ATHENS, Ohio — The Community Makerspace will hold its third Fix It Fest this Saturday, Dec. 7, with experts available to repair everything from small engines to lost buttons.
The event will take place at the makerspace at 751 W. Union St. in Athens starting at 10 a.m. Those needing help with repairs should reserve a 30-minute slot online or by calling 740-447-9014.
Ray Slater, one of the event organizers, said that the central idea is to teach members of the public how to repair wear and tear on everyday objects, rather than buying new ones.
“In order to prevent things from going to the landfill unnecessarily, we promote fixing rather than buying brand new,” Slater said. “With that in mind, we would like to have an opportunity for the public to meet individuals that can guide them through the fixing process or do it for free. That takes away a lot of financial barriers.”
Some pricier repairs may involve some cost, Slater said, but basic repairs like sewing on buttons or patching clothing will be done for free.
“For some things like bike repair, we might say, ‘Hey, go pick up this part and come back and I’ll install it for you,’” Slater said.
The makerspace is the perfect environment to host Fix It Fest, Slater said, because it is a gathering place for artists and craftsmen with tools, workshops and experts readily available.
“There’s lots of really awesome knowledgeable people that we partner with in the makerspace,” Slater said. “(Mindy King) happens to do sewing machine repair, she can diagnose any sewing machine you put in front of her. She doesn’t have a brick and mortar you can visit so Fix It Fest is really beneficial.”
King, a self-described “tinkerer” and Guysville resident, is a passionate supporter of Fix It Fest and the Community Makerspace.
“I have been volunteering from the start,” King said. “I strongly believe in the maker movement.”
King attributes her passion for repair to her childhood. She described how her parents, who lived through the Great Depression, instilled a belief that fixing and repairing is an important skill to have.
“I’m of an age in which I was taught sewing in home economics classes in school,” King said. “I had access to a sewing machine at home. It was a sewing machine with lots of issues and I developed a talent for figuring things out and fixing them.”
King abhors the modern “disposal economy,” in which products are intended to be replaced rather than reparable. It’s “downright immoral,” King said.
“We can’t keep going the way that we are,” King said. “With sewing machines more than any other piece of equipment, we don’t have the technology to re-create the quality equipment that was made half a century ago. The machines were made so well that the majority of them can be repaired.”
This is the third Fix It Fest hosted by the Community Makerspace. According to Slater, the group has made an effort to improve on each iteration of Fix It Fest.
“We suspect that this one will go a little differently, we learn from each event how to improve on the next one,” Slater said.
This time hopeful attendees are being asked to sign up for a time with their desired fixer to try and prevent a fixer from getting overwhelmed. Like previous Fix It Fests, electronic repair will not be offered.
“If it’s an expensive item, like phones or laptops, we don’t have the ability to guarantee it will be fixed properly,” Slater said. “There are also local businesses that specialize in that type of repair.”
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