Humans of the DTL

These are the faces that keep the Denver Tool Library running! The DTL is awesome because people from all different backgrounds end up working / volunteering / buying donuts for us for so many different reasons. Whether it be because of a passion for sustainability and reuse, promoting the sharing economy, practical hands-on education, the love of tinkering, a dedication to fine woodworking, being part of a weird fun community, being more of a communist (miss you Ross!), or you just plane love affordable tools - the DTL is what it is because of the many different types of people who run it.

And now for the plug! Want to join the crew and see what everyone is so happy about? Volunteer with us!

Game: How many of these folks have you seen around the shop? Can you name any of them?

Answer: (clockwise from Ian in the hat) Ian, Scott, Karl, Sarah, Karly, Joe, Jackie

Deal Ends in Ten Days! 15% Off Class Packs. Gift It or Keep It.

Get 15% off class packs until the end of the year

Reminder for all you last minute holiday gift getters! From now until the end of 2023 get 15% off of DTL Class Bucks when you buy $200 or more! Create your own custom discount class packs for yourself or a gift.

How do I make my own custom discount class pack?

1. Go to our DTL Class Bucks Page and add to your cart however much you want to buy for yourself or a friend. If you want to buy a certain set of class, just total the amount the classes are worth and buy that much in DTL Class Bucks.

2. On checkout, us the code CLASSPACK2023 and you’ll get a 15% discount.

DISCOUNT CLASS PACK IDEAS to gift or keep

The Woodworker Pack

• Woodworking I: Shop Safety Certification

• Woodworking II: Practical Joinery

• Woodworking III: Box Joinery

• Normally $300, Now $255

The Woodturner Pack

• Woodturning I: Lathes, Spindles & Vases

• Woodturning II: Bowl Turning

• Normally $425, Now $361

The Welder Pack

• Welding I: Essentials, Safety & MIG

• Welding II: Practice, Projects & TIG

• Normally $225, Now $192

The Contractor Pack

• Knowing Your Home

• Tiling

• Electricity

• Plumbing

• Drywall

• Normally $475, Now $404

The Sewer Pack

• Sewing I: Sewing Machine Basics

• Sewing II: Hemming & Alterations

• Sewing II: Patching & Mending

• Normally $225, Now $192

Remember: These are just some ideas for class packs. As long as you buy over $200 in class gift bucks, you will get the 15% discount. Code expires January 1st, 2024

Follow us on YouTube!

If Instagram and Facebook wasn’t enough, we’re now coming at you from the Googleverse with our new Denver Tool Library YouTube Channel!

“YouTube is social media?? That’s just where I go to watch my hilarious cat videos. Please don’t make me figure out more social media platforms!” Don’t worry, we won’t be posting any new content there, it’s mostly just a place where we can put @aprilfrakenstein videos so they live eternally, likely outliving the last human on earth.

Hopefully at least one of you is cheering about this YouTube channel thing, and if that’s you, give us a follow and SMASH that like button at youtube.com/@denvertoollibrary

It Starts with Intro to Woodturning...

Paul took our Intro to Woodturning classes. Now he’s making making his own beautiful and original woodturning pieces (check those photos - so smooth).

Want to be like Paul? Here’s the process:

1. Sign up for Woodturning I: Lathes, Spindles & Vases taught by woodturning hero @studiocsh (Still spots left for this Sunday 12/17/23!)

2. Sign up for Woodturning II: Bowl Turning

3. Practice and create on our lathes during Open Workshop Hours. A 10 hour Woodturner’s Punch Card is just $120.

4. Be like Paul

Nah not for you, you say? But my friend would LOVE this, you say? Well perhaps get them a 15% off Woodturners Gift Pack and a Gift Woodturners Punchcard.

CLOSED for Winter Break: Dec 24th - Dec 31st

Mark it on your calendar! The holidays are approaching and the Tool Library & Workshop will be on winter break soon. Don’t be the person locked out of the Tool Library on a snowy Santa Fe Drive holding a frozen table saw. Oh no no no.

Upcoming Tool Library & Workshop Closures:

• Winter Break: Dec 24th - Dec 31st (Classes are still happening!)

*Don’t forget - if your borrowed tools are due back on a day that we are closed, that’s an extra free bonus day to keep them! Yay bonus days!

Class Spotlight! Tiling w/ VIDEO

Class Spotlight & Vid! Tiling w/ Dave. 12/27 is sold out, but a new date has been announced for 2/9!

FYI! Tiling is part of our Home Renovation Series which includes Knowing Your Home Basics, Electricity, Drywall, Plumbing and Tiling classes. Until the end of 2023 you can get 15% off Dave’s classes when you buy $200 or more. Details about it here.

Tackling Tile, Porcelain with a Plan! Installing ceramic, porcelain, or glass tile to make a kitchen or bathroom pop. Learn to plan the project, buy what you need, and how to prep before you start mixing the mortar. Learn about substrates, surface prep, transition and border pieces, mastic, spacers, and grout. Learn about the proper tools including levels, and squares, trowels, and wetsaws. There will be time for Q&A during class.

Many thanks to our investigative class reporter @aprilfrankenstein for the video.

15% Off Class Packs. Gift It or Keep It.

Get 15% off class packs until the end of the year

Hellooo all you last minute holiday gift getters - from now until the end of 2023 get 15% off of DTL Class Bucks when you buy $200 or more! Create your own custom discount class packs for yourself or a gift.

How do I make my own custom discount class pack?

1. Go to our DTL Class Bucks Page and add to your cart however much you want to buy for yourself or a friend. If you want to buy a certain set of class, just total the amount the classes are worth and buy that much in DTL Class Bucks.

2. On checkout, us the code CLASSPACK2023 and you’ll get a 15% discount.

DISCOUNT CLASS PACK IDEAS to gift or keep

The Woodworker Pack

• Woodworking I: Shop Safety Certification

• Woodworking II: Practical Joinery

• Woodworking III: Box Joinery

• Normally $300, Now $255

The Woodturner Pack

• Woodturning I: Lathes, Spindles & Vases

• Woodturning II: Bowl Turning

• Normally $425, Now $361

The Welder Pack

• Welding I: Essentials, Safety & MIG

• Welding II: Practice, Projects & TIG

• Normally $225, Now $192

The Contractor Pack

• Knowing Your Home

• Tiling

• Electricity

• Plumbing

• Drywall

• Normally $475, Now $404

The Sewer Pack

• Sewing I: Sewing Machine Basics

• Sewing II: Hemming & Alterations

• Sewing II: Patching & Mending

• Normally $225, Now $192

Remember: These are just some ideas for class packs. As long as you buy over $200 in class gift bucks, you will get the 15% discount. Code expires January 1st, 2024

Update: Handmade Holiday Gift Guide

Update: Our Handmade Holiday Gift Guide Classes are almost all sold out! Sign up soon to make a one of a kind gift this year.

Oh no! Did you wait too long and your fav class sold out? Don’t worry - we still have lots of gifty options for THEM to be creative instead of you. Check out our DTL Holiday Gift Guide Cheat Sheet for gift memberships, gift bucks, and more.

Don’t wait until last minute and get stuck picking out some Amazon junk just to find out that you already bought your Dad fancy nuts three years before (true story). Instead, We’ve compiled a list of classes where you produce a piece of art made with 100% genuine love that you can give to someone on your holiday list. Best of all, it’s sort of a selfish gift because while they get whatever you make, you get the skills to build another during our Open Workshop Hours.

Peruse the classes below and if one suits your fancy be sure to sign up for it soon before they sell out!

Floating Shelves (1 spot left!)
Saturday, December 16th // 3:30pm - 8:30pm

Woodturning I: Lathes, Spindles & Vases
Sunday, December 17th // 9:30am - 4:00pm

Block Printing on Paper Holiday Cards
Sunday, December 17th // 3:30p - 8:30p

Feather Hoop Earrings Metalsmithing
Monday, December 18th // 5:30pm - 8pm

DTL Motivational Values Posters

Ok, well they’re not quite posters (YET), but for now, here is a list of the Denver Tool Library’s values in “hang in there” kitty clinging to a branch format.

By the way - not sure if you’ve heard, but did you know you can make our value dreams a reality by donating to the Denver Tool Library tomorrow 12/5 for Colorado Gives Day?

Sharing & Accessibility

Tools are expensive, take up space, and may only get used once or twice per year. By pooling our resources together we create a much greater and more affordable variety of items for everyone.

Education & Empowerment

You have the ability to create the things you use. Through classes, skill sharing, and some friendly advice from your community, anyone can learn how to accomplish their projects.

Community Spaces

Our digital age offers unlimited potential for connection but at times leaves us isolated. Community oriented spaces connect us directly to people who have similar passions to scheme, learn, and tinker.

Art & Creativity

Tools are the bridge between imagination and reality. The right tools allow infinite potential to create the things we scheme. Through tools and resources, we can transform day-to-day items and materials into whatever shape, color, and function we choose.

Self-Reliance & DIY

Adequate access to tools, resources and education enables us to build or fix almost anything. Rather than costly expenses for others to make or repair the things we need, we are able to do it ourselves.

Sustainability

The processes it takes to manufacture the items we buy often leave a significant negative impact on our planet due to resource consumption, transportation emissions, and waste from planned obsolescence. Rather than buying new, we can make and repair things that already exist and reduce negative impact.

Success & Failure (or “Success in Failure”)

The achievement of our projects should be celebrated, but so should our failures. Creation is a process that is not about winning or losing, but is a process that requires courage, resilience, and constant evolution. The Denver Tool Library offers free high-fives for anyone whose projects don’t end up the way they expect, and the encouragement to try again!

Colorado Gives Day is TOMORROW!

COLORADO GIVES DAY IS Easily the Best Day to Give!

Tomorrow is Colorado Gives Day and we are so excited to see what we can accomplish together! 

Can you help us raise $1,000 before lunchtime?! DON’T WORRY- THERE’S PERKS FOR YOU TOO. 

We have currently raised $275 and are looking to hit our goal of $1,000 by 2 pm on Colorado Gives Day (some of us have late lunches.) With you as our partner, we can do this!!

First, make a donation of any size. All donation amounts make a huge impact, so any donation of any amount will be entered to win a DTL Superfan Merch Bundle. If you give $100 or more on Colorado Gives Day, you will automatically be entered into an hourly prize from the Colorado Gives Foundation. One winner each hour will win a Southwest Airlines voucher good for round trip airfare up to $400! The Colorado Gives Foundation will also award a bonus round trip ticket after midnight from all donors who give $100 or more. So consider waking up early and making that donation; that way you have less people in the pot.

Next, share our donation page to your social media and challenge your friends and family to also give! Don’t forget to tag us so you can have a chance at winning a Denver Tool Library Annual Membership. 

Finally, sit anxiously and wait to see what we have in store for a lucky donor if we hit our goal by 2 pm!

The Denver Tool Library is excited for you to participate in all of our fun tomorrow on social media. 

And don’t forget: everyone who donates is entered to win an official DTL Superfan Merch Bundle. We’re talking shirt, koozie, bandana, stickers, the whole deal. Oh wow oh boy!!!

Thank you for being a part of our team! Now let’s raise some resources for the Denver Tool Library! 🥳