Category: Repair

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A Christmas Miracle Repair, Bringing a 1970s Tape Recorder Back to Life

We got a message in the run-up to Christmas with a simple ask. Could we pull off a last-minute repair of a vintage tape recorder and save the day?

When the request came from our long-time friend Claire Downey, the person who first introduced us to Repair Cafés over ten years ago, we knew we had to give it a proper go.

The patient from a charity shop on the bench was an ITT Schaub-Lorenz SL54 Automatic, a Taiwanese-made radio cassette recorder from the mid 1970s, roughly 1974 to 1976. A proper bit of kit, and the kind of thing you do not want to see quietly written off and binned because “sure it’s old”.

Ambrose stepped up to take on the challenge.

If you have ever opened up something like this, the first suspect is nearly always the belts. Those rubber belts drive the moving parts, and after decades they tend to stretch, go shiny, or crumble into sticky bits. You open the case expecting the usual mess, then you cross your fingers that you have a belt in the right size somewhere in the spares box.

This time we got a surprise.

Instead of a belt that had perished with age, we found… a hair bobbin.

Somebody, at some point, had tried to get it going again using whatever they had to hand. Fair play for the creativity, but a hair bobbin is not going to keep the timing and tension right, so the tape speed was off and the audio came out warped.

The good news is we did have the right belt to hand. A straightforward swap, and while we had it open, it turned into a lovely teaching moment. That is a big part of what we do at TOG. It is not only about fixing the thing; it is about sharing repair skills and helping the owner understand what is going on inside their device.

Half an hour later, with the belt fitted and everything buttoned back up, it was time for the real test.

Out came a vintage Beatles mixtape. We hit play. Clean sound through the little speaker. Job done.

Another repair complete, another device saved from landfill, and Christmas officially rescued.

If something breaks over the Christmas stretch, or you unwrap a “project” by accident, do not panic. Bring it along to our next Repair Café on Sunday, 18 January 2026.

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/repair-cafe-tickets-1977495649721?aff=oddtdtcreator

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Repair Café At Leixlip Library

Bring broken bits from home to Leixlip Library for a morning of repair, chat and climate action with volunteers from TOG Hackerspace.

On Saturday, 13 December 2025, from 10.00 to 13.00, Leixlip Library will host a Repair Café in partnership with TOG Hackerspace and the Kildare County Council Climate Action Office. Skilled volunteers will help you give worn and broken items another shot at life, instead of sending them to the landfill.

Multiple 30-minute slots run through the morning. Booking is through Leixlip Library, so contact the library desk or check the library website for full details.

What you can bring

• Clothes and accessories
• Toys
• Small electrical appliances and electronics
• Small furniture

If you are unsure about an item, bring it along on the day. Volunteers will take a look and see if a repair is possible. Safety testing (PAT) for electrical devices will be in place.

What happens at a Repair Café

You arrive with an item, sign in, then wait for a fixer to free up. A volunteer sits down with you, opens things up, and talks through options. You get to see how the repair works, ask questions, and pick up a few skills for next time.

The aim is not a drop-off service. It is a shared repair session where everyone learns something, has a chat, and heads home with more confidence and, hopefully, a working item.

Why take part

Repair Cafés support a circular economy in a simple, local way. Every item repaired keeps resources in use for longer, cuts waste, and saves money. Events like this also build up local skills and give people a chance to share knowledge across the community.

Where and when

Date: Saturday 13 December 2025
Time: 10.00 to 13.00
Venue: Leixlip Library, Captains Hill, Leixlip, Co Kildare
Cost: Free, booking required for a 30-minute slot

If you would like to help out as a fixer on the day, drop us an email at TOG and we will be in touch.

This event runs in partnership with Leixlip Library, TOG Hackerspace and the Kildare County Council Climate Action Office as part of local climate action work in Kildare.

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TOG on RTÉ Radio 1 from the Tullamore Repair Café

Delighted to share that our Tullamore Repair Café was featured on RTÉ Radio 1’s CountryWide. The 5-minute clip captures the buzz on the day with voices from across our fixer crew and visitors.
👉 Listen back on RTÉ Radio 1: “A visit to the repair café in Tullamore”

For context on the event, see our original post:
👉 Tullamore Repair Café – Event Details

And check out the photos from the day:
👉 Tullamore Repair Café – Gallery

Big thanks to everyone who came along and to our partners in Offaly for the support. Onwards with more repair!

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Fix All The Things

socks

If you follow Tog, you’ll know that we’re no stranger to Repair Café. It’s become a bit of an institution around here. We never know whats going to come in our door on the day. We’re probably well into 4 figures in terms of the number of items that we have fixed over the years. Repair Café also embeds a culture of repair in all those who get involved with them.

When is the last time you darned a pair of socks however? This is an easy fix, and probably one that most of us will have the means to do at home. Sadly however, we’re too inclined to just throw our old clothes away. This morning, we read that Ireland consumes more than double the European average of textiles.

These socks, bought on the Aran Island of Inisheer in 2024, were a bit too young and too nice to throw away. So out with the needle and thread, and in no time they’re good to go for another while. Now just need to keep those toenails trimmed!

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October Repair Cafe

Bring your broken tech and trinkets to get them fixed by the skilled volunteers at Tog Hackerspace!

On October 18, 2025 (International Day of Repair), between 2 and 6 pm, TOG Hackerspace will host a repair cafe!

At this event, the skilled volunteers at TOG will share their expertise and passion for repair, helping you fix your broken items and breathe new life into them. Whether it’s a malfunctioning gadget, a piece of clothing in need of mending, or a household item that’s seen better days, bring it along and let the TOG team work their magic.

What can you bring in?

  • Clothes and accessories
  • Toys
  • Small electrical appliances and electronics
  • Small furniture

…. And many other things!

Safety testing (PAT) for electrical devices will be available.

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Jeffrey Roe Named Reuse & Repair Champion at the Full Circle Awards 2025

We’re thrilled to share some amazing news from the repair community: our very own Jeffrey Roe has been awarded the title of Reuse & Repair Champion at the Full Circle Awards 2025 by Circular.ie.

The awards ceremony took place at the launch of Circular.ie in Lansdowne Road, and the judges had high praise for Jeffrey:

“Jeffrey has been the driving force behind Repair Cafés in Ireland and is a well-recognised champion and leader in the field. His community-driven, hands-on approach empowers people with valuable repair skills and fosters collaborative, social spaces for learning. Jeffrey stands out for his technical innovation and leadership in embedding repair culture within communities.”

This recognition highlights not just Jeffrey’s personal commitment, but also the incredible collective effort of everyone involved in running Repair Cafés at Tog Hackerspace and across Ireland. Every event is powered by volunteer fixers who bring their skills, patience, and community spirit to the table.

Over the years, Jeffrey has helped build and lead the Repair Café movement here at home while also sharing and exchanging knowledge abroad with Buinho in Portugal and FabLab Cuenca in Spain, among others. These international trips show that repair is always a two-way exchange: while Jeffrey brings experience and tools, he also returns with new ideas and approaches to share locally.

And the repair journey doesn’t stop here! Upcoming Repair Cafés:

  • 🔧 Tullamore – 11 October 2025
  • 🔧 Tog Hackerspace (Dublin) – 17 October 2025

Read more about Jeffrey’s award on the Circular.ie site:
👉 Reuse & Repair Champion – Jeffrey Roe

Congratulations Jeffrey, and a massive thank you to all our fixers and visitors who make Repair Cafés possible. Here’s to keeping repair culture growing!