The Shed - Woodwork

Make a simple outrigger canoe

22 November 2018

To build it, I concentrated on the advice of most waka ama advocates: that the canoe should be made of locally available materials, quick to assemble on the launching area and very cheap to make.
This waka cost me less than $200 by using recycled material and left-over house paint for the finish. I did not work from plans but used a cardboard model that I made as a guide. The waka takes less than two minutes to assemble after we take it off its trolley.

Make a handy saw bench jig

15 November 2018

I regularly need to cut a multiple number of short pieces on my saw bench for small box components, kids’ building blocks, small pieces for furniture etc. In the past I have clamped in place various contraptions to ensure each piece is the same length. It is difﬁcult to hold small pieces to cut them accurately but this jig solves the problem. It attaches to the saw bench in seconds and probably takes longer to get out of the cupboard than to fit.

Get to know the North Shore mens’ shed plus, how the New Zealand mens’ shed movement began

12 November 2018

What could be better than spending time in a shed? How about a bigger shed, the right tool for the job on hand, and ready access to timely tips and tricks that might save a wince-inducing blunder?
If that sounds like a good deal, you could hardly do better than to take yourself off to your local Men’s Shed and get that project under way there.

Video of how to make a metal (swarf) sweeper

8 November 2018

In Issue 81 of The Shed, Des Thomson showed us how to solve the problem of sweeping up metal waste and nails from your workshop or shed. In this video, Des discusses the build, then displays the sweeper and its uses.

Electronic, mini wooden Christmas trees

1 November 2018

That original version of this project used 3 mm light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and no printed circuit board. Because of its size, it was tricky to wire and not so easy for a novice to construct. But the version of the project being followed here has been updated and adapted for easy construction.

Recycled rimu outdoor chair

18 October 2018

I have almost always used recycled rimu for my chairs as it is easy to obtain and relatively cheap to buy. It seems to last for ever and once the ﬁnish has weathered a little it has that rustic look.
Buying recycled rimu from second-hand building supply dealers has the advantage that you can get it when you want it, you can pick and choose the actual sticks you buy and it comes de-nailed.

Go your own way: Have fun making your own coffin

16 September 2018

As the saying goes, there are only two certainties; death and taxes. While we can do little about the latter, we can at least be prepared for the former. That is the motivation behind the group that gathers every Wednesday in a former warehouse in Rotorua

Find your copy of The Shed magazine in Australia

12 September 2018

Great news for Australian Shed magazine readers, The Shed is now on sale again in all Australian states at all good newsagents.
Click on this link for a complete list of Australian retail outlets so you can find your nearest stockist. Welcome back to The Shed.
https://www.theshedmag.co.nz/…/find-your-local-australian-t…

The Shed magazine is back on sale in Australia

9 September 2018

Great news for Australian Shed magazine readers, The Shed is now on sale again in all Australian states at all good newsagents.

Child’s play: How to make a cubby

17 August 2018

My daughter in Christchurch emailed that she would like a cubby house for her three young children. They had recently moved into their new house and there was a 1.5 x 5 metre garden strip adjacent to the fence in the back yard. I had read Rod Kane’s excellent article in the August/ September 2013 issue of The Shed on building a playhouse and thought at the time what a fun project that would be, so the planets were in alignment.

The Shed Issue 80, September/October 2018

13 August 2018

When we met Des Thomson and his expanding motorhome pod in Issue 76 of The Shed, we were very impressed with his workshop dust extractor. Happily for us all, Des has found the time to share with us how he builds these machines using and an old vacuum and the minimum of parts. Follow his step by step build of a workshop dust extractor in this Issue 80 of The Shed.

Making a Classic Work Bench: Part Two – Making the Tail Vice

1 August 2018

Right so now that your back from your warm sunny Pacific Island holiday—taken to recover from making the benchtop and frame—it’s time to get working on the vice. What we have on our hands is a beautiful little project of reasonable complexity that demands accuracy, uses both hand and machine-skills and is incredibly satisfying both when making it and using it.

Have you got a shed project for us?

18 July 2018

We are always looking for great projects to feature in The Shed magazine and website. Are you building and creating a project that would interest other sheddies? Let us know and we will send our team around to document the task and share it with other sheddies all around the world.

Video of master birdhouse builder Steven Price

3 July 2018

When builder Steven Price suffered a severe neck injury at work he turned the accident into an opportunity. The Whanganui sheddie no longer mounts scaffolding; instead he designs and constructs much smaller buildings. Enjoy this video and see Steven creating and discussing his work using totara and kauri to make stunningly unique birdhouse creations in his garden and shed.

Installing a Kitchen

12 June 2018

Kitchens are the heart of a house, the control room around which everything revolves, and a room that gets a lot of use, more so than any other. It’s also a workplace where meals are prepared and often consumed. It’s a hard traffic area that sees a lot of action. Kitchen styles are constantly changing and traditionally there has been a trade off between functionality and design within a set budget.

Woodwork