FAQs

Q Where is TechShop Located? A TechShop Menlo Park / HQ is located at 120 Independence Dr, Menlo Park, California, just to the east of 101 near Marsh Road on the San Francisco peninsula. Here is a map to the TechShop Menlo Park location. Other TechShop locations are being built now. See our Locations page for information.

Q What Are TechShop's Operating Hours? A Please see our Hours page for operating hours and our holiday schedule.

Q Can You Show Me How To Use the Tools and Equipment? A Yes! We offer 60 to 90 minute "SBU" (Safety and Basic Usage) classes to get you up to speed quickly with the basic safety and operational information for that tool or machine. You do NOT have to be a TechShop member to take classes at TechShop! Everyone is invited. Please see our Take Classes page for a list of currently offered classes. We will also offer a range of programs and activities for kids and adults, including programs for home-schooled kids All Classes page.

Q What Classes Does TechShop Offer? A We offer several types of classes: "SBU" (Safety and Basic Usage) classes are designed to provide you with safety training and get you up-to-speed on a specific tool or machine safely in about an hour "Pathway" and "Project" classes offer instruction in more extensive concepts and techniques Please see our Take Classes page for a complete list of currently offered classes.

Q I Want To Take a Class, But I'm Not a TechShop Member. Am I Required To Buy a Day Pass To Use During the Class? A No. You do not need to be a TechShop member to take classes.

Q Do I Have To Be a TechShop Member To Take Classes at TechShop? A No! Anyone can take classes at TechShop. Taking a class is a great way for you to see if you want to make TechShop a regular part of your life and start making all your project ideas into realities.

Q What Tools and Equipment Can I Use at TechShop? A We provide our members with just about every machine, tool and process that you can imagine, far more than is practical in a home workshop. We provide you with access to milling machines and lathes, Epilog laser cutters, sheet metal equipment, welding equipment, an indoor automotive work bay, woodworking equipment including a 4' x 8' CNC ShopBot router, plastics working equipment, hand tools, a Dimension SST 3-D printer, computer-controlled vinyl cutter, sewing machines, and lots more. For a complete list of our tools and equipment, please see the Equipment page.

Q Can I Use Any Tool or Machine in the Shop? A Yes, as soon as you have passed the SBU (Safety and Basic Usage) class that covers tool or equipment. Lots of the tools and some of the machines at TechShop do not require an SBU class checkout, but any machine that can injure you or can be damaged requires you to pass an SBU before you can use it. Once you take the SBU class, you can use that tool or machine as much as you want with your active TechShop membership.

Q Can I Reserve Time on a Machine? A Yes! As an active TechShop monthly or annual member, you can reserve time on any machine by calling the friendly TechShop front desk staff at 1(800)640-1975. Some of the machines are very popular, such as the Epilog laser cutters and the Bridgeport style vertical milling machines. We have installed multiples of these machines to be sure everyone who wants to use them can get time on them.

Q How Much Does a TechShop Membership Cost? A Please see the Membership page for current pricing on Daily, Monthly, 6-Month, and Annual TechShop memberships.

Q Can My Kids Work on Projects and Take Classes With Me at TechShop? A Kids and young adults (12 and over, and under 18) can work on projects at TechShop under the direct supervision of a parent or legal guardian if they are included in your membership (call or visit us for details). Most classes at TechShop are open to kids and young adults (12 and over, and under 18) when they take the class with their parent or guardian. There are some tools and machines that kids are not permitted to operate at any time, including the milling machines and lathes. Kids under 12 are not permitted to enter the workshop areas at TechShop at any time except for certain special events.

Q How Long Has TechShop Been Open? A TechShop opened on October 1, 2006.

Q Does TechShop Carry Liability Insurance? A Of course, we have liability insurance and we require members and people who take classes at TechShop to sign a Liability Release Waiver. We also require members to receive safety training on machines and equipment before they can use it. We don't want anyone to experience an injury. We always strive to build a safety-conscious culture at TechShop.

Q Can I Open a TechShop Franchise in My Area? A Not yet. We are working hard to open TechShop locations in Durham NC and Portland OR this year (2008), and we have plans to open additional locations in 2009. We are not ready to offer franchise territories yet, but if you are interested in discussing this with us in the near future, please be sure you are signed up on the TechShop Mailing List, and be sure you check the check box that says "OWN AND OPERATE A TECHSHOP IN MY AREA".

Q What Clothing and Shoes Should I Wear to TechShop? A When you come to work on your project or take classes at TechShop, please wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes. If you are going to use the welding equipment, CNC plasma cutter, or take the metal casting class, we also recommend that you wear long natural fiber pants and a natural fiber long-sleeved shirt (synthetic clothes can melt and cause burns). If you are planning to use other equipment such as milling machines or lathes, please wear a short-sleeved shirt, tie back any long hair, and leave loose jewelry at home.