“I want to try making my own chairs and shelves, but I don’t have any space at home. It will also create noise and dust.” For people with such concerns, rental workshops for DIY (do-it-yourself) projects are popping up as an option. Some provide professional facilities for working with wood and metal while others give trial lessons, satisfying the needs of both seasoned and novice users.
Professional equipment
At rental workshops everywhere, users are free to use electric saws and other tools, but they must bring their own wood, paint and other materials. Many workshops offer the option to purchase materials at affiliated stores. Some offer DIY instruction for a fee.
Makers’ Base Tokyo in Meguro Ward, Tokyo, is a rental workshop oriented toward serious users with a diverse range of facilities, including those for woodworking, metal processing, pottery and sewing. According to the workshop, some users make accessories as a hobby while others create jewelry such as rings as a business. It opened in 2013 in a factory building formerly used to produce electronic parts. Visits cost ¥3,240 per day, including tax.
It boasts over 100 kinds of equipment, including a laser cutter for plastic materials and a printer to use on leather. It also offers classes for beginners. It has a sister workshop in Sapporo.
TechShop, a U.S.-based rental workshop with professional equipment, will have its grand opening in Minato Ward, Tokyo, in April. Rental cost is ¥4,860 per day including tax.
