DIY repair clubs are helping Americans save money and fight big tech

US community repair clinics teach people how to fix their belongings, pushing back against throwaway culture

On a recent Monday night, a volunteer-run workspace bustled with dozens of fixers in Brooklyn, New York. Some tinkered with sewing machines while others soldered circuit boards at a workbench. Caleb Young, a co-founder of the Brooklyn Spark space, fit a DIY suction device on to the handle of a Dyson vacuum cleaner.

“It’s in our culture to throw things away, but sometimes the fix is easier than you’d think,” Young said.