PORTSMOUTH — An industrial workspace for artisans, geeks and the public, Port City Makerspace hosted Carol Shea-Porter on Monday, when the congresswoman announced proposed legislation to reduce taxes for startup businesses.

PORTSMOUTH — An industrial workspace for artisans, geeks and the public, Port City Makerspace hosted Carol Shea-Porter on Monday, when the congresswoman announced proposed legislation to reduce taxes for startup businesses.



Ross Beane, a craftsman who serves on the local makerspace board of directors, led the tour of the Morning Street warehouse where people teach, learn and perfect arts, including woodworking, metalsmithing, lock picking, bicycle building, robotics, knife sharpening and robotics. Beane called the local makerspace an incubator where some members and guests borrow tools to build prototypes of products that later go to market.



“Many members started as hobbyists but ended up selling what they make,” Beane said. “Some people are applying for patents.”



Beane said some people compare the makerspace concept to gym memberships because members have access to communal tools.



Member Scott Winchester showed Shea-Porter metal knives and rings he makes through a time-consuming process, involving 600 layers of work and dipping the pieces in boiling vinegar baths to bring out the patina of the metals. Winchester said he learned blacksmithing from his great-grandfather in Canada, before studying under masters including John Smith of Sturbridge Village.



He told the congresswoman that he left a corporate job to return to metal work and that he's “looking for assistance with taxes for small businesses.”



“It will be greatly appreciated,” he told Shea-Porter. “I've met at least 50 artisans who would love to be able to support themselves and their families” through the arts.



Clint Crosbie, one of Portsmouth Makerspace's founders, said he started with woodworking and since has dabbled with fellow tinkerers in electronics and remote control projects. He said the shared workspace was started with seed money and donations and is in the process of becoming a non profit and fully funded through memberships.



The public is invited to take classes with day passes and schedules are posted online.



“What a brilliant idea,” Shea-Porter said. “This makes my Yankee heart proud.”



Crosbie said the makerspace concept works well in urban environments where space is tight. Jeff Gunn demonstrated how he makes prototype parts on a 3D printer.



Next to the woodshop is a bicycle shop where members and guests customize bicycles, or learn to repair them. Every unique bicycle in the 2013 annual Halloween parade was created in the local makerspace, Beane said.



“Clearly you're all engaged and you need encouragement and that's why we're here,” Shea-Porter said. “I'm not interested in building up China's economy, I'm interested in building up our economy.”



Shea-Porter announced during Monday's tour that she'll introduce the Reward and Encourage New Business Act (RENEW) legislation to “permanently double the tax deduction for new businesses from $5,000 to $10,000.



“Entrepreneurs helped build New Hampshire and America's economy and we should do more to support people who want to pursue the American Dream of starting a business,” she said. “By doubling the tax deduction for new businesses from $5,000 to $10,000, the RENEW Business Act tells aspiring entrepreneurs that the time is now.”



Shea-Porter first introduced the legislation in 2008 as the Small Business Start-Up Support Act, but the deduction expired, she said.



“We want to be friendly toward the small business owner,” she said, “because that's where we come from.”