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"I am a professional scientist, but I have never given up being an amateur scientist too. The question is how much high quality science can I do in my garage? The answer is quite a lot. In fact I use high-vacuum and laser technology, gas and liquid chromatography, various forms of spectroscopy, metal smelting, glass-blowing, smart electronics, computing, arc and spot welding, forging and blacksmithing, milling and turning, grinding and lapping, to the extent that I am coming to believe there is practically nothing technical or scientific that I can't do in my garage! Of course, I admit there are some things that are beyond my reach, mostly because of scale: CERN-scale particle research I concede is beyond me. And of course, I don't try to make everything from scratch - I use the scientific and technological infra-structure available. I used to make my own printed circuit boards, but now find it relatively inexpensive to use a specialist firm.
I find the possibilities that are presented to me are limited only by my imagination and creativity. The hardware in my garage was not expensive - all second-hand and some needing repair. But with it I find I reach the coal-face of scientific invention: the limitations are in my head, not in the technology available to me - so I'm not blaming my tools or their absence!"
