Thread: Mens Sheds

G'day.

Well, all jokes aside, not kidding here, a fridge, microwave oven, a radio, a small TV & a workbench that you can lean on. (bar height)
Stock the fridge with some light/midstrenght & zappable food.
Put chips & biscuits in the cupboard. ( tea & coffee will do if you are on a budget)

That's going to get you clientel interested in coming back.

Next...
Chairs or stools, books, magazines, pictures & posters on the wall, TIMBER!!!

Now that you have them interested, ask 'them' what 'they'd' like to do.

Hand tools for the workbench, hammer, pliers, hammer, screwdriver, hammer, chisels, hammer, rulers, hammer, clamps, hammer.... just joking, you get the idea.
Fasteners, NAILS, screws, glue, masking tape, more clamps. etc
Finishes, sandpaper, brushes, steelwool, oil, wax, estapol etc.
In the power tools, power drill, battery drill, circular saw, jig saw, hand held planer, electric sanders.
Drill bits, blades for saws, etc.
In the bigger stuff. Band saw, drill press, table saw, lathe, planer, thicknesser, compressor & some airtools, nailer, stapler, spray unit. etc.
DON'T FORGET THE SAFETY GEAR!!!
Eyes, ears, respiratory, feet, signs, rules, & insurance.

What's your budget?

Gary, What Cliff's getting at is that sometimes men need to be seen as the true neaderthal, not just the bloke who goes out and earns the brass. We need to Make Things (hopefully useful) with our bare (bear) hands. To make something for your family ("Dad made this") is just the best. Woodwork can be one of the best therapies known to womankind .

The shed will never be big enough...thats a gimme, but look around for your local wood turning club, I'm sure they would be only to glad to offer some assistance. Also, the second project is to build a workbench or two..or three. These are the heart of doing anything productive. There is heaps of plans available on the net for workbenches and many board members here who can help.

With some planning and a peek in a few woodies sheds in your neighbourhood you can work out things like power requirements etc. I imagine the shed might by dual purpose (cross trade) so keep that in mind if it has to do welding or mechanics etc.

WRT the shed itself have a good look around. A lot of the cheap kits on the market are worthless piles of scrap. A workshop needs to have a solid frame so stuff, like conduit, ducting, shadow boards, shelves etc, can be attached to sometning. Look for things like fully welded trusses and internal framework that will pass an insurance company requirement and not take off in the first blow.

If it helps I got a quote on a 4.5m x 9m shed today at $4'500.00 including gutters, door, rollerdoor and all fixtures in colourbond. Thats supplied and delivered metro, not installed. The first project is to get a bunch of blokes to put the bugger up. BTW its often worth writing to the likes of Readymix etc for a help out with the concrete slab. Worthwhile community projects are often supported by such big business, something we often forget.

Don't forget, lots of clamps (cramps??:confused: ) and remember the fire extinguisher.

There are lots of people here on this BB who can help Gary just keep your sense of humour handy and hang on. A search of the threads will reveal information about starting out tools, setting up the shed etc. Quite a bit to search through but you'll pick up lots of useful stuff here and there amongst the jocularity, mud slingin and leg pulling.

Whilst I could go on for hours here's my last two tips
1. Plan for dust extraction from the start, the dust from any timber or timber product is classed as hazardous and with a bunch of blokes trying to work in one area you will need it even if somebody is just running a belt sander.

2. Consider a lean-to or humpy on the side that gives you an outdoor area. It only takes a few blokes working in one shed to effectively "fill it up". Guys may want to do spray painting etc and an outdoor but sheltered area is the way to maximise space at low cost.

Cheers mate and good luck with your project.

Should I be a wet blanket and mention insurance, for the pupils, not the shed. Or is that covered by your local authorities?

great to see a good response so quickly...

we are already runnigna few projects so we have public liability insurance already taken care of ... with the addition of the fixed shed we will need to bump it up.
The primary reason of this project is to have somewhere secure to park our mobile shed ( a 1974 dodge ex ambo) which is at prent in at the local TAFE getting the rust cut out and the mechanics up to stratch.
We rent our premises at prent from the local childrens home who have a small workshop with a few boys who access it already, so I suspect that the first stage (if we get off the ground) would be to build the shed and then build workbenches as suggested.
One of the problems we will face is funding, I dont know if anyone saw the thing on the Nambucca Shed last night on tele, but they are in a funding crisis 4 years after setup. The problem we face as mens service providers is that we are few and far between and we get inundated with blokes from all angles and walks of life.
The reason we use the shed model is that men in general have been conditioned that the shed is a retreat and we also do like to "bugger around" in one (well I do, with no purpose at all!!)

The fund submission we are putting in for today is a NSW health one and has a limit of $30,000 over 3 years and in reality that is bugger all, after insurance, safety gear, shed, machinery and then we need all the relevent training for blokes who want to get involved ( child protection, men protection stuff), but i feel nothing ventured, nothing gained!!!

will keep everyone posted.

Gaz

Hi, I am a new Member (female) and was interested to see the posts concerning "Mens Sheds".
We have been involved in setting up one here in Yea for the past 3 years.
We were very lucky to obtain a Government Grant, and the Council after much negotiating gave us permission to build it on the Pioneer Reserve land, but have been really struggling to get the inside finished.
We have had to rely on Fundraising and donations from a couple of local Business and with donations of offcuts of timber and other bits and pieces, we are now nearing the time when we will be able to start some activities
A part of the Shed has been given over to the local Pottery Group, and they have been holding classes for the past 6 Months.
The local Schools have been sending students to learn pottery, and they are really enjoying the classes.
As we are auspiced by the Yea Community Services Group, our Insurance is currently covered by Dept. of Human Services.
All user groups must have their own Insurance to cover the students.
We have had many problems with illness and other health problems, and as our working group consists of 6 older and retired men, sometimes we have no one to do any work on the Woodwork & Metalwork section.
There is going to be a" Mens Shed" Conference at Lakes Entrance, 10th. & 11th. November, and we are hoping that some of our group will be able to attend.

I know that there are many groups setting up these projects, and it would be very interesting to hear their stories about how they are getting along

<TABLE class=tborder cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD class=alt1>Hi everyone,
Just came on board, my name is Derek and I am the coordinator of the Mens Shed Project here on the Central Coast of NSW at Umina its being built next to our local PCYC on Council land. (Fully funded to lock-up stage) I have just been donated 2 metal Sheraton SSS lathes now no longer being manufactured (since I have been told late 70s) I am also on the outlook for 2 woodlathes (donated the better) if any one can help out. We will have 3 workshops (Multi)
If anyone can give me any advise on these metal lathes would appreciate, ALSO anyone on the Central coast who would like to get involved please phone me on (02) 43 423959
Also, anyone with old Sheraton SSS Lathes manuals etc etc who could provide copies would appreciate, also what are these lathes like especially current standards of safety (Workcover)
As we are in full swing towards a 'working weekend' mid Sept to build this 25x25mt Mens Shed would appreciate any feedback or support including anyone on the central coast. This is a community project with tradespersons from all areas of the building trade donating their time and blue collar workers doing the labouring,
me 'directing'
well "someone has too"
Best wishes,
Derek
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Been a long time since I have been here, I have been working too hard and long and burnt out a couple of months ago, but am now going ahead full steam.

I am interested in seeing a "plague" of mens sheds popping up all over Australia, I think this is great to see.

We have decided to tyake the shed to the blokes to identify and inspire communities to develop "bricks and mortor" vocational and educational shed for men and boys.
Our mobile mens shed has just secured funding for the next 4 years, so we can go forth and inspire.

my contact details are:
Gary Smith
Richmond Mobile Mens Shed
Lismore NSW 2480
Ph 02 6622 6116

if anyone is will to help with setting up of a fixed shed in the region

Gaz

I reckon mens sheds are great ideas. Why governments don't support them, has got me beat. It would pay for itself in no time.
Ever thought about building one out of mud brick??