Frequently Asked Questions
What is a makerspace?
A makerspace is a place with tools, technology, workspace, and equipment for people to make things. It's a place where people come together to cultivate and share a wide variety of crafts, skills, and art forms for personal, professional, and community goals. They operate much like a gym, but instead of exercise equipment there are tools and technology, and instead of trying to get fit, people are there to learn a new skill, develop or scale up a business idea, gain credentialing for employment mobility or career transition, or to simply tinker, fix, or repair everyday household items. They are awesome, in other words.
What is offered at Makers Mill?
Ongoing programs at Makers Mill include:
- WORKSHOPS & CLASSES - build a chair, design a website, weld a plant holder, create earrings, craft a ring, work with circuit boards - you get the picture.
- TOOL LENDING LIBRARY - borrow a few tools for a project at home.
- REPAIR CAFE - pop-in the last Saturday of every month to learn how to mend or fix a broken appliance, lamp, yard tool, clothing, or whatever's broken.
- TOOL TRAINING - learn how to use tools and equipment safely, as well as some tricks of the trades.
- ENTREPRENEUR & CAREER SUPPORT - Career coaching and business planning support, and a local SharkTank-style event.
- SEASONAL TRADITIONS - Seed and Plant Swaps, Make a Halloween Costume, Wreath Making, Winter Boot Repair, Yard Tool Sharpening, DIY Ski Tuning and Bicycle Tune-Ups, and Tool Sale Fundraiser.
Do you offer youth programs?
Yes! Check out the Classes and Events page to learn more about what is currently offered for kids and families. Shop Membership is limited to individuals 18 years and older.
Is Makers Mill accessible?
We are committed to making Makers Mill as accessible as possible, not only for people with different physical abilities but also for different learning styles, languages, and cultures. All members are required to undertake safety training and certification on some of the tools and equipment. Most importantly, we are committed to improving the accessibility of our makerspace over time and welcome any and all feedback toward achieving this goal. We currently have a working elevator, ADA bathroom, and ample clearance around tools for individuals with different physical needs and limitations.
Is there parking?
Yes, there are designated parking spaces on each side of the Makers Mill building, including 2 designated as accessible. Please use only the designated spaces and avoid parking directly in front of the building.
Do I have to be a member to participate?
Classes and events are open to the public, members and non-members alike. Members, however, generally receive a discount on admission, and sometimes also advance notice of classes.
What tools and equipment do you have?
Check out our Tool Inventory and Workshop pages to learn more about what is available for use in our facilities.
Can anyone use the tools and equipment?
Many of our tools require fee-based training before being granted permission to use these tools as a Shop Member. These tools safety classes are open to members and nonmembers. After someone has taken a tools safety training class and been approved, they are then granted permission to use those tools as long as they are a Shop Member in good standing (which itself includes attending an orientation and filling out a member agreement).
Can I bring my own tools and equipment?
Our goal is to make it so that you won't want or need to! That being said, we can anticipate instances where it might make sense for members to bring their own tools, and the policies around doing so are outlined in a Membership Agreement. This agreement also addresses things such as safety, etiquette, ventilation, clearances, storage, and maintenance and cleaning procedures. We offer secured lockers onsite for members who want to keep tools onsite instead of schlepping them back and forth from home.
Do I need to bring my own safety gear?
If you are regularly using the shop areas and require basic safety gear, it is recommended to bring your own. We offer secured lockers onsite for members who want to keep belongings onsite instead of schlepping them back and forth from home. That being said, we also have ear and eye protection onsite for member use.
Can I rent space?
Yes. We have a few small studios for rent for those looking to do a longer-term project and leave it, and their tools, in one place. There is also a flexible space available for businesses and educational institutions to rent for workforce training and certification programs.
How did you come up with the name, Makers Mill?
We are so glad you asked! We chose Makers Mill for a variety of reasons. First, it’s a nod to what came before in this particular part of town, the steam-powered mill of S.W. Clow and Company that operated along Back Bay during the turn of the twentieth century. The symbolism of the mill seemed too serendipitous to pass up. It represents a key element of our mission: transformation. Whether it’s a sawmill, gristmill, steel mill, or paper mill, you take a raw product and transform it into something else with a new purpose or use. That’s exactly what we plan to do at the Makers Mill! Enter the building with an idea or goal, be met with tools, equipment, mentors, collaborators, and a creative working environment, and leave the space with a new skill, or maybe a product prototype, or a lead on an apprenticeship, or a business plan. A mill also exemplifies a sense of industry and the trades, which aligns with our vocational and workforce goals. We also just really enjoyed how it sounds and rolls off the tongue; Makers Mill.