Saturday, December 29, 2018

Dakota County Flyer


Stumbled across this flyer from the Dakota County (Minnesota) Fixit Clinics: love the imagery!


Sunday, September 9, 2018

A Flurry of Fall Fixit Clinics

We’ve got lots of Fixit Clinics this Fall: are any of them near you?

New Volunteer Fixit Coaches and fixing families are always welcome -- the more the merrier; sign up at goo.gl/xS1MRK. We look forward to seeing you at an upcoming event!

- Fixit Clinic 306 2018-09-08 Brookdale Library, MN


- Fixit Clinic 307 2018-09-08 San Pablo Library


- Fixit Clinic 308 2018-09-08 San Diego CA


- Fixit Clinic 309 2018-09-16 Boulder, CO


- Fixit Clinic 308 2018-09-16 San Francisco CA


- Fixit Clinic 310 2018-09-22 Dorchester, MA


- Fixit Clinic 311 2018-09-29 Fremont Main Library


- Fixit Clinic 313 2018-09-29 Northwest Reno Library, Reno, NV


- Fixit Clinic 314 2018-10-02 Cambridge MA Harvard University


- Fixit Clinic 314 2018-10-03 North Valleys Library, Reno, NV




- Fixit Clinic 316 2018-10-06 Berkeley Public Library South Branch


- Fixit Clinic 317 2018-10-07 Burbank Recycle Center, Burbank CA


- Fixit Clinic 318 2018-10-13 Minneapolis MN


- Fixit Clinic 319 2018-10-13 Oakland Public Library Asian Branch




- Fixit Clinic 320 2018-10-20 Half Moon Bay Library


- Fixit Clinic 321 2018-10-27 El Cerrito Library


- Fixit Clinic 322 2018-10-27 Washington-Centerville Public Library Centerville OH


- Fixit Clinic 323 2018-11-03 Newark Library
(no URL yet)


- Fixit Clinic 324 2018-11-10 Minneapolis MN


- Fixit Clinic 325 2018-11-18 Boulder, CO Boulder Public Library

Sunday, July 15, 2018

Fresh Milkshakes at 2018-07-14 Fixit Clinic CCXCVII (297) San Leandro Library

The story's heartwarming: Jo's father was part-way through refurbishing this vintage three spindle Hamilton Beach commercial milkshake mixer when he passed away. Jo was determined to complete the repair for him and attended last month's Castro Valley Library Fixit Clinic to get help.





At yesterday's San Leandro Library Fixit Clinic Jo finished up with the mixer and made milkshakes for all the Fixit Coaches -- yum!



It's stories and fixes like this that make Fixit Clinic so satisfying. And while we don't get fresh milkshakes at every Fixit Clinic, Jo's repair made these taste even more special.

More photos from Fixit Clinic CCXCVII (297) San Leandro Library can be seen on Google+ at https://photos.app.goo.gl/EfoibpBeyQvMVFdZ6

(and photos from Fixit Clinic 293 Castro Valley Library 2018-06-23 can be seen here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/J2qukNnbjcJE7TnC7)

Friday, June 22, 2018

Fixit Clinic as Real-World Experience for Designers and Engineers

In addition to many other fine institutions of higher education we've held Fixit Clinics at 3 of the top 6 universities of the world: Harvard, MIT, and UC Berkeley. We continue to inform designers and engineers in training how to design and engineer for serviceability, durability, maintainability, repairability from the get-go for the approaching closed-loop economy. https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2018/reputation-ranking#!/page/0/length/25/sort_by/rank/sort_order/asc/cols/stats

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

CalRecycle Report: “Future of Electronic Waste Management in California”

A new report from CalRecycle entitled “Future of Electronic Waste Management in California” recommends incentivizing greater repair and reuse of electronic devices. It’s the first time we're aware of that California (or any state) has recognized and legitimized repair (and reuse) as alternative strategies to recycling.

- Direct link to download the .pdf of the report: “Future of Electronic Waste Management in California”: http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/Actions/Document.ashx/?id=8934
(Fixit Clinic is mentioned by name on pages 11 and 27 of the report.)

- CalRecycle press release for the report: http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/NewsRoom/2018/05May/14.htm

- Analysis / Opinion by Kyle Wiens on iFixit.org: https://ifixit.org/blog/10099/calrecycle-electronics-recycling-report/

This is a big step in the right direction, we're excited.

Saturday, March 3, 2018

Fixit Clinic 261 Berkeley Public Library

Our first Fixit Clinic held at a Berkeley Public Library: we had a great lineup of Fixit Coaches and Participants. Among the highlights:

There were at least five food processors:



We had knife sharpening:


People were really getting into their repairs:




More photos from Fixit Clinic 261 Berkeley Public Library can be seen here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/zCeVha30CLmneNUu1

All in all, a great kick-off event to Fixit Clinics at the Berkeley Public Library, we'll be at the North Branch in a few weeks.

Saturday, February 24, 2018

Fixit Clinic CCLX (260) San Bruno Public Library

The wonderful people of San Mateo County came out in droves for today's Fixit Clinic at the San Bruno Public Library. Among the highlights:

CD/DVD/Blu-Ray drives (optical drives) continue to be easy fixes:


This microwave just needed a new 20A fuse:



Another two-toaster day, both fixed!



More photos from Fixit Clinic CCLX (260) San Bruno Public Library are here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/9ANknXc1bI6NWVz92

Everyone had a great time: looking forward to the next one!



Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Fixit Clinic 258 Harvard University

A rare Tuesday afternoon Fixit Clinic at the Cabot Science Library in Harvard's Science Center.
Among the highlights:

We saw a ton of zipper issues on winter coats - all fixed!






Headphones, toothbrushes, and lamps -- all fixed!





This Thomas the Train humidifier was worked on by young and old but ultimately deemed a lost cause.



More photos from Fixit Clinic 258 Harvard University can be seen at https://photos.app.goo.gl/V8gOyybBK9mFKch62

There's interest from many colleges and universities in incorporating Fixit Clinics into the design, engineering, environmental science and sustainability curriculums: we look forward to future collaborations with Harvard and others.

Saturday, February 10, 2018

Fixit Clinic 253 Brighton MA

What better way to brighten a cloudy February Massachusetts day then to hold a Fixit Clinic. It was nice to have a great bunch of Fixit Coaches and participants at the Presentation School Foundation Community Center in Oak Square.

Joe Wooters brought his collection of strange tools:


Ray Pfau was extra helpful as always:


John repaired this expensive car's expensive remote:


Nothing a good nap won't fix:


More photos from Fixit Clinic 253 Brighton MA can be seen at https://photos.app.goo.gl/YYm8ZS6q930Wa4Ef2

All in all, a wonderful day. Looking forward to the next one!

Update: Rob Gogan reports:

What a terrific event we had last Saturday at the Presentation School Foundation Community Center in Brighton! We had about 30 visitors who brought in lamps, a bicycle, several garments, fans, clocks, a toaster, headphones, a stereo, a turntable, a sewing machine, a laptop, an umbrella, an iPod, some jewelry and at least 25 blunt knives. We fixed about 50% of the items but provided useful suggestions for about 25% more.

The amazing Ray Pfau, founder of the Bolton Repair Café, came in to coach and helped many visitors. Ray is hosting a Repair Café in Bolton on Saturday, June 2. Next Boston event is the Fixit Clinic at the Jamaica Plain Library, April 7, 2018. Rumor has it that there may be a Fixit Clinic at the Honan-Allston Library later in April. Read more details here: http://www.boltonlocal.org/initiatives/repair-cafe

Monday, January 29, 2018

Fixit Clinic CCL (250) Jamaica Plain Library

Another Great Fixit Clinic! Fixit Coach and Fixit Clinic Organizer Extraordinare Jonathan Krones writes:

'Thanks to everyone who helped out at the JP Fixit Clinic yesterday. It was by far our most successful event yet with over 50 community members (not counting family members and other non-fixing visitors) learning how to repair all sorts of things, including two identical counter-top mixers, toasters, radios, record players, jewelry, clothing, computers, a hand-held ultrasound machine, juicers, printers, a doll's bed, chairs, a wall clock, cameras, hair dryers, an electronic keyboard, bubble makers, handbags, a pile of car key remotes, DVD players, a knife sharpener, a bike wheel, a slide viewer, a reel-to-reel player, and as always, more lamps than I ever thought possible."





More photos from Fixit Clinic CCL (250) at the Jamaica Plain Library can be seen at https://photos.app.goo.gl/c75aJAFPl5lHWr6i2

The next Fixit Clinic for the Jamaica Plain Library is scheduled for Saturday, April 7. In the meantime, if you're fixin' for some fixing in Eastern Massachusetts: check out the upcoming Fixit Clinics in Brighton on Feb 10 and at Harvard on Feb 13.

Sunday, January 21, 2018

Fixit Clinic CCXLIX (249) Fremont Library

Fremont Library Fixit Clinics are always super busy for us and this one was no exception. Among the items we saw:

This laptop had broken hinge attachment points. Absent replacement pieces: the only hope is to drill through the existing case and attach bolts or rivets.




He brought the replacement display but was uncomfortable unplugging the ribbon cable attaching the old display.

The fabric and textiles team was in full swing and repaired many items.



More photos from Fixit Clinic CCXLIX (249) Fremont Library can be seen at https://photos.app.goo.gl/OIRy4jLxatnhaFXL2

The Fixit Coaches were busy all day: come join us in the fun, sign up here: http://goo.gl/kwVNlv


Saturday, January 13, 2018

2018-01-13 Fixit Clinic 247 Dimond Branch, Oakland Public Library

Wow, what a great Fixit Clinic today at the Dimond Branch, Oakland Public Library. Among the highlights:

More photos from today's Fixit Clinic 247 are viewable here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/1XnbX1HTwG5HtYrc2

Three fans, all fixed!




Her son sewed her backpack:



A melted space heater plug, she brought a replacement:



More photos from today's Fixit Clinic 247 are viewable at https://photos.app.goo.gl/1XnbX1HTwG5HtYrc2

A great way to spend a mid-winter's Saturday, looking forward to the next one!