Woodworking in Bristol

[kingraviali]

Hi All!

Hope you all are well. I am a DIY enthusiast and have a severe passion for woodworking but I lack the most important thing required for woodworking ....... a workshop! LOL!

I bought some basic tools: hand saw, jigsaw, sander, hammering/gluing essentials etc and started experimenting with wood about 2 years ago. Before I bought these tools I started out with wood carving and now I want to move on to building practical things like kitchen cabinets, kitchen Islands, wall cabinets, wardrobes, bed frames, sofas etc etc. I have seen the work done by all of you on this forum and it is stunningly amazing! Very impressed.

Since my flat is very small and I possibly cannot own a workshop space for at least another few years, I wanted to ask whether there is somewhere in Bristol I can go to and quench my thirst for woodworking and building stuff. I also want to build stuff for my flat so I can learn more. Is there any workshop that is willing to accommodate this? For example I was thinking of building a solid oak worktop for a kitchen island, for which I need a large workbench where I can glue the oak boards together and do some sanding, planing, squaring the edges and finishing etc. I cannot even hope to accomplish this task in my flat. I can try but I will definitely end up destroying the carpet and have sawdust all over the place. So I would be very grateful if anyone has any advice/suggestions for me.

Thanks!

 

[Wuffles]

Hi All!

Hope you all are well. I am a DIY enthusiast and have a severe passion for woodworking but I lack the most important thing required for woodworking ....... a workshop! LOL!

I bought some basic tools: hand saw, jigsaw, sander, hammering/gluing essentials etc and started experimenting with wood about 2 years ago. Before I bought these tools I started out with wood carving and now I want to move on to building practical things like kitchen cabinets, kitchen Islands, wall cabinets, wardrobes, bed frames, sofas etc etc. I have seen the work done by all of you on this forum and it is stunningly amazing! Very impressed.

Since my flat is very small and I possibly cannot own a workshop space for at least another few years, I wanted to ask whether there is somewhere in Bristol I can go to and quench my thirst for woodworking and building stuff. I also want to build stuff for my flat so I can learn more. Is there any workshop that is willing to accommodate this? For example I was thinking of building a solid oak worktop for a kitchen island, for which I need a large workbench where I can glue the oak boards together and do some sanding, planing, squaring the edges and finishing etc. I cannot even hope to accomplish this task in my flat. I can try but I will definitely end up destroying the carpet and have sawdust all over the place. So I would be very grateful if anyone has any advice/suggestions for me.

Thanks!

If you're desperate, I'm down the road a bit more than you might want to travel.

 

[Fergal]

Try the Bristol Hackspace in Bedminster. I've not been for a while, but last time I went they had a workshop space with some woodworking and metalworking machines. They also have 3D printers, laser cutter etc and an electronics workshop. Once you join up (£10 per month suggested subs) you get 24 hour access to the facilities. They have open evenings on Thursdays if you want to go and have a look.

http://bristol.hackspace.org.uk/

Fergal

 

[Wuffles]

Try the Bristol Hackspace in Bedminster. I've not been for a while, but last time I went they had a workshop space with some woodworking and metalworking machines. They also have 3D printers, laser cutter etc and an electronics workshop. Once you join up (£10 per month suggested subs) you get 24 hour access to the facilities. They have open evenings on Thursdays if you want to go and have a look.

http://bristol.hackspace.org.uk/

Fergal

That looks excellent! Could do with something like that down this way - cue someone pointing me at something virtually next door to me now.

 

[RogerP]

There's "Men in Sheds" all over the country.

Bristol ...http://www.meninshedspatchway.btck.co.uk/About%20us

 

[mind_the_goat]

That looks excellent! Could do with something like that down this way - cue someone pointing me at something virtually next door to me now.

This might help
http://www.hackspace.org.uk/wiki/Main_Page

 

[kingraviali]

Thanks everyone! and thank you Wuffles for your generous offer, it means a lot.

Bristol Hacks actually looks like a brilliant idea. I will definitely pop round there on an open day to see the workshop and tools. (hammer)

 

[Wuffles]

That looks excellent! Could do with something like that down this way - cue someone pointing me at something virtually next door to me now.

This might help
http://www.hackspace.org.uk/wiki/Main_Page

Veering off topic, but we do have the Somerset Wood Recycling place in Weston that is a charity based place. I buy wood from there for pennies, so I tend not to hang around there too long in case they realise they're undercharging

 

[DiscoStu]

We have one of those in Southampton. Keep meaning to go!


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[Dusty]

http://menssheds.org.uk/find-a-shed/

 

[Alikingravi]

There is a recycled wood shop in Bristol as well.

http://www.bwrp.org.uk/

 

[Wuffles]

There is a recycled wood shop in Bristol as well.

http://www.bwrp.org.uk/

Went there when I lived in Bristol. The problem is they understand the concept of money

 

[Alikingravi]

Lol! So you mean somerset is cheaper and a better option then?

 

[Wuffles]

Lol! So you mean somerset is cheaper and a better option then?

I haven't been to the one in Weston for a while as I have a problem, I recognise that problem now and I understand that's the first step.

Well worth a look though.

 

[Eric The Viking]

There is a recycled wood shop in Bristol as well.

http://www.bwrp.org.uk/

Went there when I lived in Bristol. The problem is they understand the concept of money

A lot is overpriced, I agree, especially some of the reclaimed furniture items, such as large tabletops. Once you start looking, you realise there's not much usable material if you want to make something new. If you want to reuse the top itself ("shabby chiq") then it's still a bit pricey.

They will negotiate though, and occasionally you find things they haven't categorised properly or missed. I got a short, waney-edged board of ash recently, labelled oak, for a few quid and it made a nice picture frame. Too much is construction salvage, although they do pick up some stuff from kitchen firms, etc. They had some nice staved worktops recently, oak IIRC.
They also do inexpensive deliveries. I've a mate who drives their truck two days a week (he volunteers), and the prices he's quoted me have been almost less than the diesel (not "mates' rates" either).

On balance, I'm glad they're there.

 

[Wuffles]

There is a recycled wood shop in Bristol as well.

http://www.bwrp.org.uk/

Went there when I lived in Bristol. The problem is they understand the concept of money

A lot is overpriced, I agree, especially some of the reclaimed furniture items, such as large tabletops. Once you start looking, you realise there's not much usable material if you want to make something new. If you want to reuse the top itself ("shabby chiq") then it's still a bit pricey.

They will negotiate though, and occasionally you find things they haven't categorised properly or missed. I got a short, waney-edged board of ash recently, labelled oak, for a few quid and it made a nice picture frame. Too much is construction salvage, although they do pick up some stuff from kitchen firms, etc. They had some nice staved worktops recently, oak IIRC.
They also do inexpensive deliveries. I've a mate who drives their truck two days a week (he volunteers), and the prices he's quoted me have been almost less than the diesel (not "mates' rates" either).

On balance, I'm glad they're there.

I agree, I'm glad any of them are there, but the one in Weston just makes me smile when you pick up what would definitely cost a fortune at some "reclamation yards" for just a couple of quid. It's been a while since I've been to Bristol, perhaps I should go for my own satisfaction...

...oh no, here we go again, this is how it starts!

 

[rafezetter]

I've been meaning to take a look at the hackspace in bedminster as a possible place to learn extra skills.

Out of interest what sort of size worktop island are you looking to make Ali?

(and also is kingraviali and Alikingravi the same person? if so it would help to use just one login and have the other deleted by a mod).

 

[Alikingravi]

I've been meaning to take a look at the hackspace in bedminster as a possible place to learn extra skills.

Out of interest what sort of size worktop island are you looking to make Ali?

(and also is kingraviali and Alikingravi the same person? if so it would help to use just one login and have the other deleted by a mod).

Sorry, yes Kingraviali and Alikingravi is the same person haha! I forgot I had an account here which I made quite a while ago and forgot the password. I will use Alikingravi.

I will definitely go and check hackspace soon. I hope they have a jointer, planer, table saw etc.

The island I want to make is actually very small. The top is just 1100 x 700mm -ish. Most tops available online are 3 metres long and are quite pricey. I was thinking if I can buy some reclaimed wood, sand off all the dirt, joint the edges and cut them to size, I could make a brand new top from recycled wood. I dont want to use plywood for the top as I want to match it with the rest of the kitchen. But I will keep my options open.

 

[Fergal]

Last time I was at the hackspace (about a year ago) they only had a few basic woodworking machines: table saw, lathe, pillar drill, and various portable power tools and hand tools. They didn't have any of the more specialised tools like planers etc. They also had a CNC router. This situation may have changed though.

Even if the place is not that well-equipped, it is useful as a workshop space and somewhere to keep your projects while you're working on them.

Fergal

 

[Alikingravi]

True that! CNC router and lathe sounds very very interesting. Hmmmmmmmmm. Maybe the members there can chip in to buy some more machines essential for woodworking.

Are you still with hackspace Fergal?