Great DIY projects are often easy to do at home, but many require tools and space that you may not have. Just because you don't have a basement workshop doesn't mean you don't get to scratch your DIY itch. Odds are there's a hackerspace in your community, stocked with tools, plenty of space, safety gear, and knowledgeable people willing to help you. These spaces offer would-be makers a place to go and safely experiment, tinker, and dream. Here's how you can find and get involved with one near you.

What Is a "Hackerspace?"

Put simply, a hackerspace (or hackspace) is a shared workspace where you can tackle DIY projects you wouldn't normally be able to because you don't have the space or materials. Very often, those spaces are loaded with tools, training classes, and other experienced members willing to help you get your projects off the ground. Whether you're hacking IKEA furniture or making your own electronics, a hackerspace can provide you with everything you need to get started, as long as you bring the materials, the idea, and the motivation to make it happen. Photo by Mitch Altman.

Why Would I Want to Join a Hackerspace?

Dr. Lindsay Levkoff, Director of Education at SparkFun Electronics explains:

Hackerspaces are designed to have an encouraging and inclusive environment so people of all skill levels feel comfortable. People who are just getting started will benefit from various educational opportunities like classes and workshops, and the act of designing, building and creating are incredible ways of building confidence. The sharing aspect of hackerspaces provides incredible resources that most people cannot afford on their own.

Many hackerspaces have machinery like welders, laser cutters, sewing machines, and various other tools. Aside from the physical resources, hackerspaces are also full of incredibly talented people who are happy to share their knowledge.

For example, among all of the other cool things at this year's Maker Faire in San Francisco, educator and Mythbusters host Adam Savage delivered an eloquent argument in support of the DIY community (embedded at the top of this post), not only because it offers a creative outlet, but because DIY projects encourage critical thinking. If you've been looking for a way to do just that, or you just wish you had a place to go to work on your pet project, a hackerspace is for you. Thankfully, they're plentiful, easy to find, and easy to join.

How Do I Find a Hackerspace Near Me?

To find a local hackerspace, head over to Hackerspaces.org, a community-maintained wiki with an always up-to-date list of locations around the globe you can join. If you're interested in starting or getting involved in a new hackerspace, the "all spaces" list will show you planned spaces and ones just getting off the ground.

Finding a space is easy, but finding out whether it's the right space for you is a different issue. Check out the events list to see if the hackerspaces near you are hosting anything you'd be interested in. Make sure to visit your local space's web site to find out what type of space they are, how to become a member, and what dues they may charge. Some hackerspaces focus on DIY electronics and crafting projects, others focus on traditional network and computer hacking, and others blend both into the same space. You'll want to make sure the space you choose lines up with what you want to do before dropping by for a visit—and you definitely want to visit before you sign up to become a member.

What Should I Know Before Getting Involved?

Before you become a member at your local hackerspace, here are some things to keep in mind:

• Visit your local hackerspace's web site. Many are run entirely by volunteers, or a by a non-profit group. Reach out to the space's management and find out how you can get involved.
• See if you can visit before you sign up so you can get a feel for the location. Most spaces have open houses where the public is invited to come and see the facility, take tours, and sign up to become members. Take advantage! Photo by Nottingham Hackspace.
• Let them know what types of projects you're interested in working on, and ask if the hackerspace is well suited to those types of projects. Do they have space available for your new wi-fi hacking passion, or your sudden desire to build replica props from your favorite TV shows? Are there other members who have similar passions and can help you?
• Ask how much it costs to become a member, and how frequently those dues are paid. What do you get in exchange for those dues (free access to the facility, tools, or classes, perhaps?)
• When and how often is the space open? Many hackerspaces are only open after-hours, when volunteers can break away from work or school to open and manage the space. Do those hours work for you?
• How inclusive is the space? Do members welcome people of all skill levels, and regularly help one another with their projects, or does everyone generally keep to themselves? Which answer suits you best?

Dr. Levkoff explained that those new to the DIY/hackerspace community "Start with a few smaller scale projects that can be completed without too much hassle. It is really rewarding to see a few projects through to completion. Once you have a few projects under your belt the sky is the limit." Photo by Mitch Altman.

Whether you want to sell your work on Etsy or you just want to build your own desk, or maybe make it height adjustable, most hackerspaces will have the tools to help you customize your gear to your needs, or build something from scratch that's better than anything you could get at a store.

Get Involved and Start Making

All of us at have at some point thought to ourselves that our desk, bed, entertainment center, or bookshelf would be perfect if it just had this thing, or some feature we wish we could add to it. Normally we have to suck it up and live with what we have, but being a member at a hackerspace means you don't have to settle for the things you buy or see on store shelves as they are. You can tweak to your heart's content, experiment with new projects, and let the DIY enthusiast in you bloom. Best of all, if you don't know how to make your idea real, there's probably someone there who can help you learn. Photo by Ash Berlin.

Are you a member at a hackerspace in your community? Do you have any other tips for people looking to get involved? Share your tips—and some of the DIY projects that got you started—in the comments below.

Lindsay Levkoff, Ph.D. is Director of Education at SparkFun Electronics, and a passionate maker herself. She volunteered her expertise for this post, and we thank her.

Title photo by SFBlogg.com.

If you constantly find yourself needing to dig through your big tool chest for a simple job, this Hammer/Screwdriver combination tool is the perfect space-saving tool to keep in your desk for those small jobs.

The tool is a small hammer that opens up to reveal four screwdrivers of varying sizes inside—almost like a Russian Nesting Doll, but for tools. It probably won't get you through a home remodeling project, but it's perfect for tons of little jobs that don't warrant a trip to the workshop. I actually had one of these in the house for most of my life, and it was incredibly useful—and at only $20, there's no reason not to have one in your desk (or in the kitchen, or anywhere else you might need a tool like this). Hit the link to check it out.

Hammer Screwdriver Combination Tool | via Uncrate

Have you ever spent a silly amount of time carefully pulling out tiny fish bones? It's annoying, but cooking blog The Kitchn suggests the easiest way to get those little bones out is by grabbing a set of needle nose pliers from your toolbox.

Chances are you don't keep your toolbox in your kitchen, but this might be a pretty good excuse to start. Start by laying the fish skin-side down and start finding the bones. Next, grab the tip of the bone with your pliers and gently pull the bone out. Repeat the process until all the bones are out and get to cooking. It sure beats pulling them out by hand. Anyone else use tools for kitchen duties? Share your own uses in the comments.

How to Remove Pin Bones from Fish Fillets | The Kitchn

Keeping your knives sharp isn't just convenient; it's safe. Any chef will tell you that dull knives cause accidents. But how to keep your blades sharp without calling in the neighborhood knife sharpener or taking them into the local butcher (which is a perfectly good place to start, by the way)? The DIY experts at Stack Exchange have your answer(s).

Photo by Stack Exchange.

Question:

I have a sharpening stone like the one seen to the right, but I'm not certain how to use it. A few questions:

- What is the proper way to sharpen a knife with a stone like this?

- Do I need any other tools?

- Do I need any protective equipment?

- Do I have to use some type of oil?

- Is it better to go fast, or slow?

- Is the procedure different with a knife that has never been sharpened before?

- Do I have to do anything different if the blade has rust on it?

- How do I know when the knife is sharp?

— Tester101 (originally asked here)

Answer: The Long Answer(s)

It is very hard to describe knife sharpening via text. I'd recommend searching out a few YouTube videos for tips on technique. That said, here's my two cents:

What is the proper way to sharpen a knife with a stone like this?

If the knife is already sharp and you're just touching up, start with one of the fine stones. If not, start with the coarsest. Work your way from coarser to finer. Put some oil on the stone, put the edge of the knife on the stone at the angle you want (try to match the existing angle), then stroke the knife along the stone as if you're trying to remove a fine shaving of stone. Pull the knife as you do it to sharpen the entire edge.

Do I need any other tools?

No. A jig for keeping the sharpening angle can help, but most likely wouldn't be usable with a stone like this.

Do I need any protective equipment?

No, but be very wary of where your fingers are, and where the edge can go if you slip. Keep your fingers out of that area.

Do I have to use some type of oil?

With most stones, yes, lubricant must be used to carry away the swarf, or metal particles. Diamond and Japanese-style waterstones should generally be used with water. But with the stone shown above, I would use vegetable oil. Veggie oil can go rancid, but cooking knives are used and washed often enough that this shouldn't be an issue.

Is it better to go fast, or slow?

Slow. I like to take long strokes along the whole edge, concentrating on keeping my angle consistent. I use about a 20 degree angle on kitchen knives.

Is the procedure different with a knife that has never been sharpened before?

Only that you would probably start on a coarser stone.

Do I have to do anything different if the blade has rust on it?

Remove the rust first with fine sandpaper.

How do I know when the knife is sharp?

There are many ways to test. There is the old newspaper test, where you hold a piece of newsprint in one hand and cut it with the other. Also, you can try shaving your arm hair until you run out :) And here are a few other suggestions at Stack Exchange.

— Answered by JoeFish

Answer: The Clever Shortcut

Forget the stone. Turn an old cup upside down and run the blade across the bottom of it first on one side and then the other. You will be surprised at how sharp it gets. I learned this from my granny. It's quick, easy and cheap.

— Answered by mike feeney

Answer: The Sharpie Trick

The hardest part of sharpening a knife for the first time is finding the right angle. Maintaining that angle isn't so hard once you get used to it. Once you have some experience, you'll be able to tell by the sound and feel of the edge sliding across the stone.

If you place the knife at a shallower angle than the edge, and slowly tilt it to a steeper angle, you can see your oil or water squeeze out from under the edge and form a thin line along the edge just as you reach the correct angle.

Another trick is to run a Sharpie or other permanent marker along the edge. As you remove material, keep checking to see if you're removing all of the black from the edge. If there's still some marker along the "blade side" of the edge, your angle is too steep. If there's still some along the "air side" of the edge, your angle is too shallow.

I usually start with either my coarse or medium stone, depending on how dull the knife is to begin with. I do five strokes on each side, then four, then three, two, and one. If I started with the coarse stone, I move to the medium stone at this point and repeat the process.

To see if it's sharp, I use my fingernail. I run my thumbnail perpendicular to the edge of the blade. If it catches, I know it's sharp enough to move on to my finest stone. If not, I do another ten strokes (switching sides between each stroke) on the medium stone and test again.

— Answered by Adam Jaskiewicz

Answer: Odds and Ends

Another good test for sharpness of a knife is to hold the edge straight up so you can look along it. With a light above you (a point source of light would be best), look for any reflected light from the edge. A dull knife will show a visible reflection. Only once my knife passes the reflection test do I bother to test cutting paper with it.

For coarse sharpening, I like diamond stones, in two different grits depending on how much sharpening must be done. These are nice because water is a good lubricant. Once I get past that point, I use a ceramic stone to touch up the edge. If the knife is close to being sharp, I'll skip the diamond stones completely.

Of course, always take care when sharpening a knife. Hold the edge in a way so you will not carelessly slice your hands while sharpening.

— Answered by woochips

Answer: In Conclusion...

Sharp tools and knives are a joy to work with and produce faster, better results, and do so safely.

The best book on the subject is The Complete Guide to Sharpening. My library has a copy, so check there first.

With good practice, anyone can learn to sharpen well. But you'll need to be able to recognize a sharp edge, correct honing angles, and learn how long to hone at each step. Developing those skills with tools you're trying to work with can be very frustrating. Consider paying someone to sharpen for you to give you something to compare to, and pick one tool or knife to learn on as you go.

Kitchen knives are generally difficult to sharpen because they have a changing-radius curve. Getting the right angle can be difficult. But once your knives are sharp, take care to keep them that way. Make sure the food you cut is supported by a surface that is softer than the knife, like a bamboo cutting board. Use a honing steel to touch up the edge often. Avoid pushing a knife through food (like an axe). Instead, draw your knife back and forth (like a saw). Don't let the sharp edge bump in to dishes or other utensils when washing your knife. Protect it from rust by drying it quickly and oiling it if you don't plan to use it for a while. And be careful about where you store sharp edges - knives don't belong in drawers.

— Answered by Jay Bazuzi

Think you know the secret to sharpening a knife? Leave your suggestion in the comments or submit it at Stack Exchange, an expert knowledge exchange on diverse topics from software programming to cycling to scientific skepticism.