DIY repair clubs are helping Americans save money and fight big tech
Source: The Guardian ·
US community repair clinics teach people how to fix their belongings, pushing back against throwaway cultureOn a recent Monday night, a volunteer-run workspace bustled with dozens of fixers in Brooklyn, New York. Some tinkered with sewing machines while others soldered circuit boards at a workbench. Caleb Young, a co-founder of the Brooklyn Spark space, fit a DIY suction device on to the handle…
From the source
On a recent Monday night, a volunteer-run workspace bustled with dozens of fixers in Brooklyn, New York. Some tinkered with sewing machines while others soldered circuit boards at a workbench. Caleb Young, a co-founder of the Brooklyn Spark space, fit a DIY suction device on to the handle of a Dyson vacuum cleaner. “It’s in our culture to throw things away, but sometimes the fix is easier than you’d think,” Young said. The Fixit Clinic is open every Monday night to walk-ins. Anyone with a broken item they’d like to fix – from torn clothes to malfunctioning electronic devices – can drop by during open hours and get the repair help and tools they need. It’s a way for people to push back against tech companies, making their phones and gadgets deliberately unrepairable so they buy newer devices while creating large amounts of e-waste. The clinics also foster community: once people learn to repair their possessions, many get addicted and like helping others, Young said. “We like to tell…
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