Repair Café offers free repairs in Houston
Do you have a broken microwave or an appliance that needs repairing? It can be costly, but Heather Sullivan, consumer reporter at FOX 26, has a keen sense of how you can get it fixed for free.
HOUSTON – Do you have a broken appliance, small appliance, furniture or even clothing that needs repairing? You can have them repaired at a free Repair Café on Saturday
Repairing an appliance like a microwave or coffee maker can cost hundreds of dollars, sometimes as much as the cost of replacing it. A Repair Café can save you money and help keep items out of landfills.
TXRX Labs bills itself as Houston’s non-profit makerspace. A Repair Café will be held there on June 24 with the City of Houston and several environmental and community groups.
You can bring broken electronics, small appliances, furniture, bikes, jewelry, tools, blades that need sharpening, and clothing that needs repairing.
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“We do a lot of furniture repairs in our wood workshop and welding workshops. That’s always popular, lots of small appliance repairs,” explained Roland von Kurnatowski, President of TXRX Labs.
Experienced crafters and skilled folks who enjoy crafting volunteer to help you fix your stuff and learn how it works. You may need to purchase some parts, but some can be made by yourself.
“We have a lot of 3D printers and other equipment that we can use to make small spare parts very quickly. In addition, we are pretty good with our hands and can therefore often be up to something,” says von Kurnatowski.
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A Repair Café is like a movement of Fixit clinics across the country that can help you save money.
“Repairing items is much cheaper than buying new ones,” von Kurnatowski said.
These events also underscore the importance of knowing how your stuff works and keeping it out of the landfill.
“Heaps of e-waste accumulate every day, and we can save a bit of that,” said von Kurnatowski.
TXRX Labs is a 501c3 that also offers courses to learn to do your own repairs, as well as job training in the professions for at-risk youth.
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“Welding, machining, laser printing, 3D printing, CAD, sewing, jewelry, ceramics, powder coating,” says von Kurnatowski. “There’s a long list of them, they’re on our website.”
The Repair Café will be held on Saturday, June 24 from 1pm to 4pm at TXRX Labs, 6501 Navigation Boulevard, Houston, 77011. The event is free, but donations are welcome.
Click this link to learn more or to volunteer for repairs. Repairs are made at your own risk.
Organizations involved include the City of Houston, TXRX Labs, Houston Public Libraries, Green Building Resource Center, Houston Complete Communities, Citizens’ Environmental Coalition, Texas Campaign for the Environment, KW Solar, Repurpose Depot, Houston Tool Bank, and the Houston Center for peace and justice.
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https://www.fox26houston.com/news/repair-cafe-offers-free-appliance-electronic-furniture-repairs
