A Real Workshop

[DaveTTC]

Looking great. I can relate well to a lead running across the yard

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[Scally]

Yes Dave, they have worked great but extension cords are always in the road.

My feet seem to find anything on the ground and two twenty foot extension cords created too many opportunities.

I wont miss moving them around when I was mowing the lawn either.

[DaveTTC]

And for me stopping rhe kids riding ovet them with hard wherls on their scooters. Cant wait to have my cave hard wired

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[Scally]

I know the pergola isn't the shed but in reality it is!

A lot of my woodworking extends onto the pergola slab. It is good have a long flat area to spread out the work.

While the electrician was happily earning my money we ran to power to the pergola.

The cables run out the top corner of the side wall near the pergola.

We can conduit along the back of the pergola beam so they are out of sight from my yard.
I didn't want to ruin the rustic look of the pergola with plastic conduit.

Drilling 20mm holes through 250mm and 300mm posts was hard work. I just couldn't find a bit that enjoyed the long holes.

I now have a dedicated switch in the shed for the four pergola lights.

Plus two double outdoor power points. I didn't have any particular purpose for them but I didn't want to run extension cords from the shed if I needed power under the pergola.

A 50W LED Flood light is on the front corner post of the shed. I think it is bright enough to play a day-night game of cricket. It certainly lights up the whole yard.
While the Pergola lights provide a gentle light for enjoying a BBQ and and a beer, the Flood Light will make it easier to clean up and walk up and down the steps with an armful of supplies.

I would like to have small lights in the steps but I don't have a power point nearby. The power would have to come from the garage and it wasn't going to be a five minute job. It will have to go on hold for the moment.

[DaveTTC]

Looks sweet

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[Scally]

My daughters decided I needed a party.

I love parties but my backyard is really a Timber yard and the pergola is an extension to my shed.

A busy few days.........

Seating might be a problem so I made a bench type seat at the end of the pergola. A curved seat and back rest. I think it should have extra support in the middle but not enough time. It should be strong enough?

Weather forecast is for Thunderstorms.......bugger.
Cut and thickness boards for battens on the 10m long pergola......up and down the ladder too often. Measure, cut and bugle screw to rafters.
Down to Bunnings for ten 3.6m clear corrugated polycarbonate sheets.
Measure to 3.25m. Attempt a test cut with circular saw. Bad idea as it wanted to tear. Plan B , try angle grinder with metal cutting disc. Neat cut but tended to melt the ten sheets together. Good enough.
Up the ladder again and lay string lines for roofing screws.
Screw sheeting on.

A couple of really hot days to test my committment. 45 degrees isnt much fun.

It cooled down so I burnt every cardboard box I could find and timber scraps that I definitely didn't need.
Back to Bunning for Solar fairy lights for the timber steps.
Search out camp chairs and hose them down.
Buy new lawn mower so I could mow the lawns.
A few colourful plans so it would look pretty.
Finally throw a tarp over the stuff I couldn't hide.

Ready

[Scally]

Party day.

The Adirondack chairs looked a bit grubby so I gave them a quick sand with the ROS.
Much better.
Collect ice.
Get Spit Roast guy set up.

Wait for them to arrive.

About 50 hungry and thirsty people arrived late in the afternoon and we had a great night.
My daughters had hired a Spit roast guy and he did an excellent job feeding everyone.

The new bench seat was a hit. It got a good workout but it survived.

The new steps doubled as extra seating.

The new power and lights worked a treat and looked great. I fitted three flame torches to the pergola to add a bit of party atmosphere.

The ice-filled laundry tubs were popular and did a great job keeping the drinks cool.

We made a bit of noise with the African drums just to make sure the neighbours new we were having a party.

By about 3.00am, I think we finished up. Everyone full and contented.

A successful christening for the backyard.


No thunderstorms either.

I like the backyard looking so tidy but now I need to go and find my workbench and the timber.

Cheers

[fletty]

Well done Scally, you have done a fantastic job of the shed, pergola ....... and party!
Now, the "60" in the window, that must be your address .......... ?
l really love the way you have created your nest to match your life. Woodwork, drums, family and life all blended in one backyard.
fletty

[Ari2]

"Measure to 3.25m. Attempt a test cut with circular saw. Bad idea as it wanted to tear. Plan B , try angle grinder with metal cutting disc. Neat cut but tended to melt the ten sheets together. Good enough."

My sister-in-laws husband recommended to me to use scissors to cut poly roofing sheets. I haven't tried it as yet but what he did looked OK to me

[Christos]

My daughters decided I needed a party.......

That was nice of them.

I only have one major question did they at least help with the preparation of the yard?

[Scally]

Thanks Ari2 I didn't consider scissors but they should work.
The polycarbonate is pretty thin.
But I thought a power tool would be more accurate and I would get all sheets exactly the same length by cutting them all at once.
and quicker.

I have very thoughtful daughters Christos and they did a power of work with the preparation.
Cleaning and repairs are not things I enjoy doing and I avoid them quite successfully.
I didn't even think the windows were dirty!!

The hardest part was letting them throw out stuff......bits of wood, damaged jigs and discarded projects. I even threw out a set of four English Oak dining chairs that I have kept for over twenty years. a restoration that I obviously was never going to do!!

Turning the Shed into a dining room/dance floor was a bit of a challenge. I put a sheet of 17mm plywood over the saw table and outfeed table to "protect them" or maybe protect the visitors?
Some white paper and a hessian runner and it looked respectable.

I think the big 60 was an attempt at humour by my daughters, Fletty. They can be mean sometimes. It started at 90.

The place is coming together the way I had hoped with the Shed Yard, Pergola and House working together.
Still more to do as always but I am pretty pleased with it for the moment.

They did stay long enough to clean up most of the party mess , fortunately because I wouldn't have been much use!
Plus they did leave some nice presents........nothing wood related because I am "too fussy" apparently.

I have found the workbench and tablesaw but I can't get into the garage because it has the stuff I wouldn't let them throw away.

Until next time.

[snowyskiesau]

For cutting poly roofing sheets, try a pair of garden shears. Just like big scissors really.

[Christos]

.......Plus they did leave some nice presents........nothing wood related because I am "too fussy" apparently.....

I think we can all be fussy once we acquire knowledge of what not to purchase.

[Scally]

I have one long wall left in the shed.

Up until now it has been where I stack timber , tools and any materials I don't have a place to store them.

My plan has always been to build a long bench along the wall to store power tools with cabinets up to the ceiling for hand tools and supplies.

I need a bit of space for the bandsaw and morticer.

That leaves me 3.6m of wall for the bench and cabinets.

Now that the power is done and the walls are lined, its time to start building.

[Scally]

My plan is to build a workbench along the lines of the one in the pics.

Many of you have probably seen it on Youtube. It is Timothy Wilmot's workshop.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nb6CDW5-Sv4

He designed the cabinets to store his Festool systainers and most of the top is drilled so he can use it like a Multi Function table.

It looks like a good plan.