A Real Workshop

[Scally]

The 6m tracks are aluminium with a profile to match the rollers.
I drilled holes 50cm apart to screw them into the hardwood soffit.

Holding up a 6m length of aluminium and screwing it into place was interesting.
I used two extendable poles that I had bought at Aldi for these type of jobs. It didn't go without a hitch but wasn't too bad.
I rested the track on ladders at each end. Then pushed one end up into place with the pole. Move to the other end and do the same.
Once up on the poles the track held well.
I could then get up a ladder and move the track into place and screw one end on. Then move along the tracks and add all the screws.

The first two runners went one easily and rolled smoothly along the track.

The next ones wouldn't go on.
I thought I must have messed up somewhere so I tried fitting the to an offcut of the track. They still wouldn't fit!!

It turns out that four of the runners were the wrong size. They were the heavier and larger 250kg version that needs a larger track.

It was really annoying because it was Saturday and the supplier was closed.


I sent them an email then had to make several phone calls on Monday to explain the problem and arrange for them to send replacements.
They arrived on Wednesday afternoon.

[Sawdust Maker]

they certainly look like serious runners

well done!

[DaveTTC]

Oh yeah .... Thats looking nice

[Scally]

Its been a while.

The shed has finally seen some woodworking projects.

In between I have started on the walls and benches.

First I made a bench for the Mitre saw. It is in the middle of the back wall, under the timber racks.
I put it on castors so I could move it out if I needed to cut longer boards.

Next was a bench filling the gap between the mitre saw bench and the flat sheet rack.
The top is Form Ply because it is solid and the slick surface should make it easier to slide big boards.

Each section has a top drawer with a cupboard underneath.

Next was the bench to the other wall. I made a long drawer and cupboard so I had room to put stuff into the doorless corner.

Eventually I will select one timber for Face Frames, Doors and Drawer fronts.

[Sawdust Maker]

Was wondering where the mighty shed was at - looking good

I see the available timber has already overflowed the storage racks - you'll probably need a separate timber storage shed soon!

[Scally]

Dead right Nick

My driveway is an expanding timber store and there are a couple of stacks in the backyard that keep it looking messy.

I'm searching for about 40 hardwood 3x2s to make a new timber storage near the shed.

[Scally]

For a long time I have wanted to bring the shed/pergola/yard closer to the house.

The current steps are a steep and narrow set of concrete steps.

A while back my brother invited me to see if there was any timber I could salvage from a house demolition. Most of it was Cypress but under the second story floorboards was the long hardwood boards, up to 6m long, about 250 x 50.
Perfect for my wide steps.

His guys smashed the floorboards then we denailed them. They used a chainsaw to cut them off.
I bought a few home on the roof racks. The others took several months to arrive.
The new arrivals have been along the driveway for a few months.

As luck would have it, a mate needed somewhere to stay for a couple of weeks. I am sure he didn't think he would be helping me thickness 70kg boards.

It was slow heavy work.

My new Shelix cutter head certainly a tough induction

[Scally]

The salvaged hardwood timber was cleaned up with the thicknesser.
Not dressed to perfect boards.
That would have cost a lot of timber and lost the recycled character.

I decided to extend the full 4m length of the back deck.
The steps are as gentle as I could fit down to the yard.

40cm step and 15cm rise.......very comfortable.

One big bugle head screw in the middle of each board to hold them down but still allow the boards to shrink and swell freely.

I gave them three coats of Feast Watson Traditional Timber Oil.

[KBs PensNmore]

The steps look fantastic. Amazing how a bit of a clean and oil makes them look.
Kryn

[Scally]

Thanks guys

I am pretty happy with how the steps turned out. Strangely I still walk towards the horrible steep concrete steps before I remember the nice new steps.

They are great to use.

Here is a pic of the new Outfeed Table I made for the Table Saw.

The old one had had a hard life and was a bit flimsy. I designed it to fold up and down as needed because of the limited space in the garage.

This time I made it Mobile with big locking castors. The top can be removed with four screws so I can use the base as a large Dolly. From time to time I have to carry big lumps of wood from the street out to the shed so I think it could be handy.

The table is long enough so I can saw boards over 2.4m long without them trying to lift away from the table.

There are a couple of grooves to match the mitre slots.

The top is film ply because it is more rigid than normal ply wood, smooth, waterproof and relatively easy to clean up after using it for glue-ups and painting/finishing.

It is the same height as the workbench which is very handy. I can use the outfeed table and workbench to help me saw full size sheets of plywood.

It's also useful to stand on if I need to attach things to the ceiling.

[Scally]

A signwriter dropped off some work for a friend of mine and got inquisitive about my little shed.

He suggested that I could do more to promote my work. He picked up several waste blocks from the fire pit and which he said I could sell as cutting boards. I mentioned that everyone with a saw is making cutting boards.

A suggestion I liked was to put some pics up in the shed. He gets lots of off-cuts of the boards used to make signs. The have a plastic sheet sandwiched between Aluminium sheets. They are easy to cut. Just score them with a knife and snap them off. They are light but quite rigid so only need two screws to fix them to the wall.
The idea is to make a photo gallery on the wall so customers can see the work I do or would like to do. They can also see pictures of different finished timbers. Each panel is 1200mm wide and about 400mm high. I get two horizonal pics or four vertical pics per sheet.
Cost is $10 for the sign board and $10 per pic. Pic are put on like you used to put Rego labels on. They have an adhesive backing that can be slid into place if you wet them well first.
It is pretty cheap to change a pic.

I quickly screwed a few sheets of 12mm plywood to the unlined wall and added a 20mm rail along the top to tilt the pics down a little.
This is the result so far.
The pics are a good size to see details and they add a bit of colour to the shed.

He also said that I needed a sign to put out the front to attract passing traffic.

I think he is a better salesman than me.

[Sawdust Maker]

That looks like valuable storage space gone!

[NCArcher]

Livin' the dream Scally.
Although you may need to practice your cutting skills. The top of the sign is a bit crooked.

[Scally]

Yes, all space is valuable.

Just look at my driveway.

The opposite wall is supposed to have floor to ceiling storage cabinets.

The "Picture Wall" should have the new Power box.......for three phase power. Hopefully later this year.

I have the saw table tight up against that wall so it would be difficult to use for any useful storage. It does have a thermometer and a ruler?

Thanks NC..........don't you recognise Art???

Anyone can cut a straight line.

The artistic top is an off-cut from the shed door panels.......so there is a connection too.

[Scally]

Forgot to attach the pics??


This is some of the timber in my driveway. Lovely big Australian Red Cedar slabs form a single tree and some wide, Boutique, Snakewood boards.
Fortunately most of the big hardwoods boards have gone to a better place.

The little bluetongue lizard was found sleeping near the bottom of the stack.
I had to move the stack to get the boards I wanted. As often happens they were under the rest of the stack.

The little fella wasn't to pleased about being disturbed. I found another cool spot for him that shouldn't get disturbed for a while.