Post #3925163

2026-07-19 02:51 UTC

Had a Repair Cafe today! The local library hosts one every quarter. This was the second one and we had 50 people show up! We're hoping to start offering it more frequently, they're just ramping up. I was there for bike repair. I used to have a solid kit built out, but lost a lot of my tools in previous moves, so I'm building it out again. I had two bikes that came in today. I tuned rear derailleurs and break lines. Swapped out some break pads. Pumped up tires and did sole basic cleaning. I made a note to bring some CLP and rags for the next go around as cleaning off gunk solves a lot of problems. I was backup for laptop repairs and Linux installs (the local Linux Install Party showed up!) but focused mainly on bikes. I met some folks. One person from a local church group that is interested in maybe hosting a free fridge or otherwise volunteering with my food group and a person from the town's green initiative that is interested in personally working with my food group. There is a lot of overlap with various mutual aid groups. You get started with one and you end up learning about all the others! It was a good day. #solarPunk #solarPunkSunday #repairCafe #repairClinic

Replies (6)

@Maker_of_Things@cupoftea.social 2026-07-19 09:52

@tinker@infosec.exchange I love Repair Cafes. Sue and I do two in Manchester at the moment. We used to do four, one every Saturday, but we now do them fortnightly. I was the first (only) volunteer repairer at the first Manchester repair cafe about 10 or 11 years ago! Since then I have helped support the start up of four or five others. We are planning a move to Wales, and we will probably do it all again!

Open ##3931396
@birdwainer@infosec.exchange 2026-07-19 12:43

@tinker@infosec.exchange I'd love to start something like this in my town, particularly because the nearest places with actual bike mechanics are a decent drive away. 2 questions for you: 1. What is a good way to go about getting the word out about something like this? 2. How do you figure out the supplies aspect of it? I'm thinking like brake pads, cables, that sort of thing.

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@polarweasel@hachyderm.io 2026-07-19 07:22

@tinker@infosec.exchange Right on! We just started up a repair cafe in Nanaimo, BC, this spring. Three events so far, and each has been smoother than the last. I’m running the kids’ take it apart table with my teenager, repairing sewing machines, and available for repair overflow from other tables. We’re having so much fun! Next one is in September, and I’m already looking forward to it.

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@sh1r0n4@infosec.exchange 2026-07-19 03:05

@tinker@infosec.exchange Those are some great folks right there. Wonder if that kind of activities would work in my neighborhood.

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@fullywoolly@mastodon.social 2026-07-19 03:59

@tinker@infosec.exchange sounds like a great turn out and what a mix of skills!

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@XauriEL@mastodon.nz 2026-07-19 06:03

@tinker@infosec.exchange I'd love to start a repair cafe in my city if I only had any organizational skill, free time, or ability to repair anything

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