Seems like every DIY gear project I undertake requires tools I don't have. Buying them drives up the cost unacceptably.
I recently found a place that has most of the tools you'd want to build or repair dive gear . . . or just about anything else you can think of. It's called "TechShop," and it's in the Raleigh/Durham area of NC. They have a fully-equipped machine shop (metal lathes, vertical mills, bandsaws, etc),a sheet metal shop, and a wood shop. They also have some impressive sewing machines (will sew through that heavy nylon webbing) and embroidery machines. Also a CNC laser etcher/cutter (for woor, coated metal, plexiglas), a CNC vinyl cutter, CNC plasma cutter (I've seen some great cuts on 1/4 in steel), a ShopBot (a 2.5-D CNC router), and a full welding shop (MIG, TIG, oxy/acetylene, stick), an electronics shop, a CNC 3-D printer for making protoype parts, and lots of hand tools. TechShop is an amazing place. Members can use any equipment on which you've passed a Safety and Basic Usage class. Lots of CNC tools and software to run them. Also classes on how to use tools you're not familiar with.
Other members there are building and repairing lots of stuff other than just scuba gear: motorcycles, RC planes, furniture, toys, tools, RVs, tools for the primate lab at a local university (these tools have to be "monkey proof"), building robots, all kinds of stuff. The website is techshopdurham.com, or you can just go by their place and ask for a tour. Like I said, an amazing collection of tools. Definately a cool place. I was quickly hooked and bought a membership. Check 'em out.
BTW, I learned the original TechShop is in Silicon Valley, in Menlo Park CA. There's also a TechShop in Portland OR.
Seeing TechShop's capability has me dreaming up all kinds of new projects for dive gear. Now if I could just fix that pesky dry suit leak ;-)
- Sid
I recently found a place that has most of the tools you'd want to build or repair dive gear . . . or just about anything else you can think of. It's called "TechShop," and it's in the Raleigh/Durham area of NC. They have a fully-equipped machine shop (metal lathes, vertical mills, bandsaws, etc),a sheet metal shop, and a wood shop. They also have some impressive sewing machines (will sew through that heavy nylon webbing) and embroidery machines. Also a CNC laser etcher/cutter (for woor, coated metal, plexiglas), a CNC vinyl cutter, CNC plasma cutter (I've seen some great cuts on 1/4 in steel), a ShopBot (a 2.5-D CNC router), and a full welding shop (MIG, TIG, oxy/acetylene, stick), an electronics shop, a CNC 3-D printer for making protoype parts, and lots of hand tools. TechShop is an amazing place. Members can use any equipment on which you've passed a Safety and Basic Usage class. Lots of CNC tools and software to run them. Also classes on how to use tools you're not familiar with.
Other members there are building and repairing lots of stuff other than just scuba gear: motorcycles, RC planes, furniture, toys, tools, RVs, tools for the primate lab at a local university (these tools have to be "monkey proof"), building robots, all kinds of stuff. The website is techshopdurham.com, or you can just go by their place and ask for a tour. Like I said, an amazing collection of tools. Definately a cool place. I was quickly hooked and bought a membership. Check 'em out.
BTW, I learned the original TechShop is in Silicon Valley, in Menlo Park CA. There's also a TechShop in Portland OR.
Seeing TechShop's capability has me dreaming up all kinds of new projects for dive gear. Now if I could just fix that pesky dry suit leak ;-)
- Sid
