We are OPEN for new memberships. Public tours are available on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of each month.

  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

The Bodgery

A Makerspace in Madison, WI

  • About
    • About
    • Wiki
    • News
  • The Space
  • Membership
    • Join us!
    • Member Login
    • Member Business Directory
  • Events
  • Contact / Visit
  • Donate

Main Content

To Bodge (v), to make or repair hastily, to MacGyver

We’re a makerspace and social group in Madison, WI.
We offer the tools and space to bring your ideas to life!
We’re member-run, so jump on board and help us build something awesome!

Classes

Classes & Programs

We offer a variety of classes and host many no-cost community programs.



Learn more

Tools and Space

Tools & Space

We have (literally) tons of tools spread across all kinds of making and plenty of space to use them.

Learn more

Community

Our Community

Whether learning a tool, honing a craft, building a business, or finding a creative group of makers, this is your place to build skills and community!

Learn more

Membership

Guests are always welcome at the Bodgery. But there are benefits to becoming a member! Members have 24/7 access to all of our tools, storage space, member-only classes and communication channels, and a vote in community decisions.

Learn More

What We've Been Up To

"Foundation Piece" ceramic-mixed media sculpture 3 "Foundation Piece"
ceramic-mixed media sculpture
30'" x 24"
2026
Artist: Tom Oele

Artist Statement:
My grandfather ran and lived on the Michigan Veteran's Facility grounds in Grand Rapids, Mi. I grew up around those buildings, now torn down and replaced. I played in the creek that ran through it with my sister, explored the veteran's cemetery with so so many faceless names. I watched those who came back whole and I watched those who came back almost. When I started this piece I wasn't reaching for metaphor, I was reaching for the ground I came up on.

The large white stone is from Mockingbird Hill, an overgrown part of the Milwaukee Veteran's Hospital grounds. A foundation piece. Discarded. Somebody decided it wasn't useful anymore. A feeling so many of us veterans are also accustomed to. The rock leans into an ambiguous figure now, one meant to hold every gender that walks through the doors of these places. The system that breaks you is the same one you end up leaning on.

The rough black ceramic body is one piece, fired solid. It represents every broken warrior I have watched walk through these places. Myself included. The head is open, an empty vessel where speech and sight used to live. The wires are the multitude of repairs. Dense on one side, simpler on the other. Different injuries get patched differently and you do not always get to choose the medic.

That figure is still standing. Broken. Healing.
Students from Shabazz City High School, Innovative Students from Shabazz City High School, Innovative High School, and Madison Country Day School have been busy designing and creating a variety of projects while learning real world skills.

@cedarfishboatco @madison_country_day_school @madisonschools
Dave Haldiman describes his recent project, "A rec Dave Haldiman describes his recent project, "A recently finished candle holder made from a cherry branch with some burl on it, a couple of cherry off-cuts, and lime Jello. Okay, the Jello part isn’t true."
Gail Leinweber recently took a fused glass pendan Gail Leinweber recently took  a fused glass pendant class. She is having fun and made these beauties. She turned some of her pendants into earrings.
Hayden Elza made this great chair. He reused some Hayden Elza made this great chair. He reused some Cedar 4 x 4s he had from a previous project. He used a 1950's pattern, but to make the chair project easier, he imported the pattern into CAD so he could cut hardboard templates on the laser cutter.
Cid Freitag made this remarkable CNC topographic Cid Freitag  made this remarkable CNC topographic map of the local four lakes area. The map was made using lake boundaries from the early surveys done in the 1830s so they look a bit different than now.
Pete B made this gorgeous round coffee table from Pete B made this gorgeous round coffee table from Walnut.

@uncarvedblockwi
This is the first woodworking project that Fred Tu This is the first woodworking project that Fred Turkington completed at the Bodgery. He made it from 5/4 Hard Maple purchased at Capital Hardwood. It is a clone of another piece he already owned and he uses the one he made to store dog treats near his back door.
Rosa Hernandez and Aiden Brumsickle collaborated t Rosa Hernandez and Aiden Brumsickle collaborated to make glass beads for this lovely necklace. The glass beads were combined with some wooden beads they had on hand. Aidan strung the necklace (his first time doing so) and gifted the necklace to his mother.
Here is some gorgeously detailed wall art that Pet Here is some gorgeously detailed wall art that Pete B made on the scroll saw.

@uncarvedblockwi
This is the first ample from the Bodgery's SK 860 This is the first ample from the Bodgery's SK 860 knitting machine!
Sarah Polenska needed a temporary cremation urn fo Sarah Polenska needed a temporary cremation urn for a friend of a friend, and she needed it fast!  So, in a couple of hours, she and Jim Fortner built this beautiful Cherry box.
Rand Hough is grateful to everyone who helped him Rand Hough is grateful to everyone who helped him learn to use the woodshop to build picture frames. He just sent a finished frame to his mom for her birthday and he thinks it wouldn't look as good without so much Bodger wisdom.
Bill Cogger is starting to make a small working st Bill Cogger is starting to make a small working steam engine out of metal. He expects the project to take hundreds of hours of work. We can't wait to see the completed project.
Jim Vogel designed this adorable puzzle and cut it Jim Vogel designed this adorable puzzle and cut it on the CNC router. His partner Kristi did all the amazing painting. The project was a gift for their granddaughter.
Monica Radtke says, "Tis the season for a forage! Monica Radtke says, "Tis the season for a forage! You can find me at the [Dane County] farmers market with my ceramic creations or on Instagram @monradtke! 🍄"

@monradtke
Gabrielle Cornish made a gorgeous hardwood holder Gabrielle Cornish made a  gorgeous hardwood holder to store coffee filters. It is made from Cherry with Walnut splines.
Matthew Wachno made this timelapse showing the CNC Matthew Wachno made this timelapse showing the CNC router carving some signs he designed and made for some friends of his who are starting a U-Pick strawberry farm this spring.If you want to follow their journey, they are @oomenfarms on Instagram.
Tyler Willenbrink created this incredible yard art Tyler Willenbrink created this incredible yard art.
Pete B made this beautiful Scrollsaw intarsia of a Pete B made this beautiful Scrollsaw intarsia of a highland cow.

@uncarvedblockwi
Follow on Instagram

Footer

740 Oscar Avenue, Madison, WI 53704
862-BODGE-ME (862-263-4363) | contact@thebodgery.org
Public tours are available on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of each month, 7-9pm!
UptimeRobot

Copyright © 2026 THE BODGERY · ADMIN Log in