Call for Woodtechs

Discussion
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Hello everyone,

The woodtech team is calling for volunteers to put themselves forward as woodtechs. This is a great way for experienced members to give back to one of our busiest areas and help keep the workshop safe and running smoothly.

Why are we asking for volunteers?

There are currently three techs, which is a smaller number than we’d like, and with membership now above 700 we have a capacity problem! This is a good problem to have, and one we can solve. We’ve also had two techs become directors in the last couple of years, and others move away with more changes to come in the near future.

Until now the woodtech team has tended to recruit by asking specific members with relevant experience, which worked well when SLMS was smaller. We’re taking this approach now to safely grow the team to four or five techs in addition to the inductor team.

What are you looking for?

Candidates must be a member in good standing and have been an active member for at least six months. You should be able to commit to at least two or three days a month as well as being available more frequently via discourse to help with enquiries and admin.

The role involves:

  • Managing health and safety in the woodshop
  • Managing documentation of tools, maintenance, and permissions
  • Inductions and assessments on tools
  • Helping members with projects and queries
  • Co-operating with techs in adjacent areas (including shared areas) to keep the space safe.

Anyone interested can message @woodtechs or reply to this post with the following:

  • Name and discourse handle
  • How long they’ve been a member
  • Any relevant experience

Relevant experience may include time spent in a trade or workshop environment, industry, H&S roles such as in labwork or schools, or just a passion for woodwork and can demonstrate on your own projects.

If you’re not sure, please get in touch anyway! We are looking first and foremost for the right attitude to safety - most other things can be taught.

How will you choose techs?

The current team will look at the list of volunteers and choose by unanimous agreement. This means all three current techs will agree that someone is suitable before picking them to be a tech, which mirrors the current approach.

Are there other ways to get involved besides being a tech?

Yes!

We are also actively looking for experienced volunteers to run basic inductions or help with assessments on bigger tools. Please message the techs or talk to us in the space.

We are always looking for anyone to help with general maintenance of tools and the space, including the air filters and scrap wood bins. Again, please message us or talk to us in the space.

Update to add:

Thanks to everyone who has responded, below and by DM. We are going to stick a poster about this on the door of the woodshop to make sure we’re reaching members who aren’t as active on discourse and allow a bit of time for them too.

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I can’t help with that but if wood techs ever just wanna shove a list of inductee names at me in a DM then I’d be happy to go and input them in the system for you.

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IHi Ed.

I’ll be at Makerspace a lot in the foreseeable future. People already think I am a Tech. I’ve always been health and safety oriented. I have been a member for nearly four years and have used nearly all the tools extensively and never damaged them and seek always to keep them in good repair. I try to be amicable and diplomatic and also treat everybody the same. I’ve done the jobs of maintenance that nobody else does. My troubleshooting skills are improving all the time. I have improved on storage solutions on my own initiatives and have taken the time to teach the skills I have to anyone in need of bolstering their own skills.

For the amount of time and love I have poured into Makerspace I am asked all the time why am I not a Tech. I have the confidence to step it up, this is my application.

Thanks for your consideration.

Keep Smiling

D

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@Riggerz is the best candidate, for sure.
I’ve seen hm going around helping anyone at any level of experience (myself included), without the blink of an eye. Always with a smile and an inclusive attitude.
He knows pretty much every tool in the shop, and I am sure if there is any nees to take things apart to fix and improve he will be perfectly capable to.

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Had a week off work and had no idea what I was doing woodworking, @Riggerz spent many hours guiding me through things, ended up making the measuring tape holder we have in the space at the moment. He would be a great woodtech!

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I’m fully in support of @Riggerz becoming a Wood Tech. Any help or advice I’ve seen him offer, whether in the woodshop or on Discourse, has always been spot on.

Whenever I’ve seen him working in the space, his machine setups have always been carefully considered, with safety at the forefront of what he’s doing.

I think he’d be a great addition to the Wood Tech team

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Hi Ed,

I’ve been an active member of SLMS since November last year, but I’ve been excited by woodworking since school, when I took it as a GCSE.

Since I’ve been at the space I always make a conscious effort to keep the place clean, look after and sharpen tools I’m using, and keep an eye on what’s going on around me. I’m not afraid to help people in the space with questions, or interrupt people using a tool in an unsafe manner, as I have done before. I can comfortably commit to at least 3 days a month in the space, as well as keeping an eye on Discourse for member queries and admin.

I always prioritise safety and thoroughness in how I operate. Before using tools like the table saw and thicknesser at home, I made sure to study every available safety video and read the manuals inside and out. I’m always eager to learn more, meticulous with setup, and keen to help keep the space’s machines well maintained.

Before I moved to London I volunteered as an indoor climbing instructor. There I taught adults and children how to do something practical, and potentially dangerous, in a safe manner. I also got to experience working on a team of volunteers running a CIC, similar to how SLMS operates. This background would translate directly into running clear, safety-focused tool inductions and assessments for members.

Happy woodworking,

Roshan :slightly_smiling_face:

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@Riggerz has been incredibly helpful any time I’ve tried some mad project involving wood. He’s also happy to explain why you do it a certain way.*

He’s always helping out at the workshop, it’s mad he’s not a tech already.

*The answer is usually so end the project with the same number of fingers.

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You can count on my vote for D!!! :star_struck:

He’s one of the most helpful and hive-mind individuals I’ve ever met, and offers his busy time freely to people in need, with 100% enthusiasm. Think he’d bring a lot to the space and it’s inhabitants as a Wood Tech :slight_smile:

Vote 4 @Riggerz

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I cant speak on wood related things, or really say anything about meat-space but on discourse I saw qualities in conflict resolution and de-escelation. when i poked my nose in and pointed out aspects of online communication which i felt worth commenting on, rather than blowing it up and making it into a big old mess, @Riggerz made sure to navigate that in a way i felt appropriate for Tech roles. a combination of being opinionated, not afraid to call something out, and yet still managed to make me feel like i had been heard and willing to take things on board. in my opinion that is the hallmark of someone who can lead, but also, possess the humility to drive things forward in a considerate and community spirited way.

besides, seeing all of these positive comments regarding what i see as extremely impressive qualities and demeanor, cements it for me.

so whilst i wont be in the woodshop reaping the rewards of having another outstanding tech, i believe that more good will be born out of the inspiration new members will experience and uplift the space as a whole. which, we do need, honestly.

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Thank you, for your kind, and humbling words, everybody.

I appreciate every one of you and the support you are sending my way.

On the other end, thus far, silence. I don’t wonder why.

Keep Smiling

D

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Good morning all,

Just to provide an update on this thread and emphasise the process that’s been laid out:

Posters went up on Saturday so we’re now at that stage.

Kind regards
Ed

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Hi all,

I’m MNU, a member since June 2023. I wanted to reach out about the woodtech call — it’s something I’m genuinely interested in longer-term, but before putting myself forward I need to get properly inducted on the table saw, band saw, and planer-thicknesser at SLMS — I’ve never actually been signed off on these here, despite prior hands-on experience with them from time at the Remakery Brixton.

I’ve got free time at the moment and wood of my own to work through, so I want to get this sorted soon and become a regular user of the space again. Happy to arrange induction/assessment slots for those three machines — once I’ve rebuilt that and I’m a regular in the shop, I’d like to revisit the tech role. I’ll also keep an eye on the general induction/maintenance volunteering mentioned in the post.

Thanks,
MNU

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@Riggerz is a great candidate. Always friendly and happy to share his knowledge , community minded and very dedicated. Keep up the good work D!

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