosumer". *Above: CNC mills offer most of the same benefits of 3-D printers, but cost less and can carve more materials. Photo: Courtesy of Shapeoko*
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Race Cars and Chocolate Bars ---------------------------- Vacuum forming isn't as sexy as 3-D printing, but it is much more versatile. The process involves heating a thin sheet of plastic and pulling it tight around an object with a vacuum. The waffle iron-like machine can be used to make shells for RC cars, molds for decorative chocolates, and much more. Parts are produced in minutes, the plastic sheeting material it uses is cheap, and it doesn't require any arcane software. Win. __What to Buy:__ The "[Phlatformer](http://www.phlatboyz.com/Phlatformer-Kit_p_10.html)" is a good entry-level kit. [Centro](http://www.robotshop.com/tabletop-vacuum-forming-machines.html) models are more polished if you're in the mood to splurge. *Above: Vacuum forming machines produce high-quality, low-cost plastic parts. Photo: Courtesy of Phlatboyz*
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To anyone who lives outside of the Bay Area, Brooklyn, or Boston, a hackerspace must seem a little bit like Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. Members seem to have an alchemical touch -- turning scraps into art. We're willing to bet that such public-access workshops will one day be as common as gyms. But why wait for that day to roll around when for the cost of a new MacBook Pro, you can turn your garage into a badass workshop right now? DIY communities online provide support, and a nearly endless supply of how-to videos on YouTube teach basic skills, but picking the right tools can be a challenge. While 3-D printers and laser cutters make hackerspaces like TechShop enticing, they aren't required to make amazing stuff. __Consider adding one or more of these tools to your own hackerspace:__ *Above: The MakerBot Replicator flanked by some favorite prints. Photo: Courtesy of MakerBot*
