We are pleased to announce our tool draft picks for 2014! Through donations and purchases we have added a huge diversity of tools to our inventory over the holidays to welcome our members to the new year. For the Tool Library’s 2014 season, we have added:
– Countless replacement saw blades, router bits, sand paper and drill bits
So many sexy cases and sets and kits! Stay tuned as we pursue the much-vaunted steam-cleaner and rotary hammer in the coming month. Many thanks to those of you who donated some of the tools listed above, and thanks to all of our members for supporting us into our 3rd year.
Written by The Vancouver Tool Library, January 04th, 2014 | No Comments »
This year, give your friends and family the gift of an entire tool shed at their disposal: a membership to the Vancouver Tool Library! A VTL membership and annual fee will allow your loved one to access the more than 1200 tools in our inventory. So put down that sweater, turn away from the mall, and buy a membership right here and now.
If you order by December 20th, we will print off the membership for pick up during the shop’s opening hours on Saturday December 21st. Or – if you want to print off the membership at home, order right up until Santa slides down the chimney.
Use the button below if the recipient is not yet a member. You can give them the co-op share alone, or the co-op membership share and one year’s maintenance fees at our standard or student/low-income rate.
Use the button below if the recipient is already a member of the VTL. You can give them one year’s maintenance fees at either our standard or student/low-income rate which will come into effect when their current maintenance fees expire.
Please note that while a $20 co-op membership gives a member discounts on our workshop series and the ability to participate in governance of the VTL, an annual maintenance fee is required for a member to borrow tools.
Written by The Vancouver Tool Library, December 14th, 2013 | No Comments »
Every month, we feature a project created by a different Vancouver Tool Library member. This month, we’re talking to Tom about his homemade composite downhill skis.
What inspired you to make your own skis?During the first major snowfall of the 2005-2006 ski season, I broke my ankle. I was choked that it would mean several months of recovery and I would miss most of the ski season. I needed a project to get my mind off of the injury. At the time I had been looking for a project that involved steam-bending wood. As I started doing research, I found some online resources for making composite downhill skis. My good friend Malcolm was equally intrigued, so we decided to see if we could each make a set. Why not try and make something we would actually use?
How did you learn the required skills?The skills for making skis are fairly similar to basic woodworking skills. If you know your way around basic power tools, you’re most of the way there. Lucky for me, Malcolm had experience in vacuum moulding and I learnt a lot from him for this step of the process. We followed the basic steps shown on skibuilders.com, but the actual skills are being gradually refined by trial and error. With each subsequent pair of skis we make, we try to improve on the processes that didn’t work well on the previous pair. Though it seems that each improvement brings a new challenging problem, I’d like to think that eventually we’ll have a product that looks and performs just like a commercially available ski.
What tools did you use?The typical tools are a planer, table saw, jig saw, router, drill, digital calipers, and lots of clamps. We also had to make a few tools, including the ski template, mould and core profiler. The specialized tools are the vacuum moulding equipment. We were lucky to have a 1970’s era vacuum pump that was slated for recycling end up in our hands. It’s a bit old but works like a charm.
What was your favourite part of the process? TESTING! No doubt that putting on your pair of home-made skis and going for the first run is the most satisfying part of the process. I try to ski my homemade skis aggressively so that I can learn where their weak points are (essentially, I try to break them). My second favourite part of the process is lay-up. This is when all the components of the skis are ready and it’s time to put them all together (steel edges, base, fibreglass, core, top sheet) in a big epoxy sandwich. It’s the most critical part in the process when you can’t make a mistake. Once the epoxy is mixed, it’s only a matter of time before the epoxy cures so everything has to be ready to go.
Any advice for folks embarking on the same project? Start online with the amazing free resource skibuilders.com to get an idea of what is involved. My second piece of advice is to start simple. Try to duplicate a pair of skis that you already like to ski on, and compare how your skis perform to them. My third piece of advice is: be patient. At least triple the amount of time you think you’ll need to make your first pair. My last piece of advice is to keep your building components clean and dust free. When you come to the lay-up part of the process, each material must be clean and free of dust in order to get a good bond between all the layers.
Does this feature have you itching to hit the slopes? Get prepared for the skiing and snowboarding season with our Tune Your Skis and Snowboard Workshop on November 15th! Register in the shop or online.
Written by The Vancouver Tool Library, October 22nd, 2013 | No Comments »
Here’s hoping you have the right tools for the job, because we are CLOSED on Sunday, October 13th for the long weekend! If you have tools due back on Sunday, lucky you! You can keep them until Tuesday with no late fees. Have a great long weekend folks!
Written by The Vancouver Tool Library, October 10th, 2013 | No Comments »
Hit the slopes knowing that your gear is in great shape after our Snowboard & Ski Tune-Up Workshop. You’ll be making sharper turns and slaloms for the upcoming season!
After this workshop, participants will leave with the confidence to use our waxing and tuning tool set at their own home. The workshop will focus mainly on downhill skis and snowboards; most of the information being taught will be transferable to cross-country skis. Facilitator Sean Hillis will go through basic waxing and edge tuning/maintenance techniques, then your new skills will be put to work through lots of practice!
Facilitator: Sean Hillis
When: Sunday, November 17th, 1pm-3pm
Where: The Vancouver Tool Library, 3448 Commercial Street
Cost: $15 for VTL Members | $20 for Non-Members
What to Bring: You are welcome to bring your skis or snowboard. All other materials will be provided. The workshop will take place outside so wear comfortable, tighter-fitting clothing that is weather appropriate.
Questions? Email manager [at] vancouvertoollibrary [dot] com
Advance registration is required! Please pre-pay and sign up through the PayPal button below or come into the shop to register. Refunds are available up to 48 hours before the workshop begins.
Workshop Registrants: Please include your email address in the PayPal form!This is how we’ll contact you with any workshop updates and to confirm your registration. Note that VTL Members will be required to present their member cards at the workshop.
Written by The Vancouver Tool Library, October 09th, 2013 | No Comments »
