The Shed, Author at The Shed

The balisong or folding knife

9 October 2019

The balisong, also erroneously called the butterﬂy knife, has been around since approximately 1200 BC where it played a part in the Filipino martial art form, Escrima.
Although some commercially available ones have been around for many years, they never really caught on until the 1970s.
I know one knife-maker in NZ who makes balisongs exclusively. The reason for the balisong’s popularity: four pins, two handles, one blade. No springs, screws, rivets.

The Shed, November/December 2019 issue no 87, in shops now

7 October 2019

The November/December 2019 Issue 87 of The Shed, has a real electronics feel about it but there is also a lot here to keep all sheddies informed, entertained and well-skilled up.
Our cover story is about the goal of a Christchurch boat builder, architect, designer, sailor, Quentin Roake, to find a way to build waka in large numbers. He wants to recreate the appearance and characteristics of traditional craft in a modern version that is portable, durable, and economical to manufacture. Quentin has made it his mission to put Maori waka back on the water by marrying traditional knowledge with today’s technology

Wa-ter rocket!

1 October 2019

A pretty simple water rocket launcher using a few high-pressure PVC plumbing pipes, air and a soft-drink bottle with water in it will provide plenty of DIY fun and show some basic physics.
I built one for my eight-year-old’s Cub Scout group and have had lots of requests from fathers asking how to make one.

On a scroll

24 September 2019

Once, while browsing through an old wrought-iron design catalogue, Kim (the son of blacksmiths Ian Nielsen & Son) came across a peacock design and decided it would make a great after-hours project. It turned into a much bigger job than he anticipated with the finished 3 metre by 2 metre gate taking around a ton of steel and about three months to make.

Christchurch Woodturners Association

24 September 2019

On Saturday, 24 August 2019, the Christchurch Woodturners Association (CWA) finally saw its long-term dream come to fruition with the opening of its very own clubrooms on the Auburn Ave Reserve in Upper Riccarton.

This quick fix Liquid Nails is impressive

19 September 2019

We thought you would find this video interesting to watch. It shows the impressive strength of Instant Hold Liquid Nails from Selleys – it’s a pretty quick fix.

Getting a handle on veneer

18 September 2019

This piece was originally designed as a bit of fun: a simple carcase construction with a handle detail that would provide me with a challenge while satisfying my passion for curvy, organic forms. I made the original version in maple with a bloodwood veneer. The contrast in timber and the handle detail made for a striking piece and I was commissioned to make another in cherry with birdseye maple veneer.

From scrap metal to cooking spit

12 September 2019

It’s not my original idea. I used to live in Tutukaka and we’d go on 4WD rallies and claybird shoots in the backblocks where there was no power. It was a lot of fun. One time a guy turned up with a battery-driven spit and the idea stayed in my mind. You could take it where there was no power – I always said I would design something one day that worked with no power.

Recycle don’t bin that wrapper

10 September 2019

This may interest you if you’re a Shed subscriber.
Did you know that the plastic wrapping that acts as an envelope for your home-delivered copy of The Shed is recyclable?

The Shed Issue 86 on sale nationwide in Australia today

8 September 2019

Good news for our Australian readers of The Shed.
The September/October 2019 issue is on sale from today at your favourite magazine retailer. Click on the link below to find your nearest store or head to https://magstore.nz/ to purchase a copy or to subscribe to a print or digital version of the magazine.
https://the-shed.nz/home/2018/9/5/find-your-local-australian-the-shed-retailer

How to make a knife video by Josh Timmins from Issue 86

4 September 2019

Meet the knifemaker from The Shed Issue 86 and watch how he makes a fully forged knife in his Whanganui shed

Carve a Tudor rose

4 September 2019

An aspiring woodcarver who builds on a solid foundation of knowledge and technique will soon be creating impressive carvings. To demonstrate basic knowledge and techniques, we are going to follow the carving of a Tudor rose.

Colour anodise that aluminium alloy

29 August 2019

Aluminium alloys have one critical failing, for all their good qualities of lightness, conductivity and strength. They corrode. One way to guard against corrosion is to create a hard oxide ﬁlm on an aluminium alloy by anodising

The Shed Magazine, 2020 calendar competition

25 August 2019

We are looking for twelve great shed shots for our first ever The Shed calendar. This calendar will be included with all subscriber and New Zealand retail copies of the January/February 2020 issue, on sale December 2 2019.

The bronze age

21 August 2019

Brought up in a family of artists, Rudi Buchanan-Strewe has tried to break the mould and, after work experience as a blacksmith, he completed a motorcycle apprenticeship at Classic Cycles in Upper Hutt. A move back to Auckland saw him working for Ken McIntosh on his Manx Nortons before deciding, about eight years ago, to give in to his genes and pursue his love of sculpture.

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