The Freight HouseRochford

Hackspace

East Essex Hackspace at the Freight House: a community workshop with tools you can use.

East Essex Hackspace websiteHackspace events

Find the workshop entrance with what3words: ///powder.locate.robot

A workshop with tools you can use

A hackspace (sometimes called a makerspace) is a shared workshop run by its members. You pay a monthly membership, get an induction on each area, and then use the tools and machines for your own projects, with other members around to learn from.

East Essex Hackspace is a registered charity (number 1190927) run entirely by volunteers. Areas include:

  • Wood: bench tools, a table saw, band saw and lathe. TODO: confirm equipment.
  • Metal: welding, a milling machine and a metal lathe. TODO: confirm equipment.
  • 3D printing and CNC routing.
  • Electronics: soldering stations, test equipment and components.
  • Laser cutting for wood, acrylic and card.
  • Computer lab and a general workbench area.

Open nights

TODO: confirm open night days and times. Open nights are the best way to see the space, meet members and ask questions. No booking is needed.

Membership, inductions and safety

Membership is monthly and gives you a key fob for access. Before using a machine you complete an induction with an experienced member; most take under an hour. Some equipment, such as the laser cutter and welding, has its own induction.

For membership rates, the equipment list, inductions and the rules, see the East Essex Hackspace website, the wiki and the Discord server linked from it. This page is a starting point rather than a copy of theirs.

Hawkwell and the Freight House

East Essex Hackspace currently operates from a space in Hawkwell. TODO: confirm what is moving to the Freight House, what is being added, and whether the Hawkwell space continues.

Accessibility

The workshop has specific hazards: noise, dust, fumes from some processes, and moving machinery. Ear defenders, eye protection and dust masks are provided. If you have an access need, talk to a member on an open night or email [email protected]; adaptations can usually be worked out. TODO: confirm which floor the workshop is on and whether it is step-free. See the building access statement.