We visited TechShop (techshop.ws) in Northern California, which is like a gym but with shop tools instead of workout equipment! This was our first view - reception desk and entry door to the work area. [TechShop Menlo Park]

Reception area. [TechShop Menlo Park]

Raw materials for sale might make it unnecessary to run out to the hardware store if you forgot something... [TechShop Menlo Park]

More materials for sale. [TechShop Menlo Park]

Workbenches with lots of room to spread out, each with AC lines and compressed air fed from overhead. [TechShop Menlo Park]

Main general work area. It looks empty first thing in the morning (9AM) but fills up steadily during the day. [TechShop Menlo Park]

Main general work area. Notice the elaborate masks in progress on the nearest workbench. Clearly, Halloween is approaching! [TechShop Menlo Park]

Sewing machine room. This area was being used a fair amount with the upcoming Halloween deadline. [TechShop Menlo Park]

Jean works on her project - conversion of a commercial giant duffle bag into a customized bag for her kendo gear. [TechShop Menlo Park]

Tool room with lots of bins of general use tools - pliers, drills, screwdrivers, etc., etc. [TechShop Menlo Park]

Tools for use by members. Just about everything you can think of... and then some! [TechShop Menlo Park]

Metal shop. Lots of traditional mills and lathes, and in the background, an NC mill. [TechShop Menlo Park]

More views of the metal shop. [TechShop Menlo Park]

Tools for doing whatever you can think of to sheet metal - punching, bending, cutting, ... [TechShop Menlo Park]

Wood shop, including an NC Shopbot router. Many of the TechShop's "furnishings" seem to have been made here. [TechShop Menlo Park]

More tools in the wood shop. [TechShop Menlo Park]

The "yard" behind TechShop is for working on big projects such as cars. [TechShop Menlo Park]

The "Bin Wall" is for donated parts and appliances. Members can freely scavenge for parts needed in their projects. [TechShop San Jose]

Small parts on the "Bin Wall". [TechShop Menlo Park]

The break area - a good place to get a snack while you get off your feet or brainstorm with your team. [TechShop Menlo Park]

[TechShop Menlo Park]

CAD workstations and a networked laser printer. The workstations are fully loaded with all the CAD and Adobe software you wish you could afford at home! [TechShop Menlo Park]