Mobile Makerspace

Makerspace in the news again! This time for our Pi Day event, this Saturday 3/14/26

6th Annual Mobile Makerspace Pi Day event The 6th Annual Mobile Makerspace Pi Day event is happening Saturday, March 14.

Friday night game night at the Makerspace. This is the largest gathering so far.

We’re famous! https://mynbc15.com/news/local/like-to-make-stuff-mobile-makerspace-might-be-your-destination #

Like to make stuff? Mobile Makerspace might be your destination You don't know what you're capable of until you try.And this weekend, there a special place in Mobile that exists to help you cultivate that craft or skill that

Save the Date!

2025 is here!

Our first business meeting of 2025 is scheduled for Saturday, January 11th from 11am to 12:30pm and will be followed by a work day to continue building renovation work.

At our monthly business meetings, we discuss and plan events to support the needs of the local maker community. Meetings are open to everyone. The meeting lasts about an hour and a half and will be followed by a work party as we continue the renovation.

For our guests, it is a time to meet people, take a tour, and see how the Makerspace works.

For everyone, it is a great time to see how the renovation of our new location is progressing.

Today's work party will focus on removing dirty-side ceiling junk as well as moving outside detritus to the dumpster.

Mobile Makerspace is a non-profit community workshop and laboratory located in Mobile, Alabama since 2013.

Our new location is 2472 Commercial Park Drive, off Government Blvd, near the Greyhound Bus Station.

Tool Tuesday: 𝙂𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙣𝙡𝙚𝙚 𝙍𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙤 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙨 𝙋𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨

A Chassis punch, sometimes called a knockout punch, is a hand tool used to punch a hole through sheet metal. It's a very simple tool that consists of a punch, die, and screw.

They produce a perfectly found and clean hole, free of any burrs or rough edges.

Greenlee Tools is a recognized leading manufacturer of high-quality tools for professional trades people. So much so that knockout punches or chassis punches are commonly called Greenlee Chassis Punches as they are so synonymous with the tools.

The 𝙂𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙣𝙡𝙚𝙚 𝙍𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙤 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙨 𝙋𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨 not only creates holes in metal, but they are easily used on plastic and fiberglass. Using a wrench or driver, you draw the punch into the stud.

Drill a pilot hole slightly larger than the size of the stud and you are ready to go.

These Chassis Punches can make accurate size holes in Sheetmetal up to 10 gauge steel and 12 gauge stainless steel.

The sizes we have are 1/2", 5/8", 7/8", 1", 1-1/8", 1-3/16", 1-1/4", 1-3/8" diameter and 1/2" size conduit.

Contact us today to schedule a tour of our facility. We discuss how membership works and show you all of the tools and equipment available to our members!

Additional videos:

How to use a Greenlee Knockout Punch Set?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBXkwDlQjA8

Greenlee Chassis Punch Demo | Guitar Amp Build Basics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JH_m7r1uoc

Tool Tuesday: 16 𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙁𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙧 𝘿𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨

A floor drill press is a stationary power tool designed to bore precise holes in materials. A floor drill press is free standing and typically accommodates larger projects and larger materials than a benchtop drill press.

The drill press that is available at Mobile Makerspace is 13-inch, 16 speed variety that features a 5/8-inch chuck, an 80m/m spindle stroke, and a 3/4-horse power motor.

Unlike handheld drills, which rely on arm strength and the steadiness of the operator to drill and accurate, clean hole, drill presses are precise by design.

A rotating handle controls the descent of the spindle and bit, which can only move vertically. This makes perfectly precise holes much easier to accomplish.

Having 16-speeds available to choose makes it ideal to use on a wide variety of materials. The floor drill press is constructed of cast iron to reduce vibration with smooth rack-and-pinion movement, an adjustable depth stop and gauge.

The cast iron table also rotates 360 degrees and can be tilted 45 degrees left or right.

Contact us to schedule a tour of our facility. We can tell you how to become a member and to see all the tools and equipment available to members!

Here are some additional videos about drill presses:

Drill Press Basics - Wood
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq8jL_ZDjNM

How to setup and use the drill press - woodworking for beginners:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYenTisnkwY

Drill Press Clamps Harbor Freight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSDLnQM0Nnk

Tool Tuesday: 9" 𝙎𝙠𝙞𝙡 𝘽𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙎𝙖𝙬

In woodworking, Band Saws are used for cutting irregular shapes or ripping lumber into thinner pieces.

A band Saw (or Bandsaw) is a power saw that has a blade that has sharpe, evenly spaced teeth that is formed into a continuous band. The blade is stretched between two or more wheels and powered by a motor.

The advantages of a band saw is it's uniform cutting action that results from the evenly distributed tooth load. It also allows for cutting irregular or curved shapes.

The blade is continuously cutting, but unlike circular saws or table saws, it is only cutting in one direction. The blade is always cutting in a downward motion, which reduces the risk that circular saws or table saws pose due to the blade also being able to cut in the upward motion too.

The width of the band (blade) and the kerf determines the minimum radius of a curve.

Most common band saws will have two wheels, but some may have three or four wheels to distribute the load.

The blade itself can come in a variety of sizes and tooth pitches (teeth per inch, or TPI), which allows the machine to be highly versatile and able to cut a wide variety of materials.

While the 9" 𝙎𝙠𝙞𝙡 𝘽𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙎𝙖𝙬 in our facility is set up for wood, band saws can cut plastic and metal as well.

The 9" 𝙎𝙠𝙞𝙡 𝘽𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙎𝙖𝙬 allows you make quick angle and height changes with the rack and pinion adjustable table. It's EZ View Blade Tracking lets you easily align the blade.

The dust port helps to keep your work area clean. The rip fence helps when making straight cuts, and the miter gauge is helps when making cross cuts. An articulated LED work light helps you to keep an eye on your material and cut line.

Contact us today to schedule a tour of our facility. We'll show you all of the tools and equipment available to members and also tell you how to join!

Videos:

Review of the Skil 9" Band Saw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FF0doLVzWA

Setup and Adjustment of the Skil 9" Band Saw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHBX85QDDcQ

TechEd Learning Bandsaw Safety Lesson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fJv2f6-014

Tool Tuesday: 𝘽𝙞𝙜 𝙃𝙤𝙧𝙣 10230 𝙋𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙃𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙋𝙪𝙨𝙝 𝙎𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙠

The 𝙋𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙃𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙋𝙪𝙨𝙝 𝙎𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙠 by 𝘽𝙞𝙜 𝙃𝙤𝙧𝙣 is a highly recommended accessory to have for operating standard woodworking machines like table saws, band saws, radial arm saws, jointers, planers, and shapers.

Push sticks, like the 𝘽𝙞𝙜 𝙃𝙤𝙧𝙣, are designed to protect the hand while allowing good hand control of the stock as it is pushed through the cutting head or blade.

The Big Horn 10230 Power Hands Push Stick features rubber pads to absorb vibrations and to provide a powerful grip on the stock. It comes with two interchangeable rubber grips, one a flat sole and the other has a v-groove. They are changed out via a spring loaded pin at the rear of the tool.

There are several other features that set the Big Horn apart from other push sticks. It's made with strong, thick high quality plastic. It's taller to help keep your hand farther away from the blade while maintaining a strong grip on the stock.

The grip is designed to ergonomic and to help give better downward pressure as you push through the cutting action.

The rubber sole, it allows you to exert lateral force to help keep your workpiece against the fence during your cut.

In all, anyone who uses the Big Horn push stick feel confident and love using it.

Contact us today to schedule your own personal tour of our facility so you can see what tools and equipment you have access to when you become a member!

Here's a video reviewing several different push stick designs, including the Big Horn.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehYdE3Ukbl0

Tool Tuesday: 𝙍𝙮𝙤𝙗𝙞 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙈𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙎𝙖𝙬

The RYOBI TOOLS USA 𝙏𝙎1344𝙇 is a 10-inch Compound Miter Saw. This means that the saw not only pivots left and right to make angled cuts from 0 to 45-degrees, but it also tilts to cut bevels from 0 up to 45-degrees as well.

Compound miter saws are useful for picture frames, crown molding or any project that requires angled cuts in two planes. They offer the advantage of making compound cuts in one pass.

The Ryobi features a heavy duty 15-amp motor that delivers up to 5,000 RPM which makes it great for a host of tough cutting applications. The 10-inch blade allows the user to cut a maximum nominal lumber size of 2x6 or 4x4 with the miter and bevel set to 0-degree. The maximum nominal lumber cutting size when set at 45-degree miter and 0-degree bevel is 2x4. Then the maximum nominal lumber cutting size when using a 0-degree miter and 45-degree bevel is 2x6.

The miter pivot has stops, both left and right, at 0, 15, 22.5, 30, and 45 degrees to help dial in the most common angles. It also has an electric brake that slows the blade down quickly for added safety.

The standard 5/8-inch arbor will accept a wide variety of saw blades for whatever cut you need: simple crosscut or for fine joinery.

Contact us today to schedule a tour to see our facility and all of the tools and equipment we have available when you become a member!

Video links:
Ryobi 10-inch compound miter saw assembly and use review
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHUfMbeAyGA

What can you do with a miter saw? Woodworking Basics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPUgrhnJVbU

Tool Tuesday: 𝙋𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝘾𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙁𝙞𝙭𝙚𝙙-𝘽𝙖𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙍𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙚𝙧

A hand router is one of the most versatile tools in woodworking. With interchangeable router bits, you can make all kinds of edge profiles. But with various jigs that you can build, the uses of a router are enormous!

The PORTER-CABLE 690𝙇𝙍 1-1/3 𝙃𝙋 𝙁𝙞𝙭𝙚𝙙-𝘽𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙍𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙚𝙧 is a powerful and efficient tool that generates an impressive 27,500 RPM for precise cuts.

The tool features two ergonomic handles with overmolded grips make routing easy and comfortable for even extended use. It has a dust-sealed switch and sealed ball bearing construction to enhance durability as well as a precision machined aluminum motor housing and base.

The router includes auto-release collets that accept 1/4-inch and 1/2-inch shank bits for added convenience. The micrometer depth adjustor is accurate to 1/128" to allow you to finely adjust the depth that you need for each job.

Safety:

As with all tools, safety is very important and caution should always be exercised. A router features bits that are spinning at very high speeds and can pose a very serious safety risk if you are not careful. Never put your hands anywhere near the blade during operation.

Members are willing and eager to show you how to safely use this and any other tool in the workspace.

Contact us today to schedule a tour so you can see our facility and tools as well as to learn how you can become a member yourself.

Videos:

How to use a router: Ultimate Beginners Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bG2ldmVt56Y

Router Basics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGHgn6wvLyc

How to use the depth adjustment ring on the Porter Cable 690 Series Router - A Quick Fix
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAPPK2i0clE

Easy way to change bits on Porter Cable Routers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKQ9Fon2Ibc

Router bit tips with a Porter Cable 690 Router
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smWQz9a3TaE

Router Bushings vs Bearings - What you should know
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujH33UYOHI0