Not a Tool Library Member yet? Dip your toes in, the water’s fine!

Want to get your hands on some DTL tools but not sure how many projects you’ll really want to do in a year? Well, my friend, we’ve got a membership just for you.

It’s the One Time Project Checkout Checkout, and it’s only $40. That means for just $40, you can borrow up to 10 tools (3 of which can be power tools) for one week. 

It’s the perfect amount to tackle that chunky little project you've been putting off to [insert CO outdoor activity here] all summer! Build a chicken coop, show those fall leaves who’s boss, rehang that door that don’t close no more. Anything is possible (for a week) with the DTL One Time Project Checkout.

The great news is, if your trial week in the DTL cult has you drinking the kool aid and wanting to join at the annual level, you can transfer the $40 from your One Time towards it.

So is this just a gateway membership, you ask?! Absolutely!! That’s okay, don’t fight it. Begin the slippery slope of DIY at the DTL today.

With your One Time Project Checkout, you get…

  • 10 tools

  • 3 can be power tools

  • 1 week

  • for $40

That $40 can be used towards cost of annual membership when you decide to go all in!

Our Electricity Home Renovation Class is Back w/ Dave!

Electricity is back from a long hiatus, and David Cooke who you may know from Knowing Your Home, Tiling, Plumbing, and Drywall will be teaching the class. The first Electricity class taught by Dave will be 12/1/23 at 5:30pm.

About the Class: In this demonstration class we will explore the basics of home residential wiring systems: service entrance panel, circuit breakers, receptacles, GFI’s, switches, lights, ceiling fans and a whole lot more.  We will briefly discuss the meaning of “single phase” wiring and learn what “60 cycles” is really all about.

We will discuss receptacles and wall switches, 3-way switches and dimmers, and “old work” boxes that let you add a switch or receptacle in an existing wall. We will discuss “fishing” wire from one location to another.  

You will learn about “romex” non-metallic sheathed wire including how to safely cut, strip, and connect it to a switch or receptacle in a wall box.  

We will see close-up how to swap out a light fixture and look at innovative ways to mount a ceiling fan.

Throughout the class we learn what tools work the best and how to use them and we will learn how to safely test circuits. There will be time for Q&A during class.

About the Teacher: David Cooke taught home repair classes for twelve years. He wrote articles on home repair and improvement for a local magazine and appeared weekly on a television program in Boston as the "Resident Home Repair Guy" for two years. David ran his own home repair and improvement business for most of the last 30 years.

What People Say about Dave’s Classes….

"David was hilarious. Also I feel much more confident."

"Incredible amount of information and practice for 3 hours without feeling overwhelming."

"Instructor was fantastic, kept the jokes coming and made the time fly by!"

"Instructor was very knowledgeable and engaging"

Class Spotlight: Fabric Block Printing Class HALLOWEEN EDITION

Class Spotlight: Fabric Block Printing Class HALLOWEEN EDITION with @lucy.holtsnider! The one and only class date is this Saturday, 10/14/23 at 3:30pm.

On October 14th, 2023 we’ll be having a special edition of block printing that will be extra spooky! 👻 Each student gets 1/2 yard of cotton fabric to print a repeating pattern on. In addition, all are welcome to bring other fabric items to print on as well that can be used to make an out of this world halloween costume!! Cotton and synthetic fibers work well with our ink, nylon does not. Wearing costumes to class is also encouraged! 🎃

About the Class: Over this five hour printmaking class we’ll practice drawing, carving, and printing a two-color linoleum print by hand. No experience is required, and we’ll use non-toxic materials and a set of simple tools to make prints that are easy to recreate at home without a press. This class is different from the Block Printing on Paper class in that we’ll use ink designed for fabric, we’ll print on fabric instead of paper, and we’ll carve two blocks and register those to create a two-color print. 

We will start by tracing a photo or a drawing onto tracing paper, and then deciding which colors will go where in the print. Next, we’ll transfer the drawing to two blocks of linoleum and carve the first block. Then we choose our fabric color, and print the first color onto the fabric. While that color dries, we carve the second color, then print that on top of the first. Each student gets one yard of fabric to print on, and past students have even brought in their own fabric from home to print on and then sewed this into an item of clothing! 

Linocut is a fun and forgiving medium to work in and requires no drawing skills at all. The final prints just look cool no matter what! Participants should bring a sack lunch, close toed shoes, and 4 x 6” or smaller photo to make a drawing from. Bringing fabric from home is optional. Everyone receives a set of printed directions and a supply list to jump start their new linocut obsession. 

About the Teacher: Lucy Holtsnider is a printmaker and graphic designer based in Denver. In her fine art practice, she prints on a Vandercook SP-15 letterpress out of Zarapes Studios in Denver. As a designer, she designs book covers for self-published authors. Lucy has taught courses at Colorado College, Yeshiva University, Marist College, and the University of California at Santa Barbara. LucyHoltsnider.com Instagram: @lholtsnider

Brand New Class! How to Successfully Work With Contractors Class

David Cooke, our resident handyman, comedian, and retired judge/attorney, has a brand new class! How to Successfully Work With Contractors. The first class is 12/6/23 @ 5:30pm.

About the Class: Working with contractors can be an immensely stressful process. As a customer, it can feel overwhelming and intimidating at times. It doesn’t have to be this way. 

Most contractors are good people trying to do good work, but technical jargon and assumptions and poor communications can turn things upside down quickly.  

In this one and one-half hour class, we will discuss simple strategies to maintain sanity, control, and balance in your working relationship with a contractor in order to get the finished job you wanted and agreed to pay for. 

We will discuss approaches for obtaining bids, communicating the specific terms of your project needs, when to pay, when to hold on to your cash, and how to get the project completed to your satisfaction. After all, it is your money and your home.     

The instructor is a third-generation contractor (and retired judge/attorney) and there may be guest speakers invited who will also share their insights on the unique challenges presented in working with contractors. The goal is for you to leave class with confidence and knowledge that you are in charge of the process. There will be time for Q&A during class.

About the Teacher: David Cooke taught home repair classes for twelve years. He wrote articles on home repair and improvement for a local magazine and appeared weekly on a television program in Boston as the "Resident Home Repair Guy" for two years. David ran his own home repair and improvement business for most of the last 30 years.

What People Say about Dave’s Classes….

"David was hilarious. Also I feel much more confident."

"Incredible amount of information and practice for 3 hours without feeling overwhelming."

"Instructor was fantastic, kept the jokes coming and made the time fly by!"

"Instructor was very knowledgeable and engaging"

Midmod Candlesticks Woodturning is Back!

Another class that released some new dates AND has a new low price of $100 - Midmod Candlesticks Woodturning! New date Saturday, October 21st.

Working with the wood lathe is simultaneously exciting and meditative, and this class is perfect for you if you’ve been wanting to try it out without committing to the full day Intro class. Or, if you’ve already taken Intro and just want to take this class for more practice and a cool project, that’s all good too!

About the Teacher: This class is taught by Chris Hoehle, one of our community workshop monitors and a professional woodturner with over fifteen years of experience on the wood lathe. In addition to teaching woodturning for nearly three years here at the Denver Tool Library, he has also taught week-long workshops at the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg Tennessee, and he sells his work at local galleries and art festivals. You can check out his work on his website, studiocsh.com, or on Instagram @studiocsh.

Welding is Back!

Welding is Back! New dates are listed!

Our welding classes are on a couple month hiatus, but we finally have some October/November dates on the books! Add a new skill to your handy repertoire - the art of fusing steel. Whether your railing breaks or you need to whip up a Burning Man car, you’ll be able to pop into the shop, pick up one of our welders, and get the job done.

The Shop is (officially) Scary. Volunteer Halloween Party!

The DTL wastes no time getting scary and weird. ‘twas October 1st when we had a volunteer / teacher / staff appreciation party complete with pizza, candy, and a whole lot of blood. Thanks to our volunteers, librarians, teachers, workshop monitors, and fearless leader @jessierodriguez.art - eyeballs were skewed, bones were melted, and deathly makeup by @jessicapolzin and @sarah.r0se.arts ran amok. For the rest of October, come by and marvel at the terrifying remnants our party left behind and pickup a scary rake or haunted air compressor to blow out your sprinklers.

Want to join our next party? Sign up to be a core volunteer! You’ll get cool perks like free/discounted DTL stuff and invites to hang with the coolest people in town. denvertoollibrary.org/volunteer

Class Spotlight! Tools 101 w/ Ian Saunders

Tools 101. Next class is 9/26 @5:30pm. This class is super highly recommended if you are a member of the Denver Tool Library!

Learn how to safely use the Denver Tool Library’s most common power tools. Understand best practices and best uses for circular saws, jig saws, miter saws, reciprocating saws, angle grinders, multi-tools, compressors, different types of nailers, different types of routers, different types of drills, and different types of sanders. This class is a mix of hands-on practice and lecture. There will be some time for Q&A at the end. All skill levels are welcome.

Wanted: TikTok/Social Media Content Creator

Let's be real - we still accidentally use the Facebook post bar thinking it's the search bar, so when it comes to these new fangled social media platforms like TikTok, we are as clueless and "cringe" as they come.

The DTL is looking for someone who wants to volunteer their time swinging by the shop once per week to make fun, interesting, weird, and educational videos to feed the algorithms and help spread the gospel of super affordable tool sharing. You'll be compensated with a tool library membership, half off classes / open workshop hours, and free merch. There will be potential for this to become a paying job.

To apply, head on over to denvertoollibrary.org/jobs

Class Spotlight! Small Bookshelf Build Woodworking

Small Bookshelf Build Woodworking, taught by Sineah of @DenverDIYWorkshop. Next class is 9/17 @ 4pm.

In this woodworking class you will learn how to prepare wood and follow plans for a more precise project. Learn the skills to build something larger with our lending tools or in the workshop. This small bookshelf would be perfect for bathroom storage, to use as an altar, hang mugs by your coffee station or display your Colorado fossils. All skill levels are welcome from total beginner to advanced.

Students will take home a mini bookshelf, great for a night stand or small nook in their home, maybe even a table top (large) desk organizer. Students will utilize a variety of wood fasteners and come to understand their best use and practice. Students can paint the back of their shelves to create a one of a kind piece.

By the end of class, it is my intention you can demonstrate confidence in using the following tools: Miter Saw, Kreg Jig, Drill/ Impact Driver, Table Saw, Nail Gun and Orbital Sanders. You will get recommendations for natural stains, coats, or paints that you can use to protect your piece after you bring it home.

About the Teacher: Sineah has been teaching beginner woodworking classes at the Denver Tool Library since 2018. She grew up in Maine, constantly curious to do things independently. After moving to Denver in 2016, Sineah discovered the Tool Library and soon after began encouraging others to safely use tools and build things with their own hands. She started teaching friends in her own backyard until we opened up the workshop. She has taught stool/ plant stand, bookshelf, leaning shelf, cutting board workshops and more. Sineah will encourage you to creatively problem solve and by the end of class, will send you home with a project intended to impress your friends and yourself. Check out Sineah’s work at facebook.com/denverdiyworkshop or on Instagram @DenverDIYWorkshop