Latest news and features
Lockdown sheddies
As New Zealand was in this stay at home order for five weeks, sheddies were busy and very active.
Here are some of them that shared their sheds, families and projects with us.
Video of Ray Woodhouse, artist and sculptor from Raetihi
From his shed on the Central Plateau in the North Island, Ray Woodhouse creates totally unique pieces that are more than sculpture and more than a lamp. They would be a truly special addition to any space you choose to place them in.
An artist who we featured in Shed 82, only started this type of work when he retired. Ray has a working shed than many sheddies will envy.
Making a dirtsurfer
The real-life issue this all stemmed from was: “I wanted a dirtsurfer and I could not buy one in New Zealand. Therefore, I will have to design and make one myself.” At the same time, my students were able to record their technology practice and gain credits at NCEA Level 1.
Video of John Hickey, vine and manuka furniture maker
In Issue 89 of The Shed we featured the work of John Hickey.
John created a career and a business for himself making unique furniture following a workshop injury which resulted in him losing the lower half of his left leg.
John is an inspirational sheddie.
Build a barbeque trolley
BBQ season seems to come around faster and faster each year—not that it is a bad thing and sometimes I wonder if it ever really ends!
Each time I head out to the barbecue, it takes multiple trips to carry the meat, the vegetables, the implements, sauces and marinades, and obligatory chef’s beverage. Then there are never enough flat surfaces in the vicinity of the barbecue to keep everything organised.
Video of vintage fire engines at the Westland Heritage Park, Hokitika
In The Shed Issue #80 we visited this heritage park and met the great folks caring for and restoring industrial machines and vehicles.
Here is a short video of their collection of volunteer fire brigade engines from around the South Island. Our tour guide is Michael Rooney.
Make This Summer Cape Cod Chair
A chair with low-slung and raked back, and wide arms perfect for holding a drink seems to epitomise long, lazy afternoons. This design was created in the Adirondack Mountains of New York state where New Yorkers would take their respite from the hot humid summers of the city. It is also commonly called the Cape Cod chair
Video of upcycling a vintage dial telephone from Shed Issue 89
Here’s a video made by Enrico as he updates a vintage rotary dial telephone making it an unconventional interface for a Raspberry Pi.
This phone offers countless possibilities limited only by your own creativity.
Knifemaking by Leif Haseltine
The design for this article is my everyday carry knife, a four-inch (100 mm) dropped hunter—an all-round knife whose blade is ample, large enough to skin that buck and small enough to carry all day without getting in the way.
At The sharp end
Japanese chisels have a reputation for high-quality manufacture and exceptional steelwork.
Undoubtedly, the origins of this tradition of blade manufacture lie with the swordsmiths of the samurai era when only samurai and swordsmiths had the right to bear arms. The blade manufacturers had revered status.
Safety in the shed
One of the things guitar legend Eric Clapton and I have in common is tinnitus.
Eric blames the years he spent in the band Cream, playing in front of the bass speakers of fellow band member Jack Bruce, who always had his amplifier turned up to 11.
The Shed Issue 89 on sale in Australia from today
The February/March Issue 89 of the shed is on sale nationwide from today.
Click on this link to get a fully illustrated run down on what’s in this issue.
Maintain that chainsaw
It’s just like another tool. Your chainsaw should have a basic service by a professional shop six-monthly or yearly. But you can do several things to keep your chainsaw up to scratch at home. To show how to dismantle and check a chainsaw, we are using one of the big, forest 95cc machines. A home machine would usually around 30-60cc, but the principle of maintenance is the same.
A scooter carrier for a campervan
Owning a campervan means you can take your house on holiday with you. The downside is you need to pack up your whole holiday site when you want to drive off and get some fish and chips for dinner. I considered towing a car behind the campervan but that was impractical. I use a scooter for commuting so the solution was obvious—put a scooter carrier on the campervan to give us an easy transport option on holiday.
Video of Eldon Peters wooden drawer organ
Making a chest of drawers that is also an instrument proves a challenging project for New Plymouth’s Eldon Peters.
Upcycling a vintage Brionvega desk lamp
Here’s a video of this project by Enrico Miglino from Issue 88 of The Shed.
Currently, every issue has an upcycling project on classic and vintage technology.
Plug or cap it with Stockcap
When you are pulling apart engines, machinery, and hydraulics, and you need protection to plug off or cap fluid lines, ports and threads, throw away the rags and the tape and contact Hi-Q components.
Shine like a diamond
It’s been a long-time Kiwi favourite for a very good reason — Autosol Metal Polish is the ideal way to clean, polish, and protect all types of metal surfaces.
Festool still setting the pace
Many of the standard features of today’s portable circular saws originate from Festool’s TS55.
The latest generation of TS55s are innovating again…
Drumming up a top kiln
Nothing vertical beats the excitement of opening a kiln and seeing the effect of naked flame on your creations. Gas kilns produce glaze finishes that are often unexpectedly beautiful but commercial gas kilns are usually expensive and bulky.
Selleys new No Mould silicone
Here’s a video from Selleys about their new No Mould silicone that seals and stops mould growth.
Make a swarf sump
It’s a hassle to clean out my workshop vacuum cleaner bag. Metal swarf tends to clip itself onto the fabric and I spend a lot of time picking off the bits individually.
Question: How to pick up small swarf in the workshop without sharp metal or other rubbish going into the vacuum cleaner bag?
Steel just too hard to beat
Harley Coombe didn’t want a steel shed. “I’m a wooden shed man,” he says. “It’s easier to modify and hang stuff on the walls.”
The Shed March/April 2020, Issue 89, in shops now
Issue 89 of The Shed has a great mix of projects and sheddie talents to enjoy.
Nigel Young records the build of a mega-sized spit roast BBQ. Built by the team at the Halswell Menzshed as a fundraising project, this big trailer-mounted gas-burning beast of a cooker can take a full-sized pig for those big gatherings or fund-raising projects.
Flying high
A video of Harry aboard his flying fox went viral and the story was viewed more than 164,000 times on the New Zealand Herald’s Facebook page, prompting hundreds of comments full of admiration for the “real Kiwi man”. Reporters trudged to his door and the phone rang red hot with people wanting his opinions on everything from sanity to the secret to happiness.
Distilling at home
One step up from home brewing your own beer is distilling your own spirits, whether whisky, vodka or a liqueur.
It’s okay to do this by law in New Zealand at home and for personal use although there are restrictions in Australia and many other countries
Its hammer time
Making a hammer head is a project not really worth doing financially, given the cost of a handle alone vs. a new hammer and how easy it is to get an existing hammer and re-forge it to suit your special needs.
Having said that, mere project economics never stopped a true Sheddie.
Shed Issue 88 now on sale Australia-wide
Great news for all our Australian Shed readers, the Jan/Feb Issue 88 is now on sale nationwide.
Click on this link to see what’s in this issue https://the-shed.nz/home/2019/11/27/the-shed-januaryfebruary-2020-issue-88-in-shops-now
A sheddie poem at Christmas
Down the garden and over the lawn
Pop wonders off each day
Unlocks his shed and opens the door…
A message to Australian subscribers of The Shed
Your next issue of the magazine is not getting posted to you till January 8.
Our apologies for this late mailing but Christmas seems to have slowed down deliveries to our mailing house in Sydney.
We can assure though that the wait will be worth it.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the team at The Shed
A set of easily made drawers
This easily made set of drawers may be just the answer in your home workshop and it can be made in a day. I have seen many versions of this set over the years and, because of its simplicity, it is easy to make the size and number of drawers to suit your particular requirements.
Video – Upcycling a milliampere meter
Enjoy this short video of our first upcycling project in The Shed. From Issue 87, upcycling a milliampere meter.
Introducing Selleys Hold Up
Here’s a new product from Selleys that simply sticks almost anything without screws or clamps. Instantly hols even on vertical surfaces. Great product for those looking for an alternative to drilling and plugging walls etc.
Get on yer (electric) bike!
The thought of having an electric bike is very tempting and makes the idea of reaching that café far more appealing but the cost of replacing your bike has you thinking twice about making the jump.
Besides being a bit dusty you have a good bike that cost a few dollars in its day and it seems a shame to banish it to the corner of the shed forever. What if you could turn your bike into an electric bike without breaking the bank?
Size matters, but so do good looks
Philip Solomon has years of experience putting up large sheds and his top tip is that shed aesthetics are important.“A lot of people just focus on what they want to put in the shed until it goes up and then they say, ‘Oh, I don’t like that’,” he says.
The Shed January/February 2020, Issue 88, in shops now
For many of us Kiwis, summertime can mean it’s time to dig out the family tractor. Because summer means beach-holiday time and using that good-old-boy tractor to get the fishing boat in the water as often as possible. To celebrate our love of old tractors, we head south to meet a tractor restorer from Oamaru, one Colin Harvey, who has shedfuls of tractors and spends all his time tinkering with and restoring some great classic farming workhorses.
High time for high shine
The world-famous Autosol Metal Polish is available in an easy-to-use liquid formulation. It’s perfect for cleaning and protecting all metal surfaces on cars, boats, bikes, and around the home.
Different Tusks for different tasks
Tusk offers three ranges of drills made from different grades of high-speed steel. Tusks metal drill bits are made from M2 high-speed steel with a titanium nitride (TiN) coating. The 135-degree point offers faster drilling, lower feed pressure and they have a split point or self-centering tip.