Basic Classes

This class is from 10AM to 12

Do you like the idea of making your own wooden bowl, cup, or plate? Have you ever wanted to make your own chess set or been amazed by perfect wood or resin balls in those youtube videos? This lathe class is a great first step to being able to create your own cool projects. 

We will go over the proper types of wood to use, how to prepare the piece for the lathe, proper mounting, stance, and tool use, and practice on a chunk of wood. Using a lathe is kind of like learning how to do free throws in basketball.. You can be taught the technique quickly, and then it is all about the practice!  This class will teach basics and safety, but it will not be a class where you bring home a project, just the experience.

If you are a Fab Lab member, this class is needed for you to use the lathe in the woodshop. If you are a community member who just wants to play with one, or have a good safety primer before you purchase one or use one that has been sitting there catching dust, this is a great place to start.

This class is from 5:30pm to 7:30 pm

It is the wave of the future!  Just steps away from being able to say ‘Tea. Earl Grey. Hot.’ in your own kitchen! This basic 3D printing class will give you the lowdown on additive manufacturing.  This class is designed to be an introduction, and is by no means an exhaustive class. Basics will teach you how to use a filament-based 3D printer, how to get a design into the slicer program (and some good settings to start with), how to design a basic file for 3D printing, and where to find ready-to-go files that you can print right away.

If you are a member of the Fab Lab, this class covers what you need to do your own 3D printing in the Lab. If you are just curious about 3D printing or have gotten yourself a printer and now don’t know what to do next, this is a great primer! Just remember, this covers the basics, so you can go out and try stuff on your own safely, it does NOT guarantee every print will be a success.

This class is from 5:30 – 7:30 PM

Stained glass is beautiful! When the sun hits it and the colors light up, it can truly be breathtaking! Despite the antiquity and mystery of stained glass in old churches and enchanted castles, the techniques are not hard to learn using modern tools!  We will be making a very simple design with 4 or five pieces, which gives you all you need to know to create your own 100+ piece works of art!  We will cover glass types, design restrictions, cutting, chipping, breaking, grinding, foiling, and soldering. 

If you are a Fab Lab member, this class is needed before you can use the stained glass studio. If you are an interested community member, this is a great way to pick up a new and satisfying hobby!

This class is from 5:30 to 7:30 pm

Were you the kid who made mud-pies as a kid?  Did you go crazy for play dough?  Have you always wanted to try making a vase, bowl, or mug of your own? This basics ceramics class may be just what you need! In this class you will learn several different techniques for how to work with clay on the wheel and off of it. You will learn by first observing the instructor on technique, and then working with your own chunk of clay to get it wedged, formed, centered, and thrown. 

For Fab Lab members, this is the basics class needed if you have zero experience with slinging mud. If you have previously used a pottery wheel, we may be able to fast track you, so don’t be afraid to reach out. For others in the community that have always wanted to try it, this is a perfect class for you! No matter what skill level you bring, we will guide you through the steps for not only prepping the clay and using the wheel, but what to do after to control dry times, next steps for finishing before firing, and some fun facts about different clays and firing techniques.  

This class is beginner level, and you will be able to make one or two bisque fired pieces which you can pick up after they have been through the kiln. This class does NOT include glazing or glaze firing.

This class is from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

How much wood could a woodshop chop if a woodshop could chop wood? Lots. 

In this beginner woodshop class, we will be creating one of the most important tools you can have in a wood shop: A push stick. Push sticks keep your hands and fingers away from the spinny sharp things so you keep all your bits where they should be. In order to make the push stick, we will use every major tool in a wood shop. The table saw, the chop saw, the drill press, the band saw, various sanding machines, a table router, and a hand router. We will teach you the safe way to handle and prepare all the tools, and you will use them to create your own safety tool! 

This woodshop class is needed for any Fab Lab member who wants to be cleared for the wood shop. It is also great for anyone who has always wanted to use the tools, or someone who has the tools but is unsure if they are using them safely. This is a basics only class, so while you will create a functional tool, there are lots of techniques and tools we don’t cover in this class.  Still, this is a really good beginning.

This class is from 5:30 to 7:30 pm

Are electronics a mystery to you? You can use a flashlight, you can change batteries, but can you make either of them?  You will be surprised at how easy it is! Making electronics projects comes down to two pretty basic skills: Soldering components and wires, and reading a diagram correctly. We will be doing both, with a bunch of explanations in between!

This basic electronics course will walk you through Direct Current electricity (batteries) and what is happening, and a bit (Just a bit, I promise!) of the math used to make sure your project gets just enough energy to do The Thing. We will be making a pre-bought kit. Usually a small ‘Simon’ game, but sometimes it will be some other fun kit. We will go over proper safety equipment, proper handling of soldering iron and solder, and how to make a good attachment. 

For Fab Lab members, this course is needed for use of the electronics area, and will not contain the full kit (unless requested and the kit bought by the member), and for everyone else, we will go from beginning to end and you will leave with a working project you can show off and enjoy for years to come!

This class is from 5:30 to 6 pm

Are you interested in fine woodworking?  Creating things from a simple cutting board to a bedframe or dresser of hardwood? If so, you need to know how to use a Jointer and Planer.  This short class is very focused on the do’s and don’ts of a Jointer and Planer. What the difference between them is, and the proper way to safely use them both. This class should only take around a half hour and is instructional only. You won’t leave with any project, just with knowledge. That is why it is priced so low for non-members.

NOTE:  This class should only be taken by people who already have basic knowledge of a wood shop. These tools are not usually used in a shop until you have a major project, so you will have to take beginner woodshop class (or have previous experience) first.

This class is from 5:30 to 7:30 pm

The laser cutter is a very versatile tool that can be used in so many ways! From cutting puzzles and creating boxes and custom jewelry to creating signs and engraving projects! We will go through the basics of the software, and how our laser functions. We will create and cut a file so everyone can show off their prowess at controlling coherent light! Take that, power rangers!

If you are a Fab Lab member, this class is required to use the laser cutter area of the Lab. If you are a community member, you will create a fun little project to show off to friends and learn a cool new skill!

This class is from 5:30 to 7:30 pm

Do you like wearing clothes? I know I sure do! 

The first step to creating clothing, stuffed animals, or even just mending a tea-towel is learning how to use a sewing machine. We will take you step-by-step through the basics of a modern sewing machine, including how to wind a bobbin, how to thread the machine, and how to adjust for different stitch styles and tensions. We will talk about how to make a button hole with the pre-set button option, the difference between the different feet for selected fabrics, and other practical things, like type of stitch, width of hem, adding darts, and the modern miracle that is an automatic needle threader!

For Fab Lab members, this is the course you need to use the sewing machines at the Fab Lab, and for everyone else, this is a good primer for those who have never sewn, and a good refresher for those who have not done it in years!

This class is from 1 to 3 pm

Have you ever wondered how they get photos on mugs and t-shirts? One of the answers is they use sublimation! Sublimation is a special ink that turns from solid to gas when heated (sublimates, for you science nerds) and then likes to attach to a substrate (a solid surface). In this case, the ink attaches to polyester, and transfers the image onto the material, whether it is a coffee cup, a plate, or a piece of cloth! Learn this cool technique and open up possibilities for personal gifts, and custom coolness!  

For members, this class is needed to use the sublimation area and the heat press. For everyone else, this is a great way to make a specialty mug, shirt, or sticker sheet!

This class is from 5:30-7:30PM

How much wood could a woodshop chop if a woodshop could chop wood? Lots. 

In this beginner woodshop class, we will be creating one of the most important tools you can have in a wood shop: A push stick. Push sticks keep your hands and fingers away from the spinny sharp things so you keep all your bits where they should be. In order to make the push stick, we will use every major tool in a wood shop. The table saw, the chop saw, the drill press, the band saw, various sanding machines, a table router, and a hand router. We will teach you the safe way to handle and prepare all the tools, and you will use them to create your own safety tool! 

This woodshop class is needed for any Fab Lab member who wants to be cleared for the wood shop. It is also great for anyone who has always wanted to use the tools, or someone who has the tools but is unsure if they are using them safely. This is a basics only class, so while you will create a functional tool, there are lots of techniques and tools we don’t cover in this class.  Still, this is a really good beginning.

This class is from 5:30 – 7:30 PM

A serger is a specialty tool for sewing stretchy fabrics.  Whether it is T-shirt material or spandex, a regular sewing machine stitch can not compare to how well a serger will do at keeping the fabric tightly sewn together while remaining stretchy and flexible without puckering. We will go over the basics of the surger, such as how to thread it, how to use it, and how to avoid using it wrong (unlike the regular sewing machine, the surger has a sharp cutting edge to automatically hem, and you don’t want to get in it’s way!)

If you are a Fab Lab member, this is the class to take to get checked out on our sergers!

This class is from 5:30pm to 7:30 pm

It is the wave of the future!  Just steps away from being able to say ‘Tea. Earl Grey. Hot.’ in your own kitchen! This basic 3D printing class will give you the lowdown on additive manufacturing.  This class is designed to be an introduction, and is by no means an exhaustive class. Basics will teach you how to use a filament-based 3D printer, how to get a design into the slicer program (and some good settings to start with), how to design a basic file for 3D printing, and where to find ready-to-go files that you can print right away.

If you are a member of the Fab Lab, this class covers what you need to do your own 3D printing in the Lab. If you are just curious about 3D printing or have gotten yourself a printer and now don’t know what to do next, this is a great primer! Just remember, this covers the basics, so you can go out and try stuff on your own safely, it does NOT guarantee every print will be a success.

This class is from 10AM to noon

The Cricut is an exceptional tool with so many possibilities!  From creating stickers and vinyl cutouts to embossing and making custom cards, popup cards, and decorations, there are literally thousands of things that you can do with a good machine. 

We will walk you through the basics of the software, as well as the limitations of the materials that can and can not be used, and create a fun project to give you some practical experience!

If you are a Fab Lab member, this class is needed to use the cricut for any projects, if you are interested in buying a cricut, or have one and now don’t know what to do with it, this is a great class to take to get you started!

This class is from 1 to 3 pm

Silkscreening is a great way to make custom t-shirts, mugs, paper art prints, or even yoga mats! In this interactive class we will go through all the steps you need for the process we use in our in-house print shop!  (NOTE: this is only one technique, there are other systems out there.) 

We will go through the process of preparing a screen, creating a pattern, exposing the pattern in the dark room, readying it for use, and pressing the pattern onto a shirt, towel, or small object. We will also go over the use and cleaning of tools, how to clear a screen for another use, and how to store your screen to use it over and over again!

If you are a Fab Lab member, this class is needed before you can use the silkscreen studio. If you are a community member interested in the process, this is a great class to take to see how many products around the world are made! If you are interested in a group coming in for a larger project, email us and we can set up something for you!

This class is from 5:30 to 7:30 pm

Were you ever jealous of all the patches that Suzy down the street had from girl scouts? Just skipping along, counting all that cash from those cookies she was always shelling out and showing off her accomplishments? Well now you can finally show her! With this class you can make your own patches! Yeah! Bet you don’t have a ‘wine tasting champion’ patch, do you, Suzy? Take that!

This class is a primer on how to use our BAI 15 string computerized embroidery machine. This sweet machine can do 10 stitches a second, up to 15 colors per program, and go from 1”x1” to 13”x17” (a full jacket back)! We will go through the steps you need to create your own patches, custom clothing, and embellishments! Our machine can also do hats!

There is a prerequisite for this class on learning Inkscape, a free computer program we use to prepare files. If you are a Fab Lab member, you will learn this program with Laser basics, vinyl cutting basics, and CNC basics. It is a great program for graphic design, as well!  If you have not taken any of those classes, or are a community member who just wants to learn how to use this machine, you will need to watch these video tutorials and practice a bit before the class, or you won’t get much out of it.

This class is from 5:30 to 7:30 pm

The laser cutter is a very versatile tool that can be used in so many ways! From cutting puzzles and creating boxes and custom jewelry to creating signs and engraving projects! We will go through the basics of the software, and how our laser functions. We will create and cut a file so everyone can show off their prowess at controlling coherent light! Take that, power rangers!

If you are a Fab Lab member, this class is required to use the laser cutter area of the Lab. If you are a community member, you will create a fun little project to show off to friends and learn a cool new skill!

This class is from 10AM to 12

Do you like the idea of making your own wooden bowl, cup, or plate? Have you ever wanted to make your own chess set or been amazed by perfect wood or resin balls in those youtube videos? This lathe class is a great first step to being able to create your own cool projects. 

We will go over the proper types of wood to use, how to prepare the piece for the lathe, proper mounting, stance, and tool use, and practice on a chunk of wood. Using a lathe is kind of like learning how to do free throws in basketball.. You can be taught the technique quickly, and then it is all about the practice!  This class will teach basics and safety, but it will not be a class where you bring home a project, just the experience.

If you are a Fab Lab member, this class is needed for you to use the lathe in the woodshop. If you are a community member who just wants to play with one, or have a good safety primer before you purchase one or use one that has been sitting there catching dust, this is a great place to start.