What to Bring and Buy for a Repair Café

A repair café needs more than donated tools. You need a clear reception point, safe power distribution, enough protective equipment and small supplies that can be used up during repairs. Plan one equipped work area for each repair category, then add shared items such as sorting trays, parts bins and cable mats. The quantities below help you avoid the common problem of volunteers waiting for a missing adapter, cup or safety item.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Work tablesqty 8
Chairsqty 24
Reception desk
Clothes racksqty 2

Equipment

Tool casesqty 6
Multimetersqty 4
Soldering stationsqty 4
Sewing machinesqty 2
Ironsqty 2
Glue gunsqty 2
Extension cordsqty 4
Power stripsqty 8
Desk lampsqty 8
Battery chargersqty 2
Vacuum cleaner
Cable reel

Work materials

Floor matsqty 8
Bench visesqty 4
Clampsqty 8
Sorting traysqty 12
Parts binsqty 8

Safety

Safety gogglesqty 12
Work glovesqty 12
Dust masksqty 20
Cable matsqty 6

Tableware

Coffee cupsqty 30
Glassesqty 30
Platesqty 30
Cutlery setsqty 30

Decorations

Information boardsqty 6
Tableclothsqty 8

Office

Clipboardsqty 4
Pen setsqty 6
Number cardsqty 100
Label sheetsqty 4
Markersqty 12
Printer paper

Catering

Thermos flasksqty 4
Water jugsqty 3
Serving plattersqty 6
Coolersqty 2
Tea towelsqty 12
Washing-up bowlsqty 2
Groceries
- Coffee - 4 packs
- Black tea - 2 boxes
- Herbal tea - 1 box
- Sugar - 1 kilogram
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 2 liter
- Spa Blauw - 6 bottles
- Sparkling water - 4 bottles
- Apple juice - 4 liter
- Orange juice - 4 liters
- Cola - 3 bottles
- Cola Zero - 3 bottles
- Butter cookies - 6 packs
- Paprika chips - 3 bags
- Plain chips - 3 bags
- Apples - 5 kilograms
- Bananas - 3 kilograms
- Filled cheese rolls - 20 pieces
- Hummus sandwiches - 20 pieces
- Napkins - 5 packs
- Solder wire - 4 rolls
- Soldering flux - 2 bottles
- Electrical insulation tape - 8 rolls
- Heat shrink tubing - 3 sets
- Cable ties - 3 bags
- Assorted fuses - 2 boxes
- AA batteries - 24 pieces
- AAA batteries - 24 pieces
- Sandpaper - 2 sets
- Sewing thread - 2 sets
- Sewing needles - 2 sets
- Clothing buttons - 2 bags
- Fabric glue - 4 tubes
- Super glue - 6 tubes
- Glue sticks - 20 pieces
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Disinfectant - 2 bottles
- Hand soap - 4 bottles
- Hand sanitizer gel - 2 bottles
- Sponges - 10 pieces
- Microfiber cloths - 20 pieces
- Paper towels - 8 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 60 pieces

Tips

Plan one work table, one task light and one tool case per active repair category. Keep at least one spare multimeter and a small reserve of common hand tools at the reception desk.
Buy or bring enough extension cords, power strips and cable mats to reach every table without cables crossing walkways. Test electrical equipment before setup and keep one cable reel available for longer distances.
Allow two coffee cups and one glass per expected visitor, plus about 10% extra. Plates and cutlery are easy to overlook when refreshments are served at the coffee station.
Prepare safety equipment for every person working at a table: one pair of safety goggles and work gloves, with dust masks available for dusty repairs. Put floor mats under machines and around high-traffic work areas.
Use separate sorting trays or parts bins for each repair currently in progress. Label the bins before visitors arrive, because loose screws and small components are much harder to identify after several repairs are mixed together.

Frequently asked questions

What tools do I need for a repair café?: Start with one tool case per active repair category, then add the specialist equipment your categories require, such as multimeters, soldering stations, sewing machines, irons or glue guns. Keep at least one spare multimeter and one shared vacuum cleaner available.
How many tables do I need for a repair café?: Use one work table for each repair category running at the same time, plus one reception desk and a separate coffee station. Leave enough space for chairs, floor mats and safe cable routes rather than filling the room wall to wall.
How much safety equipment should I buy for a repair café?: Provide one pair of safety goggles and one pair of work gloves for every volunteer working at a repair table, with spare sets for replacements. Keep dust masks available for dusty jobs and use cable mats wherever power leads cross visitor routes.
How many cups and glasses are needed for a repair café?: Allow two coffee cups and one glass per expected visitor, then add around 10% for breakage and extra drinks. Buy plates and cutlery for the same visitor count if you are serving food, and set them out before registration opens.

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