presents:
Help Hobby Shop Relocate
$23,690
raised by 92 people
$20,000 goal
About This Campaign
The Hobby Shop
For the past 85 years, the Hobby Shop has been the hub for craft in both woodworking and metal machining at MIT. We have fostered MIT’s spirit of learning-by-doing by providing tools, training, and assistance to any MIT student, faculty, staff, or alum with interest in turning their ideas into reality.
In early 2023, we will be relocating for the first time in over six decades. Our new space in the old MIT Museum Building will be a much more visible space, bringing the work of the Hobby Shop members front and center. With this move, our plans are to upgrade some of the machinery in order to further expand the capabilities of our members.
Impact
The SawStop table saw is one of the most heavily used and versatile machines in the wood shop. In the next iteration of the Hobby Shop, we hope to add a SawStop panel saw, which would allow us to cut full-sized sheets of ply safely and more accurately. We are also focused on replacing the band saw, disk sander, and wide belt sander. The replacements will likely be rebuilt, upgraded, heavy-duty Oliver machines.
What Your Support Will Do
The upgrade and addition of these tools will promote increased safety and efficiency in the Hobby Shop. We also believe that working with quality tools in a well-equipped shop promotes increased joy and creativity. Another generation of Hobby Shop members will appreciate your donation for many years to come.
Our Way of Thanking You
$20 and up
Your name in the logo (unlimited)
One of the benefits of having giant windows on Mass Ave will be having a place to display our new, yet-to-be-designed logo. We will include your name on the window graphics for a donation of $20 or more. Size will vary based on donation level.
$150
Hobby Shop T-Shirt (30 available)
The move to our new space will also come with upgraded branding. The Limited Edition MIT Hobby Shop 85th Anniversary T-Shirt will feature our yet-to-be-designed new logo.
$1,000
Large Artisan made Custom Bowl (5 available)
Hayami and Coby are both experienced bowl turners. We would be thrilled to make a bowl for you and engrave it with a message of appreciation for your donation. Available for the first five donors over $1,000. Bowls are limited.
$500–$3,000
Adopt a Machine (10 available)
A custom brass plaque with a message of your choosing will be attached to one of the Hobby Shop machines. Perhaps the planer has always spoken to you. Maybe you want to dedicate the drill press in honor of a friend, professor, colleague, or family member. Have you ever wanted to give the lathe a nickname? Maybe you want to share your favorite joke in a permanent way on the belt sander. This is your chance to make Hobby Shop history.
We will email you once your gift is verified to confirm important information based on your gift level.