Akron Makerspace

AMS 2026 Showcase
Up in the AMS Showcase, today, is a stellar metal and wood turning project made by AMS member Josh. The project involved a variety of tools, including a metal lathe, chop saw, drill press and hydraulic press. The handle was made using purple heart wood. The result, a unique razor. Nicely done!

To find out more, check us out at the AMS website or Discord server.

AMS 2026 Showcase
Up in the AMS Showcase, today, are some nice sewing projects made by our members:

- Chloe thrifted a knit blanket to make herself a sweater and decided to make a matching one for her cat with the remnants. Chloe also upgraded her favorite “13-year-old” crewneck. She used a $5 “donor” thrifted hoodie, and using sewing skills learned at AMS, was able to swap the cuffs in 45 minutes.

- Lindsey has been busy creating several nice projects including a patchwork wrap skirt, using red remnants. Lindsey also made a nice “traveller cape” from an old bed sheet and a thrifted tablecloth.

- Kristian made two very nice top and bottom sets. Kristian used a pattern for the bottoms, but self drafted the top using a shirt as a pattern.

- Perry and his wife make quilts for Veterans and Foster Care children. His group contributed 80 quilts in 2024 alone. Here is a nice example of a quilt made for Veterans.

- Michelle has worked on a couple of nice projects, including a Greco-Roman dress for a wedding. Michelle also altered a dress to wear at a “prohibition” themed event. The alterations included removing the lining, adding panels to the side seams and then adding gold chaining the back.

Lovely work by all!

To find out more, check us out at the AMS website or Discord server.

AMS 2026 Showcase

Up in the AMS Showcase, today, is an amazing project created by NateO, an AMS member. According to Nate:

“Here is my daughter’s pedal plane complete. It’s a Gee Bee racer. Built from plans. Perry Cain printed the mock engine. She did not want the decals and numbers as she says it made it to grown up. She picked out the colors.”

Nicely done!

To find out more, check us out at the AMS website or Discord server.

On August 11 and 12th of 2024, competitors from around the eastern and central states converged to race electric karts in the Rubber City Run, the Akron stage of the Power Racing Series (PRS). The PRS competition was one of three attractions at the Rubber City Run, including Combat Robotics and the Makers Market.

As events unfolded, crowd sentiment swirled around one vehicle. Folks weren’t drawn by the kart’s epic speed or ability to take a turn. No, they were drawn to this kart because it brought the drama. The kart was Optimus Prime, a scaled down tractor trailer capable of, among other things, doing wheelies down the track. Optimus, with trailer in tow, performed the first “jackknife” in known PRS history.

Optimus began life as “Maximum Overdrive”, a nod to the Stephen King film starring Emilio Estevez, where a possessed semi-truck harasses folks in a diner. With accessibility in mind, Maximum Overdrive was designed so that any member, regardless of body-type, could join the fun. As overbuilding karts is an AMS PRS tradition, Maximum Overdrive featured a Brembo brake caliber lifted from a custom Ducati build.

Due to a shift in consumer awareness among the younger market segment, the kart was later rebranded from Maximum Overdrive to “Optimus Prime.” The rest, as they say, is history.

Optimus is currently maintained by AMS member Jordan Craft.

Join us at Akron Makerspace for hands-on classes, open workshop nights, and community events!

Learn more on our website https://akronmakerspace.org/ or email [email protected]

AMS 2026 Showcase

Up in the AMS Showcase, today, are some fine woodworking projects by several of our members:
- A “spring” rocking horse, made by Paul.
- A collection of lovely wood turned bowls by Marcie.
- A nice wood turned bowl by Josh.
- A light catcher by Karl.
- A beautiful collection of pens made in Bob Hasenyager’s wood turning class.

Nice work by all!

To find out more, check us out at the AMS website or Discord server.

Makers create all sorts of things, from ceramic bowls to electronic watches. What have you made recently? Feel free to post pictures of something you've made, or a project you are working on, in the comments section.

Up in the AMS Showcase, today, are some amazing ceramics projects made by our members:
- Textured, and beautifully glazed, cups by ErinV.

- Some lovely projects by LindseyG: slip cast candlesticks, glazed with two coats of Amaco Wasabi under two coats of Amaco Seaweed and a dish glazed “frozen pond” style with running hot chowder and chun plum.

- Several projects by LydiaL: a candle, made in Perry Cain ‘s candle making class, using a ceramic bowl she created, a lovely bowl and some beautiful paint brush holders using glaze chips to make a “watercolor” effect.

- A “Nessie” sponge holder, created using the wheel for the base and Nessie by hand, by HeatherM.

- A set of most excellent, and nicely textured, cups by LaurenC.

- A lovely cup by LeeB.

Nice ceramic work by all!

To find out more, check us out at the AMS website or Discord server.

AMS 2026 Showcase
Up in the AMS Showcase, today, is a nice wood turning project made by AMS member Ben Gage. The wooden bowl was made from a unique piece of Ambrosia Maple, highly prized for its stained features created by tiny Ambrosia beetles. Nicely done!

Ben is also a professional musician. Check out his work on Facebook!

BenGageMusic
https://www.facebook.com/bengagemusic

To find out more, check us out at the AMS website or Discord server.
To find out more, check us out at the AMS website or Discord server.