Fix-It Fairs

What are Fix-it Fairs?

The City of Eugene has partnered with the ToolBox Project, Eugene’s tool lending library, and other community partners to continue hosting Fix-It Fairs, events that invite the community to get items repaired at no cost. Volunteers and professionals provide repair education at these events and provide assistance to attendees interested in learning how to make their own repairs. More information about recent and upcoming Fix it Fairs and repair events is available.

These events are FREE and open to everyone.

How can I get my items repaired?

In our community, repair services are available for a variety of products such as small appliances (like lamps and toasters), tools, clothing and textiles, small electronics, home and garden tools, furniture, and toys.

Wondering how you can get your items fixed? Go to Fixitlanecounty.com for a directory of local repair professionals and other reuse and repair resources.

Why repair?

Repair is a viable option in Eugene. We have a community of repair professionals to help fix our broken stuff.
Repair shops keep money in our local economy and support local families.
Repairing broken items gives you more options than simply throwing them away.
Repair is empowering--you can learn a new skill and bring new life to your favorite things.

So far, five large Fix it Fair events have been produced, including a Spanish language Fix it event and smaller scale Fix-it workshops. At Fix it Fairs, over 600 community members have been assisted with about 70% of items brought to these events being repaired. To date, we have kept over 3,000 pounds of stuff out of the landfill. Ongoing Fix- it workshops and events are being hosted virtually. Find out more on our Upcoming Event page.

Ken and Sheila Smith, Ken’s Electronics

Ken and Sheila began their business almost 47 years ago. But Ken has been repairing electronics for almost 60 years. While he can do pretty much anything, he specializes in anything manufactured around 1970 or before. Not only can he repair these vintage electronics, he is also a collector! Walking into rooms in their home is like walking into a museum filled with vintage beauties, almost all of which are expertly repaired and restored, dating all the way back to the early 1900’s! Ken and Sheila are true gems in the Eugene-Springfield community. To learn more about Ken and Sheila, you can call them at 541-485-8676 or visit radioattic.com.

Karen Freeman, Imagine Custom Sewing

Karen wasn’t planning to start Imagine Custom Sewing ten years ago, but through community support, and her sewing skills, she was able to create a sewing and alteration business from her home. Karen loves sewing and altering formal wear and wedding gowns, but also loves making home decorating stuff like cushions. Although, she loves to create and mend a wide range of other things too! To learn more about Karen and her work in the community, you can visit her Facebook or call her at 541-731-1250.

Ken Check, Checkrite Electronics

Ken began his business, Checkrite Electronics for Seniors, after he retired from HP. After reading a copy of the Northwest Boomer and Senior News, he recognized that he could benefit seniors by helping them repair some common household items, usually for free or at a very low-cost.On the first Monday of every month, he does free repairs for seniors at the Petersen Barn Community Center, City of Eugene and the third Wednesday of every month he does repairs at the City of Eugene Campbell Community Center. Learn more about Ken by e-mailing him at checkrite.electronics@gmail.com or calling him at 541-653-8825.

Issac Johnson, Ding Ding Cycles

Issac started Ding Ding because he saw an opportunity to provide mechanical assistance for our community outside of traditional bike shops. Many of us ride bikes all day every day and either can’t make it to a shop during open hours or don’t want to wait when they all get busy. By bringing a mobile repair shop to public events around town, Issac is able to diagnose what’s happening on each bike and quickly remedy the issues. Want to get in touch with Issac or learn more? E-mail him at Dingdingcycles@gmail.com or visit https://m.facebook.com/DingDingCycleEvents/

Bill Clark, Eugene Power Tool Repair

When Bill moved down to Eugene, he was working as an electrician and doing repair work out of his garage with the help of his wife, Lisa. The demand for Bill’s repair services kept increasing, so much so that he had the choice of being an electrician full-time or being self-employed in the tool repair business. Well, the rest is history. At Eugene Power Tools, Bill repairs construction equipment for businesses, but also things like lawn mowers and pressure washers for residents. You can learn more about Eugene Power Tools at 541-232-5081 or at https://www.eugenepowertool.com/ Opens a New Window.

Bryce Mayall, Lignicity

Bryce started his business, Lignicity, back in 2012. While he definitely can repair mostly anything, his real love is making and building things. Currently, he builds bed frames but can do so much more than that, including, but definitely not limited to, shelves, cribs, structures, and this beautifully crafted desk pictured here. He utilizes as much local and sustainable wood as possible, while creating unique pieces of furniture that are built to last. Learn more about Lignicity at his Instagram (@lignicity), at Lignicity.com Opens a New Window. or by contacting him at bryce@lignicity.com.

Rick and Deborah, My Red Dog Art-Furbished Furniture

Rick and Deborah have been working with furniture for over ten years. They now work as a team to repair and restore furniture. With environmental sustainability as an important value in their work, they reinvent pieces of furniture to be unique and made to last. To the right, you can see Deborah with a chair she is beautifying using unique materials she found at local thrift stores. You can learn more about them at their by contacting them at myreddog.furbished@gmail.com.