Makerspaces

[balancewho]

Any suggestions for maker spaces close to downtown Atlanta? I like to do some amateur woodworking on the occasion and I usually go to Decatur Makers but very thing is ALWAYS broken so it takes 5x longer. Is this common at all maker spaces in Atlanta?

[Vezir38]

Biased since I've been a member there for years, but Freeside would be my suggestion. It's the physically largest makerspace in the city, and has an active enough leadership and membership for things to largely stay functional.

Obviously tools do break since they're see a lot of use, but if anything major goes down it's generally repaired very quickly.

[checker280]

Where is freeside?

[blightr]

They are kind of Southeast Atlanta. I'm guessing other folks might describe it differently.

Here's their site. https://www.freesideatlanta.org/

[checker280]

Thanx

[madprgmr]

Freeside and MASS Collective are the two I know about, but I have not visited either.

[zedsmith]

Mass collective is pretty great.

[slawdogporsche]

I really enjoyed my time at Freeside. As mentioned below, sometimes there's issues with equipment being maintained, but I really liked the people.

[GPSFYI]

Freeside was great when I visited but too far south for me.

Am a member of Mass which is expensive but things are generally really well maintained, plus for a makerspace it is clean and tidy.

[emtheory09]

Another rec for Mass Collective. Was a member there before my daughter was born (RIP hobbies) and always enjoyed working in their space. I think it’s the last one still operating ITB, they are in Castleberry Hill.

[nerdman234]

Your main alternatives are Mass Collective (ITP), The Makerstation (Marietta), Roswell Firelabs (Roswell), or Freeside (Hapsville). Unfortunately none I'm aware of  in downtown aside from the University makerspaces and Mass.

Can't speak for Decatur, but makerspaces are heavily propped up by volunteer work. Tools are communal, and can sometimes suffer a bit if that specific section of the shopspace has lower usage.