Edinburgh Open Workshop

Edinburgh Open Workshop A pay-as-you-go open access makerspace offering workbenches, fabrication bays, machinery, hand tools, consumables, technical support, storage.

NEW COURSE: Weld Your Own Hairpin Legs 🔥Want to learn the basics of welding while making something you can take home and...
06/10/2026

NEW COURSE: Weld Your Own Hairpin Legs 🔥

Want to learn the basics of welding while making something you can take home and use?

Our new two-week evening course introduces you to MIG welding and basic metalwork through a practical project: making your own set of four mild-steel hairpin legs.

Welding tutor Gavin from Models and Props will guide you through the process over two consecutive Wednesday evenings. At the end, you’ll have a set of stylish, mid-century-inspired legs ready to turn a tabletop or other surface into your own unique piece of furniture.

4 & 11 November | 18:30–20:30
18 & 25 November | 18:30–20:30

All materials included
No previous experience required | 18+

The course also includes 50% off your first Annual Membership at Edinburgh Open Workshop.

➡️ Book your place via our website. https://www.edinburghopenworkshop.co.uk/product/weld-your-own-hairpin-legs-4th-november/

🎃 Something new is brewing at EOW this Halloween… 👻We’ve got two brand-new courses landing at the workshop this October:...
29/09/2026

🎃 Something new is brewing at EOW this Halloween… 👻

We’ve got two brand-new courses landing at the workshop this October: from building your very own Muppet-style character to some frightfully fun FREE Halloween making.

🧟 Make Your Own Muppet | 17 October | 10am–3pm | £95

Fulfil your most Muppet-y dreams with prop maker and textiles tutor Nicola! Learn how to shape foam, create a mouth mechanism, work with fur or fleece and add all the details that bring your character to life. You’ll leave with your very own hand and rod puppet – and all materials are included. 18+

🦇 Scrappy Halloween: Make, Mend & Transform | 24 October | 10am–1pm | FREE

Our new Halloween drop-in is all about making something spooky from what we already have. Transform an old costume, turn a bedsheet into a ghost, make bat wings, cat ears, spooky bunting or decorations – or simply rummage through the scraps and see what you can create.

♻️ Make, mend, reuse and experiment
👻 All ages welcome
✂️ No experience needed
🎃 Completely FREE

Places still need to be booked for Scrappy Halloween so we know how many ghosts, ghouls and makers to expect!

Two new courses. Two very different ways to get making this Halloween. Book your place via the EOW website. 🎃

https://www.edinburghopenworkshop.co.uk/courses-workshops/

What a day! 🙌A huge thank you to everyone who came along to Edinburgh Open Workshop for Doors Open Days on Saturday.We l...
28/09/2026

What a day! 🙌

A huge thank you to everyone who came along to Edinburgh Open Workshop for Doors Open Days on Saturday.

We loved opening up the workshop and seeing so many people exploring the space, joining our tours, watching live demonstrations, getting stuck into
TinkerTown and visiting Edinburgh Street Stitchers upstairs.

Most of all, it was brilliant to see the workshop so full of people - asking questions, discovering what happens here and hopefully leaving with a few ideas of their own.

A big thank you too to everyone who helped make the day happen, from our brilliant EOW team and volunteers to Edinburgh Street Stitchers, The City of Play / Tinkertown and everyone who shared their skills throughout the day.

Thanks for bringing your curiosity. We hope you left with ideas. 💛

We’ve got a new class - and a new tutor - joining the EOW programme this autumn. 🪵This October, we’re welcoming Jonny Ta...
22/09/2026

We’ve got a new class - and a new tutor - joining the EOW programme this autumn. 🪵

This October, we’re welcoming Jonny Taylor of Widden to the workshop to lead our new Woodturning Lathe Introduction.

Designed for complete beginners, the two-week course is a chance to get properly acquainted with the lathe in a relaxed, small-group setting, while making your own wooden candlestick to take home.

Across the two evenings, Jonny will introduce you to safe working practices, preparing and mounting timber, woodturning tools and sharpening, basic spindle turning, shaping, sanding and finishing.

There’s plenty of room to make the project your own too, experimenting with the shape and profile of your candlestick as your confidence grows.

📅 Wednesdays 21 & 28 October
⏰ 18:30–20:30
💷 £160, including all materials and tools
👋 No previous experience needed

Completing the course will also give you the skills you need to book and use EOW’s lathes independently as a pay-as-you-go member.

https://www.edinburghopenworkshop.co.uk/product/woodturning-lathe-introduction-21-28-oct/

From workshop drawings to more than 40 doors and windows…Throughout June, our Made@EOW team worked on a large fabricatio...
14/09/2026

From workshop drawings to more than 40 doors and windows…

Throughout June, our Made@EOW team worked on a large fabrication job for the National Theatre of Scotland touring production One Hundred Voices.

Designer Karen Tennant created the immersive set using existing flats from a former BBC Scotland production, and EOW was commissioned to fabricate the additional elements needed to bring the design together.

Over two weeks, the team built more than 40 custom door and window flats, including fake doors, working doors, sliding doors and windows, as well as stairs and other structures.

Everything was built to spec, prepared for collection and carefully labelled to make the production team’s fit-up as quick and straightforward as possible ahead of rehearsals.

These photos show some of the process, from the original drawings and construction in the workshop through to the pieces fitted into the finished set.

A brilliant Made@EOW project and a good glimpse of just how varied a fabrication brief can be.

Curious about laser cutting but not quite sure where to start?We’ve got four creative laser cutting classes coming up at...
08/09/2026

Curious about laser cutting but not quite sure where to start?

We’ve got four creative laser cutting classes coming up at EOW from September onwards, with plenty of opportunities to try the technology for yourself and see just how much you can do with it.

🧵 Laser Cut & Sew Taster
Join EOW textiles tutor Nicola to explore how laser cutting can be combined with sewing. You’ll learn some basic laser cutting and domestic sewing machine skills while making your own felt sewing kit to take home.

💡 Laser Etched Acrylic Lamp
Join designer-maker Angela of Earlob and turn your own drawing into an acrylic lamp. Learn how to use tracing software and laser cutting equipment to prepare and engrave your design.

🌸 Laser Cut Flower Bouquet
Another beginner-friendly workshop with Angela, this time experimenting with paper and acrylic to turn your own drawings into an intricate laser-cut flower bouquet.

⚡ Creative Laser Cutting
If you’d like to take things further, our four-week evening course gives you a more in-depth introduction to laser cutting. Learn how to create vector artwork, work safely with the equipment and explore different materials and construction techniques.

The classes are designed with beginners in mind, so you don’t need any previous laser cutting experience.

📅 Various dates from September onwards

Take a look at the full programme on our website and find the class that suits you. https://www.edinburghopenworkshop.co.uk/courses-workshops/

We’re Opening Our Doors 🛠️Doors Open Days is back at EOW. After a brilliant event last year, we’re doing it all again - ...
07/09/2026

We’re Opening Our Doors 🛠️

Doors Open Days is back at EOW. After a brilliant event last year, we’re doing it all again - come behind the scenes, explore the workshop and see what happens when you give people the space, tools and skills to make. 👀

Here’s what’s happening 👇

Guided tours
Living making demos + CNC demos
TinkerTown - building and making for kids in the yard
Edinburgh Street Stitchers - exhibition + drop-in mending all day
LEARN - discover our upcoming classes and workshops

Come and meet our members, have a look around the workshop and find out what you could make at EOW.

📅 Saturday 26 September
⏰ 11am - 4pm
📍 Edinburgh Open Workshop, Leith
🎟️ Free entry

Bring your curiosity. Leave with ideas. ✨

The City of Play / Tinkertown

New woodworking classes are coming to EOW this October, with two new tutors joining us in the workshop. ✨We’re delighted...
01/09/2026

New woodworking classes are coming to EOW this October, with two new tutors joining us in the workshop. ✨

We’re delighted to welcome Julie Durkacz & Em Elliot-Walker of Caorann, experienced woodworkers and heritage craft specialists who’ll be sharing their knowledge of traditional woodworking techniques across two hands-on Saturday workshops.

🌿 Greenwood Carving | Saturday 3 October | 10:00–16:00

Learn the age-old craft of working with greenwood using traditional hand tools. You’ll make 2–3 small pieces to take home, with options including a butter knife, needle pot, wooden flowers, pegs, mushrooms, spatulas or spurtles. You’ll also learn about sourcing and harvesting materials and gain skills you can use for future projects.

https://www.edinburghopenworkshop.co.uk/product/greenwood-carving-3-october/

🪑 Slab & Stick Stool Making | Saturday 17 October | 10:00–16:00

Starting with locally sourced wood, you’ll spend the day making your own sturdy slab and stick stool. Along the way you’ll learn to use tools including carving and draw knives, a bench plane, saw, tenon cutter, auger and brace and bit, while learning how to shape a seat, make splayed legs and form round wedge tenons.

https://www.edinburghopenworkshop.co.uk/product/slab-stick-stool-making-17-october/

Both classes are suitable for anyone keen to build their confidence using traditional hand tools, with all tools and project materials provided.

£135 per class | 10:00–16:00 | Age 18+

Places are limited, so book your spot via our website.

Want to feel more confident using power tools? 🔧Whether you’ve got a DIY project in mind, want to start making things fo...
25/08/2026

Want to feel more confident using power tools? 🔧

Whether you’ve got a DIY project in mind, want to start making things for yourself, or simply want to know your router from your impact driver, our new Power Tools Introduction course is a great place to start.

Join EOW Workshop Manager JJ for two hands-on evening sessions covering:
🛠️ Drills, saws and sanders
🛠️ Routers, grinders and nailers
🛠️ Choosing the right tool for the job
🛠️ Changing bits and cutting tools
🛠️ Safe handling and personal protection
🛠️ Common mistakes and what not to do!

JJ brings 20 years of experience and plenty of practical tips, with demonstrations followed by the chance to try each tool yourself using test materials.

It’s all about giving you the knowledge and confidence to tackle your own projects safely and successfully.

There’s also the small matter of our new impact driver challenge. Get your name on the EOW leaderboard and secure workshop bragging rights. 🏆

📅 7 & 14 September
⏰ 18:30–20:30
💷 £95 for the two-week course
📍 Edinburgh Open Workshop, Leith

All tools and practice materials are provided, and course participants receive 50% off their first Annual Membership.
Suitable for complete beginners. Participants must be 18+.

👉 Book your place: [add booking link]

A simple idea, made to measure 🧵Not everything we make at EOW needs to be complicated.JJ recently made these new work su...
24/08/2026

A simple idea, made to measure 🧵

Not everything we make at EOW needs to be complicated.

JJ recently made these new work surfaces for our Textiles Room, designed specifically for our sewing machines and engraved with handy measurement guides to make cutting, measuring and sewing that little bit easier.

It’s a relatively simple build, but also the kind of thing that can make a real difference to how a workspace functions.

And it got us thinking that other sewists and makers might find something similar useful too.

If you have a sewing set-up that could do with a made-to-measure work surface, cutting table or another practical addition, we can design and make something to suit your space and the way you work.

Sometimes the simplest builds are the most useful.

Address

39-41 Assembly Street
Edinburgh
EH67BQ

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 9pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 9pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 11am - 3pm

Telephone

+441315556866

Website

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