Nothing says "I'm hot" like a plasma cutter!

Nothing says "I'm hot" than a plasma cutter!  Making recycled garden art at the Ladies' Welding class at the Columbus Idea Foundry, Columbus, Ohio.   Photos/graphics: Casey McCarty

Recently I started volunteering with the Columbus Idea Foundry, which is a brilliant collective workshop space in which community artisans, students, and hobbyists can partake of an exciting plethora of tools: from welding to wood shop, metal work, 3D printing, CNC, laser cutting and etching, a dark room, glass shop, blacksmithing and much more.

Inside, you'll find dozens of creative entrepreneurs that call the CIF home, either as their full-time gig or their side businesses.  Artisans make everything from all natural handmade wooden children's toys at Little Alouette (visit their site here) to recycled metal artist Allison Meade's furniture and sculpture creations ot Old Soul Studio (check her out here).  There's the fun meets functional small business solution specialists at ReFab (visit their site here) who have designed things such as pop up store POS and display sets, signage, bamboo laptop trays, iPad mounts and more.  The in-house SignForge can handle all kinds of printing and banner needs, and many, many more (see a list of current businesses here).

No matter what your interest, you can find classes that will help you get started:  take a welding/plasma cutter class (you can even take a ladies' only version with Allison), bladesmithing, create dichroic glass jewelry, stained glass, black & white, tabletop or cyanotype photography, learn how to cast bronze or pewter, learn how to laser cut wood or laser etch glass and metal, and much more (see a complete class listing here).

There's always something going on and something being made. Learn more at www.columbusideafoundry.com.  It's easy to come check the place out--we've recently organized some volunteer-run open hours where perspective members can learn more and take a tour.  We're at 1158 Corrugated Way, Columbus OH 43201.  You can email cifscheduling@gmail.com for the current week's open hours, or call 614-299-IDEA.