Author: Josh Bushueff

Twas a busy week at the Sawtooth! The subsurface venting system is 90% complete. As the installation team finished each section, the electricians came in and ran conduit for power outlets. FYI, we’ve got outlets all over the place – on the walls and on the floors. Finding power in the CMS shouldn’t be a problem.

The subsurface ventilation system makes a grid across the entire footprint of the building.

Speaking of power… WE NOW HAVE ELECTRICITY! For real.

On Wednesday, we had VT Concrete Cutting come in and cut the doorway to the mezzanine above the computer lab. It was a cool process to watch – and included a pretty terrifying chainsaw.

And finally, on Friday, the vapor barrier came out. This yellow sheeting – yet another protective measure against any traces of bad stuff in the soil – is the final step before the radiant heating. This is super exciting because it means we’re really close to pouring the slab and finishing the floor! It’s taken a lot of work to get this far, and it will be great to move on to the next stage of the buildout and start bringing in equipment! On that note, please contact us if you, or someone you know, have tools that could be donated to the Claremont MakerSpace! They will go to great use and are very much appreciated. Here’s a list of the type of stuff we’re looking for: https://claremontmakerspace.org/tools-equipment/

With the radiant heating installation and slab coming up on the calendar, we’re getting closer to the Pre-Opening Membership discount being reduced from 20% to 15%. So… if you’re excited to use the space, sign up soon – HERE!

By doing so, you’ll also get discounts on our current workshops and events. Check them out, HERE.

Have a great Labor Day weekend!

A lot of people have been asking: “When will there be a new floor in the Sawtooth building?” Here’s the answer: “Very soon! Just a few more steps before that can happen.” You see, there’s quite a bit going on underneath the new floor. First there’s the electrical conduit and plumbing (which is done), then a venting system, and then radiant heating. After the radiant comes the cement for the new floor.

The materials for the venting system arrived early last week, and the United Construction team got right into the installation process. The ventilation system is required because the Sawtooth building is a brownfield site. It has since been fully cleaned up, but we still need to have something under the floor that is capable of exhausting any old, nasty residue in the soil – in the rare case that some pops up.

Right: rolls of tubing for the ventilation system. Center: connectors for the tubing. Left: grid layout of the venting system.

While the venting is being installed on the first floor, the second floor mezzanine is taking shape. While most of the MakerSpace will be a single floor, there will be a few second floor areas above the computer lab, as well as the kitchenette/cafe area.

In other news, our electric service box now has guts! Soon the Claremont MakerSpace will have power!

Once the new floor is poured, two things will happen:

1) The Pre-Opening Membership discount will be reduced. So sign up… now! Here: https://claremontmakerspace.org/membership-pre-order/

2) We’ll start organizing volunteers to help build and paint furnishings for the CMS – ie. work tables, partitions, chairs, etc. If you want to help us build these things, grab a paint brush, learn to use a CNC machine and other woodworking tools in the process, and hang out with other makers, then let us know! Email us at info@twinstatemakerspaces.org, with “Volunteering” in the subject line.

Make it a great week!

The first batch of cement has been poured! Poured just last week, these cement areas are footings for certain (heavier duty) walls in the space, as well as the mezzanine. The mezzanine above the computer lab will be one of the few second floor areas in the building – we want to keep things open as much as possible and take advantage of the Sawtooth’s amazing natural light.

And what’s that in the top right image? A brand-new electrical service panel? You bet. One step closer to electricity at the CMS!

Claremont MakerSpace Ground-Making Ceremony: We don’t really have any ground to break… but we surely have ground to make… so we held a Ground-Making Ceremony to officially kick off the construction phase of the project. The event was a blast and drew over 60 attendees, including Senator Maggie Hassan, representatives on behalf of Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Congresswoman Maggie Hassan, Claremont City Officials, donors, project advisors and local makers. All of these attendees have played key roles in getting the MakerSpace this far, and we’re incredibly grateful for their support!

You can read more about the Ground-Making Ceremony in this article, published in the Eagle Times: Making a Movement

Take a good look at that gravel floor – it won’t be like that for much longer. We’re getting closer and closer to installing the radiant heating and pouring the second batch of concrete (aka the new floor). Remember, the Pre-Opening discount will be reduced from 20% to 15% when the floor is poured, so make sure to sign up soon! Info and sign up: HERE

Also, the registration for our upcoming glass working class, Creating Fused Glass Birds, closes this Sunday! Have you ever wanted to learn how to work with kiln formed glass? Here’s your chance, and a perfect introduction to an awesome art form. Those who have signed up for Pre-Opening Membership will receive a discount on this workshop.

More info and RSVP (required by 8/20): HERE

End Note: That beautiful light we were talking about…

Have a stellar weekend! Happy Makin!

Construction is fully underway at the Sawtooth! It’s absolutely awesome to see this space come to life (after being out of service for so many years). Soon we’re going to pour the new floor, and at that time, the Pre-Opening Membership will be lowered from 20% to 15%. So if you want to use the MakerSpace and save the most $$ then sign up now! Learn about membership options and sign-up: HERE

Here’s what’s happened over the past few weeks:

Concrete coring: Over the course of a day, a dozen holes were cut through the concrete wall footings. These freshly cut holes will allow us to run plumbing and electrical conduit to specific parts of the building. Note: coring rigs are very cool.

Plumbing: The pipes for the restrooms, cafe and wet studio were fully installed!

Electrical conduit: The electrical conduit (tubes that route and protect electrical wiring) were laid throughout the building. It’s pretty cool to think that these tubes will soon run power to a slew of fabrication equipment – the CNC router, 3D printer, laser cutter, glass kiln, long arm quilting machine and so much more.

Grading: The gravel floor was leveled to ensure an even foundation for the radiant heating and soon-to-be-poured floor.

Above: The humble beginnings of a computer lab!

What’s next? We’ll be pouring the footings for the mezzanine and other second-floor areas in the coming weeks, and aim to have the radiant heating installed and the new floor poured. Woohoo! 

Make sure to check out our upcoming events: glass working, dissecting computers, building Ethernet cables, and a CMS promo video shoot!

Learn more about these events, here: HERE

Have a great week! Make something awesome.