Vancouver Hack Space

A community passionate about making, hacking and sharing. A wide range of tools from electronics, sewing, wood working, metal turning and lasers!Only regularly on Tuesdays to the public if you want to take a peek. Regular member run workshops on a variety of topics: soldering, laser/3d printer operation, fun crafts for kids and more.To whoever says this place is toxic, wow. I get the exact opposite feeling at VHS. It's been a very accepting community for me.

Every time I visit VHS I go with questions, and if no one there can answer them, they surely can point me in the right direction. For me, I have all the tools I need, VHS is about the collective knowledge at hand, and there is plenty of it. The knowledge there hits areas of metal and wood working to electronics and automation, to textile and paper crafts. It is a diverse group of people who are generally all willing to help.

I've only been once so far for a weekly open house, but I had a good experience. I don't have much experience with DIY projects so I was a bit intimidated going in, but the people there were very helpful and welcoming to newcomers. (Thank you, Steve!) The space is well-equipped with quite a lot of machinery and supplies.

VHS has been a great community for me. There's a great assortment of people and equipment. You could spend years learning all the tools and projects that go on here.The community is top notch. A member helped me find meaningful work, others have taught classes on electronics, mapping (GIS) software, casting, woodworking, and many other topics.I love hanging out here and seeing who comes through the door. As long as I live in Vancouver I'll be a member of VHS.

If you like to make things, VHS is the place to be! You can turn pretty much any idea into reality here, a great resource for anyone who could use a workshop for DIY projects. I've been a member since the move to the new location, and I can say there's awesome people, useful tools/supplies, and an overall great time to be had.

Come for the tools, stay for the community.Most people come to Vancouver Hack Space (VHS) because they have a project to work on, something to fix, or are in need of some tool. While the assortment of tools is great, what really shines is how deep the wealth of knowledge runs in the membership.In my membership, I've learned to build circuits, make wooden instruments, use CNC mills, turn metal, knit, crochet, cast plastic, program micro controllers, and build power tools. Every single thing I do at the backspace, there's always someone with a unique perspective, years of experience, or a genuine passion for working through problems that I have been able to make use of.VHS is a wonderful community, and if you are looking for a fun and exciting environment that is quirky, energetic, and full of people making cool things, I can't recommend VHS enough. Vancouver wouldn't be the same to me without it.

If you like to make things, this is the best $60/month you can spend in the lower mainland. Laser cutter, 3-D printers, welding shop, large project work area, wood shop, machine shop, sewing area with a big clean layout table, painting and mould-making area with vacuum degassers etc... and if there's something you need but don't have, odds are there are other people looking for the same tool, so you can get in together on a group buy/build.It's a true community in the best sense of the word. The people are friendly, genuine, and enthusiastic, and that's a precious thing in Vancouver. The online hive-mind (talk.vanhack.ca) is a great resource for problem solving. There is also a Slack workspace for members that is quite active.You can use the space and some of the tools for free (or by donation) on Tuesday evenings, but if you're into making things, you'll want to join to get access to the really cool tools.The space if fully volunteer-run, which allows the membership dues to be kept low. This opens the membership up to people who want to experiment and have fun with their making, rather than just people who are running small businesses.The net result is a greater variety of people than you get at other makerspaces. (Hence the awesome hive-mind) Lots of tech-sector and film industry people, but also a good cross section of people from other fields.

I've supported the VHS for almost a decade, and it has been a pleasure to watch this community grow and thrive through that time. I have brought friends, and made friends, and always enjoy my visits. The community is very welcoming, and supportive, they have helped me broaden my own skills as a maker, and I try to help others broaden theirs as well. A membership here is more than just 'access to tools', but is in fact more like a backstage pass to the most diverse and inclusive community of makers in Vancouver. My children also love to visit this eclectic playground of robots and LEDs, and there is no shortage of learning experiences for them here.

VHS has been a welcoming and empowering place for me. I have been able to complete several projects here using the tools available and have even run a few workshops. The community here is the biggest draw by far. Members are always available to help out if you need. Honestly, this place is such a gem.

I feel like VHS unlocked my creativity in a very special way. I never really imagined myself as creative - I could code, but that was the extent of it. I joined VHS because I had a project to work on, but in doing so I now feel like I can create nearly anything I can think of. I learned how to design 3D models, how to use graphic design software, how to make silicone molds, how to use a CNC, program arduinos, and so much more. With that knowledge I've built my own 3D printer, made lasercut art, built a DIY injection molder for VHS (with a friend I met at VHS), designed and built a rabbit hutch, and more.I didn't have any of these skills before, and honestly probably never would have had them without VHS. The community is so supportive and the breadth of knowledge is so wide, that there is almost definitely someone who can help you with whatever you want to do. I can't recommend VHS highly enough, it has made a hugely positive impact on my life. If you like to make things, like to learn, or want a sense of community - join VHS.