Author Topic: Where to learn woodworking with no space in Denver?  (Read 3939 times)

OttoVonBisquick

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Where to learn woodworking with no space in Denver?
« on: June 14, 2015, 09:40:40 PM »
Hey everyone, I'm looking to get into doing woodworking. Problem is, I live in an apartment with no yard.

I'd like to do fine, craft-style and furniture, no major carpentry [yet!], and was wondering if anybody had recommendations for how to go about learning despite the lack of space. Do places offer their work benches to the public ever? Or rent?

If anybody specifically in Denver/Colorado knows where I could go, this would be immensely helpful. I've visited a previous thread about someone wanting to get into woodworking, and those links and advice pieces are all really helpful, but I need to find a place to begin!

J Boogie

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Re: Where to learn woodworking with no space in Denver?
« Reply #1 on: June 15, 2015, 08:26:12 AM »
I got started at a makerspace, and I still do most of my woodworking there.  They're popping up in every city it seems like.  Check it out, take a look.  Fair warning, these places suffer the tragedy of the commons.  You wanna do fine furniture but Billy Bob wants to build a spaceship out of pallets, and soon the planer's blades need to be replaced and the planer's bed has nail holes running through it. 

Most importantly, a junky space is better than no space.  It's a great way to learn and connect too, I've made some good friends there.

This link should help.

http://coloradomakerhub.org/makerspaces/

OttoVonBisquick

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Re: Where to learn woodworking with no space in Denver?
« Reply #2 on: June 15, 2015, 08:39:37 AM »
This link should help.

http://coloradomakerhub.org/makerspaces/

Awesome! Thanks for that, I'll take a look tonight as soon as I'm off work.

anotherAlias

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Re: Where to learn woodworking with no space in Denver?
« Reply #3 on: June 16, 2015, 07:12:55 PM »
I live in a third floor apartment and do my woodworking in the living room.  I use dining chairs as saw horses and the kitchen counter as a workbench.  It's not ideal but I've made a coffee table, night stand and shoe rack that way.  In fact, I'm in the middle of building a desk right now.  All the semi assembled pieces are stacked in the corner of my living room. 

OttoVonBisquick

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Re: Where to learn woodworking with no space in Denver?
« Reply #4 on: June 17, 2015, 08:08:37 AM »
I live in a third floor apartment and do my woodworking in the living room.  I use dining chairs as saw horses and the kitchen counter as a workbench.  It's not ideal but I've made a coffee table, night stand and shoe rack that way.  In fact, I'm in the middle of building a desk right now.  All the semi assembled pieces are stacked in the corner of my living room.

That's hardcore haha, I couldn't do that with the abysmally small area I'd have to work combined with living with three roommates with rather thin walls. If I could ever find the time/space to work during the day at another apartment, I'd still be kinda hesitant about getting the dust all over the place. But thanks!

realityinabox

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Re: Where to learn woodworking with no space in Denver?
« Reply #5 on: June 17, 2015, 11:22:36 AM »
I live in a third floor apartment and do my woodworking in the living room....

Do you use power tools, or just hand tools?

anotherAlias

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Re: Where to learn woodworking with no space in Denver?
« Reply #6 on: June 17, 2015, 06:38:38 PM »
I live in a third floor apartment and do my woodworking in the living room....

Do you use power tools, or just hand tools?

I cut the wood with a Japanese hand saw and sand with a hand block but I have a Bosch drill for assembling.  My ultimate goal is to use traditional joinery instead of screws but I need a lot more practice before I get there.

OttoVonBisquick

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Re: Where to learn woodworking with no space in Denver?
« Reply #7 on: June 19, 2015, 11:19:33 AM »
This link should help.

http://coloradomakerhub.org/makerspaces/


Link is dead, I think. I emailed a whole bunch of different shops all over central/south Denver regarding if there were any spots to work at. Now I'll just cross my fingers and wait!

grantmeaname

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Re: Where to learn woodworking with no space in Denver?
« Reply #8 on: June 21, 2015, 12:49:20 PM »
The link works for me FWIW. Maybe see if you can view a cached version of it?