[Tricky Mike]

So, I got hired to shoot some photos of this place for a local paper and had no idea what I was getting myself into...
It's this place called "Sparqs." It's in Woburn, MA and is basically a giant Machine/Welding/Woodworking shop that's open to the public.
I signed up for a membership before I even started shooting the photos. This place rules.

It's a fully-equipped machine and welding shop on one side of the facility and a fully-equipped woodworking shop on the other. They even offer instruction, too so you don't (or shouldn't) lose any digits.

Some of their machines:

They've got a Bridgeport milling machine w/Newall digi display:
<img src="http://www.sparqs.com/images/uploads/equipment/millie1.jpg">

A Lincoln Precision TIG 275:
<img src="http://www.sparqs.com/images/uploads/equipment/tig1.jpg"

Also, a huge South Bend lathe, a few Lincoln MIG welders, a few plasma cutters, a bunch of OXY/AC stuff, a Kalamazoo horiz. band saw, box & pan brake, foot shear, planishing hammer, english wheel, bead roller, drill presses, drum/disc sanders etc, etc....
They've even got a whole fleet of portable hand tools that can be "checked out" for free.

Now dance, banana bitch, dance


Da link: http://www.sparqs.com

[OreoGitorio]

THAT.... FUCKING.... RULES!

[ZX-12R]

I'll love to see them try and keep their mills and lathes in tolerance with the general public using them!

Who pays for broken bits and cutters?

[Tricky Mike]

Originally posted by ZX-12R
I'll love to see them try and keep their mills and lathes in tolerance with the general public using them!


Who pays for broken bits and cutters?

Dunno... I'll let you know when I break something

I ended up buddy-ing up with the owner, so I think my membership/initiation wasn't exactly "typical" so I guess I'll just have to find out when I break something... Tim (the owner) is a really cool guy, so I imagine whatever the deal is it's fair.

[Tricky Mike]

Biggedy-bump...
You guys should really check this place out...
...and before any accusations, I stand to gain nothing by promoting this. I just think it's a really cool place and I'd like to see it do well.

Winter's coming... instead of 12-ounce curls and MotoGP3 on Xbox, you could learn a lot at Sparqs... You can get a membership for about the cost of a night out at the local pub (if you drink like I do )
You don't need experience either. They offer instruction and can have you up and MIG welding in no time. Melting metal is tons of fun.

You don't even need a membership to start. Just give them a call. They'd be more than happy to get you going.

Here's a picture frame I made there last week:

[cyberxen]

That picture frame is cool. How much to make me one?

[Tricky Mike]

Originally posted by cyberxen
That picture frame is cool. How much to make me one?

Ooooooooh, wait for the second version...
I have a whole box of pistons coming in this week. I'm gonna use a piston as the base instead of that plate of steel. I'm also using spikes instead of those nuts on the corners to hold the glass together. They're pretty evil. (spikes optional, of course... I have some nice, safe chrome acorn nuts, too)

<img src="http://www.studsandspikes.com/store/images/1-18inchTreeSpike.jpg">

I've been selling similar versions for $100.
Special NESR discount would be for $75 for an 8X10. Custom sizes and different materials are also an option (Stainless? Chrome?). Just PM me.

[cyberxen]

Some stainless socket head cap screws might go nice with the piston, kind of sportbike-themed.

[Tricky Mike]

For sure...
I could even safety-wire them for you
I also have some pistons and connecting rods from a Dodge Charger that would probably work really well as an overall motor-themed piece.

[Suf Daddy]

Got any directions?

ALSO HINT / IDEA....................

Your frames are mint but how about making a slightly bigger one for LCD screens and monitors?

-Suf Daddy

[Tricky Mike]

Thanks. That LCD mount is a great idea... Wish I had one to test it out on I've been drooling over the HD versions for a while now, but maaaaaan, they're some $$$.... I bet a custom polished Aluminum or stainless setup would look pretty sick. Could box everything in... right up to the edges of the panel... could even hook up some infrared repeaters to get the remote signals inside the box. Hmmm.... what kind of heat do those things generate? I wonder how much venting they'd need? Sparqs has a decent shear and box/pan brake... could definitely hook something up out of stainless or al-oo-minium.

So, anyway... all the info you need about Sparqs is here:

http://www.sparqs.com/