Have you ever wanted to build out a van to go travelling in, but realized you simply do not have the tools to make that a possibility?
Well there is a place in Squamish offering an abundance of tools and workshops to help make your van build dream a reality.
Create Makerspace is a community workshop that has caught the eye of both local and travelling van builders and become a hub for all things vanlife.
“I think it took some time for people to discover that we were here and to learn and understand what a makerspace is … but once they realised we’ve got a parking lot, all the wood tools and textiles tools to make other van features, they've really started to come in,” founder of Create Makerspace, Oscar Radevsky said.
“A lot of people who are converting vans end up parking in like a rainy, muddy side street and then working with crappy tools that they bought at a garage sale.
“So having a dedicated space where you can actually have a parking spot and walk into and out of your van without getting rained on is really handy,” he told The Squamish Chief.
The space
Create Makerspace opened in January and has a variety of communal spaces for DIY projects.
A monthly membership costs $150 and comes with full access to the workshop from midday until 9 p.m., Tuesdays to Sundays. Visitors can also buy a punch pass, which is $400 for 10 visits or $250 for five visits.
In the workshop is a woodworking space, metal workshop, textiles studio and in the coming months will also offer welding and pottery opportunities. Regular classes on each discipline are also offered and begin at $90.
The metal shop also contains a number of automotive tools to help with any mechanical concerns people might be having with their vans.
Australian duo James Norton and Cassie Power stumbled across the Makerspace workshop after they bought a van and needed a space to renovate it.
“We were prepared to buy second hand tools ourselves and do the work in a Home Depot car park and just try to make it work,” Norton said.
“But when I was trawling around on the van life Facebook groups I stumbled across Oscar's post saying if anyone was interested in building out vans, there was the space to do it at his workshop.
“I thought it was very cool and I didn't realize it would be a thing over here in Canada, because we have that in Australia, versions of it in the East Coast anyway.”
Power said the Makerspace was everything they were hoping for and the $150 monthly membership fee was a great deal when compared with the price of all the tools needed for a van build.
“Considering what was on offer in the workshop, it was a no-brainer–especially when you compare it to the price of tools,” she said.
“We’ve built a van before with minimal tools and it was just very challenging. So the idea of having a table saw, and a drop saw and all of these different tools that aren't in a home garage is just excellent.
“We felt like kids in a candy shop.”
Radevsky said he has seen up to five vans at a time parked at the workshop, each with their own plans, budgets and skill sets to accomplish their builds.
“There's a really nice community aspect to it. People are comparing notes and sharing some tips and tricks,” he said.
“I've already learned a lot about van conversions. I've never done a conversion before, but just seeing it happen in front of me has been really eye opening.”
The workshop also offers showers to its members–a hospitality both Power and Norton greatly appreciate.
Visit the Create Makerspace website for more information on the workshop and to see the classes on offer.
