Existing members, please head over to Pay Dues and Accounts to manage your profile, make changes, and to pay your membership dues.
To become a member of the Solid State Depot, you must do the following:
- Visit the Boulder Hackerspace on a Tuesday Evening, (7:30pm - 9:00pm, during the open house) to meet the current Board members and Officers. THESE ARE VIRTUAL CURRENTLY.
- Read and agree to the membership agreement.
- Read and agree to the liability waiver.
- Submit your membership application to SSD and arrange a safety tour.
- Pay dues at signup!
Once you completed the aforementioned steps, you are a member! Congratulations!
Upon becoming a member, you will receive the following:
Keycard for access! (Coming to the Tuesday Meetup is the best way to grab this)
Wi-fi password!
Also, you should be aware of the Solid State Depot's Bylaws as well as the general rules.
Access to the Space
Last Person to Leave
If you are the last person to leave the space, be sure to lock all doors, turn off lights, turn off the music server, and turn off any other equipment.
Getting Trained
For getting trained on equipment at the space, contact an administrative member or send a shout-out to the Google Group mailing list requesting training/assistance.
Interacting and Being a Part of the Hackerspace
Go to classes and events! Register on meetup.com/SolidStateDepot so we know you’re coming!
Work on space improvement projects!
Teach classes or hold meetups! You can create new Meetup.com events for the Solid State Depot online!
Become a part of the administrative group for the Solid State Depot.
Safety First
Be cautious. Respect power tools and potentially dangerous equipment.Wear safety goggles and safety gear.
Please check our Safety First page for full safety information.
Staying Connected and Informed
Google Group Mailing ListMeetup Events
If you need login credentials for any of the aforementioned online venues, please contact an admin at boulderhackerspace@gmail.com.
If for any reason you cannot see the information on this page, please view directly on our wiki.
Why?
The easiest way to sum up the issue of safety in our space is a simple question:
do you:
- want to look stupid (by having what you perceive to be a dumb question and asking it)
- or be proven to be stupid (by having what you perceive to be a dumb question, not asking it, assuming you can handle it, goofing it up, lighting something on fire, losing a finger, or some other action that could have been avoided had you chosen #1 instead.)
What we're here to do is cool. What we love to do is cool. It comes with inherent risk because we must use tools that are powerful to accomplish our goals. There's basic safety knowledge that if we follow, will keep us doing cool things. If we don't, it will only take one incident to take the fun out of it. We're smart people, so let's act like it, k? If in doubt about something, please consult others.
This page is here to start the conversation about our safety procedures, rules, practices, whatever you want to call them. This is a work in progress, so some sections are bare-bones, please fill in with details as you see fit.
General Safety
Items for this section:
- Waivers.
- Acceptance of risk
- Minors and permission of their guardian
- Location of safety devices, Obvious markers for them.
- Agreed methods of dealing with any of those that disobey the basic rules, and pose a hazard to the people, the tools, and the 'space.
- Safety Fund
Tool Safety
Skill determination
Items to be discussed for this section:
- A skill rating system, something akin to the green/blue/black/double_black ski slope nomenclature
- who is trained in the use of the tool, ask them to train you first
- easier tools simply have a list of do's and don'ts, common sense stuff that is good to repeat for good measure
- Three types of safety to consider:
- Your safety
- The tool's safety - don't overload the tool, don't use it in inappropriate ways that will damage it, etc.
- The safety of others around you - don't use a saw in a way that could throw something into someone if it catches, etc.
Incoming tool inspections
With all the new tools we have been getting and may get as donations in the future, for the love of Pete, DON'T PLUG THEM IN YET. Please look over the tool, inspect it, and have a second set of eyes look it over too. Remember, if you got the tool for cheap/free, there might have been a darn good reason for it. Don't become a victim, spare a few moments, and spare an eyeball/finger/toe/life. Please doublecheck the following:
- Are all the parts to it there?
- If not, is it still considered to be in working condition if the missing parts are missing? No? STOP HERE.
- If powered, is the source of power under control?
- No frayed power cables, no loose connections
- If electrical, does it have a fuse or power breaker?
- No leaky pneumatics or hydraulics
- No leaky/faulty propane/gas lines
- If any of these exist, please STOP HERE. Determine if it can be fixed before proceeding to use.
- Is there a clear way to stop the tool once in operation?
- What else?
Specific Tool Guidelines, Teachers, Considerations
For now, this is just an inventory of current tools:
- drill press
- hammer drill
- regular drill
- grinder
- hot air gun
- lathe
- router
- sander
- band saw
- miter saw
- table saw
- soldering stations
Workspace Safety
Keeping spaces clear
- Please don't just clean up your items, but also clean up the tools, and any detritus left from your work.
- Don't just return your tools, maintain them. it's easier on a per-use basis, rather than when it breaks down.
Site Safety
This includes topics related to the lockup of the space, security, and protection of our stuff from external elements.
Undoubtedly, we might be getting the attention of others, given that we are beginning to gather tools in one place. While we shouldn't be paranoid, we do need to take some precautions to keep our stuff from walking off. Remember, we've worked hard to get what we have, be it paid for or scored by dumpster diving recycling or con artist persuasion skills.
If you find yourself being the last person leaving the space at any time of day and locking up, please check that:
- soldering stations are off
- front door (facing south) is fully latched
- food/drink cleared, closed, put away (to prevent mice/insect infestation)
- lights, tv, any other non-essential equipment is turned off
Chemical Safety
Flammables
Solvents and acids
Storage
We might need a storage cabinet. We need to also determine what can't be stored together, say, if the fumes react and cause problems.
Use, Fumes and ventilation
While using the chemicals, what safety do we need to consider? Containment? Even weaker acids pose problems. Do we need to build a fume hood?
Disposal
Not down the sink!
First Aid
For basic first aid supplies, check under the bathroom sink and/or in the medicine cabinet.
Additional first aid supplies needed, TBA
Fire Safety
Extinguishers are located throughout the premises, follow instructions on these, always be safe when it comes to fire hazards and err on the side of caution.