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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    southern Fleurieu Peninsula, S.A.
    Posts
    234

    Default New Men's Shed, please help...!

    Hi all,
    My Name is Ashley Edwards.
    I have started the process of introducing a men's Shed into the Yankalilla district, south of Adelaide. I have advertised and held 3 meetings so far. We have established a committee and even got two grants. One from local council and one from the over 50's club, where the shed will be built in the future.
    We are in the process of registering with the men's shed organisation and incorporating.
    Yesterday we went on a tour of other local sheds to get some inspiration and ideas to implement in our shed.

    As far as committee's and local interest are concerned, we're are going well.

    What we need are more funds to build our shed. How did others do it? Did you get lots of council support? Are there any federal grants available?
    We have some money but not enough...

    We have a great location and lots of support but we'll be starting from scratch. What size shed do you think as a minimum? We have lots of room to extend in the future. we also have toilets and club rooms in the over 50's club next door.

    Any advice is very welcome.

    Thank you,

    Ash.

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    Sunbury, Vic
    Age
    84
    Posts
    2,711

    Default

    If you have a local Community Bank Branch of Bendigo Bank it would be worth asking them for a grant or sponsorship but you will need to bank with them and explain the benefits to the community of your project.
    Tom

    "It's good enough" is low aim

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    27,741

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by asheddie View Post
    What we need are more funds to build our shed. How did others do it?
    I turned up at our Shed after all the money for the new building has been raised but I believe the tactic was to find guys that are good at raising money to take ownership of the project and thus help raise the money.
    We are incorporated under our local Senior Citz who contributed greatly to the fund raising.
    We have a couple of local pollies on side, a former mayor (who knew lots of people) on the fund raising committee, and councillors who supported us in Council.
    We also targeted service clubs who were very generous.

    Did you get lots of council support?
    Yes they gave us half the money for the shed.

    We have a great location and lots of support but we'll be starting from scratch. What size shed do you think as a minimum? .
    That depends on many things like how many members you have, how often they turn up, how often you intend opening, and what you want to do in your shed.

    We currently have about 70 members and growing at the rate of about 2 per week.
    Only about 25 are there at any one time. This is OK if they are spread across the various work areas

    So far We are open 7 half days of the week.
    During 4 of those sessions we run a specific class on
    - general woodworking,
    - general metal working (mainly welding),
    - wood turning
    - and toy making
    One of those sessions is a maintenance only session

    Our shed is ~20 x ~12 m and includes a large Office, Kitchen/dining area, Toilet/bathroom.
    The work areas are
    7.5 x 14.5 m for woodwork and some metal work machines
    6.5 x 4.2 m for just metal work (this was going to be our store room but we now use a 40ft Container which is CHOKA with stuff -eg we have over 20 spare electric motors in it)
    We also have a 4.2 x 7.5 m room that is a bus garage for the senior citz. However the bus is just a small Toyota Hiace so there is room at the end for 6 WW lathes all on wheels
    When we run turning sessions we move the bus outside and WHALA - wood turning room for 6 people.

    We also have an area on one side of the shed that was going to be parking for 6 vehicles that we have commandeered for outside wood work.
    On the other side of the shed there is a double driveway which we use for external metal working and are looking to fence off that area and have some machines outside under cover.

    We have lots of room to extend in the future. we also have toilets and club rooms in the over 50's club next door..
    After two years of collecting tools and gear we had so much stuff we gave away bout 1/3 of the stuff to another mens shed , and sold some of the excess at a senior city fete and we are still over crowded.

    Over two years we have been given
    - 8 WW lathes,
    - 6 drill presses,
    - 4 cut-off saws,
    - 2 metal work lathes,
    - 4 combination WW machines,
    - 2 thicknessers,
    - 2 planners
    - 2 table saws,
    - 2 Radial Arm saws,
    ~ 6 Triton things (we gave those all away)
    - 2 small compressors,
    - 10 welders and last week a plasma cutter,
    - 3 WW bandsaws,
    - a MW bandsaw,
    - a powered metal work hacksaw,
    - 2 presses,
    - 4 dust collectors
    ~10 grinders,
    a scroll saw, 2 drop saws, on SCMS.
    Dozens of power tools - only about half of these are any good. The entire WW hand tool collection (about 20 sets) of a prison inmates workshop.
    About half of the machines have had to be rewired to fit safety/emergency switches and better guards to them.
    The only large machine we have purchased is a very large (54 CFM) compressor.

    A large central city hospital was closing down and we got over $25 thousand worth of furniture, materials, consumables, tools, machinery etc from them.
    This completely fitted out the office, kitchen/dining, bathroom, and provided a filing cabinet drawer for every member.

    People are continually giving us stuff.
    Just yesterday I was given a palm sander and another grinder and Derek Cohen gave us a box of tools.
    It's overwhelming - people are so generous.
    Yes there is a fair bit of junk and there are some gaps e.g. although we have been give several socket sets we still have not got a 3/8" socket drive of any kind)

  5. #4
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    BELL POST HILL, 3215
    Age
    87
    Posts
    2,332

    Default Your Shed.

    Hi Ashley,
    It matters not how big your shed will be, it still wont be big enough.
    One of the best I have seen, was a massive shed, cut into 3 pieces.
    Wood one end, & in the centre was the Office near the front door, the meeting/eating area, with the Toilets & wash room up the back.
    So on the other side was the metal working shop, but not quite as big as the wood section, mainly because there were so many machines for working with wood.
    Big & all that it was, it was full. Not sure how many members they have, as I got there a bit late.
    I was given the Grand Tour.
    Regards,
    issatree.
    Have Lathe, Wood Travel.

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Port Huon
    Posts
    2,685

    Default

    Speaking of big sheds, check out the Channel Men's Shed.
    There's a video on putting it together and photos of various sections (check out the kitchen!)
    I couldn't find a list of tools/machinery though.

  7. #6
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    BELL POST HILL, 3215
    Age
    87
    Posts
    2,332

    Default Great Shed.

    Hi Geoff,
    If it's not to rude a question, what are the wood pieces with a hole cut out of them.
    Children's Project ??.
    Regards,
    issatree.
    Have Lathe, Wood Travel.

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    southern Fleurieu Peninsula, S.A.
    Posts
    234

    Default

    Hi all,

    Very exciting times for the Men's Shed! Today we are expecting the delivery of the shed.....! Its been a long process to get to this point, but we're finally here. It's a 12.1m x 12.1m to start with. The installers will begin putting it up on Friday. I'll post pictures as we progress.

    Cheers,

    Ash.

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Vermont Vic
    Posts
    7

    Default

    Hi Asheddie,

    Like you, I am a member of a Men's Shed which has meeting and lunchroom facilities provided by another organisation. For smaller handwork (painting, handsawing, etc, we have a woodwork room in our host's building. We recently constructed a shed for our large equipment (tablesaw, bandsaw, thicknesser, lathe, etc.) We have gained tremendous support from the local Rotary club who have given us very generous donations. Another Shed a few km away is similarly supported by the local Lion's Club. Another source of income is conducting sausage sizzles at Bunnings or Woolworths Supermarkets. We have also approached local business who may provide some sponsorship as a sign of their community support. Public acknowledgement of this support by way of signage is offered in return.

    red750

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    back in Alberta for a while
    Age
    68
    Posts
    12,006

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by asheddie View Post
    Hi all,

    Very exciting times for the Men's Shed! Today we are expecting the delivery of the shed.....! Its been a long process to get to this point, but we're finally here. It's a 12.1m x 12.1m to start with. The installers will begin putting it up on Friday. I'll post pictures as we progress.

    Cheers,

    Ash.
    Pictures?
    regards from Alberta, Canada

    ian

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