There is something so mesmerizing about a computer-motorized machine like the CNC router or the Laser Cutter/Etcher we have in theCO’s makerspace. It might be the super smooth curves or the sheer precision of the cuts, but one thing is for sure: it allows you to make some cool custom pieces! This week we’re featuring a custom piece made by Random Pieces of Wood.

Almost anything can be engraved using theCO’s laser cutter/etcher as long as it fits in the machine! This week, Jameson Winter illustrates how to engrave something a little more difficult than your average wood project: a football.

It’s the middle of the holiday season, and Christmas is just around the corner. If you are still looking for gifts for family and friends, start looking at theCO. You might be surprised to hear that many CO:members make items that could serve as a perfect gift. Here are a couple ideas for presents:

Have you ever been somewhere around town and seen a piece of furniture or decoration that you really like but that completely breaks the bank in price? Brandon Lawson knows what that’s like. When he saw a rustic American flag hanging at a local business in Jackson and was deterred by the price tag, he decided he would build his own. He started in his kitchen, chiseling out stars by hand, until he had his own wooden flag.

Have you ever left for vacation and come back to dead or dying plants in your living room?

It happened to me last month, and I was frustrated with feeling like I would never have a green thumb despite my best efforts. Then I heard about Watering Raspberry Pi, a robot built and created by Dev Catalyst students from Lexington High School. The robot is designed to automatically water your plant via a soil moisture sensor, meaning you could go on vacation and not have to worry about your plants!

For a few years now, we’ve been using three magnetic boards in theCO’s hallway to display photos of our members and more information about what each of them has to offer our community. While we love sharing about our folks, we decided it was time for a hallway makeover so that we can better keep CO:members and visitors in the loop about upcoming events. After seeing the finished piece, we realized this would be the perfect project for anyone to put in their own homes or offices to plan their schedules in a fun and reusable way. Here’s how we did it and how you can use theCO’s tools to do the same.

Whether you frequent theCO, work in an office space, or use a computer for anything on any desk, a common problem remains. There comes a point in time when space simply restricts productivity by creating an inevitable nest of clutter. Like birds making their nests in the spring, we try to fit an impossible amount of lunch menus, paper clips, pens, and sometimes trash onto a finite desk space.