Thread: A Real Workshop

Thanks, enelef, yes, I will keep posting progress on the shed including the fit out.

I still have plenty to do before I can get serious about inside the shed. Doors and power being the main needs.
As you can see, I have jumped the gun on a clamp rack and bay for flat sheets. I will have to remove and re-instal them to put the lining on.
I have so much stuff that I needed to do something to start getting it under control.

There is a plan for the fit out but I am happy to adjust it if I think there is a better option.

Basically the workbench and saw table are at the front of the shed so I can utilise the yard for longer timbers.
The back wall will be a timber rack and drop saw.
Long side wall will have a 4 m long bench with cabinets under for power tools and above the bench for hand tools. Bench height will match the workbench and sawtable.
The remaining 2 m I will try to squeeze mobile machines like the Mortiser, Bench drill, Bandsaw and grinder.
The opposite side wall has the 2 m door opening and the Flat sheet rack.
In the middle of the shed will be the Jointer, thicknesser......Router table and sanding thicknesser have to go somewhere?
Outside will be a cubbyhouse for the dust extractor and compressor.

It will get cosy very quickly.

The garage will have to continue to be home to a fair bit of the woodworking gear. I have good cupboards in there that will store most of the supplies.
It will end up with an island timber rack, yet to be designed.
I am hopeful that one day the car and lawnmower will find space in the garage!

A first look at the Blackwood door panels.

I cut the rough sawn slabs to approximate size then thicknessed them.

The sharpened blades did a pretty good job but there was still a lot of tearout on the fiddleback boards.

I worked them through the 16-32 thickness sander them worked on them with the belt sander and rotex from 80 grit to 180 grit.

Most of the tearout has gone now.

All boards are similar in colour except one that is lighter. I expect it will darken with a finish.

Because I was busting to see how they would look with a finish, I put a coat of Danish oil on a 180 grit sanded panel.

It looks pretty nice, so it will look very nice when I sand it to 320 or finer with the ROS.

Hi scally, have you chosen the finish on the doors yet? I've used FW weatherproof varnish satin, for my sliding doors on the shed, (5mts x 2.8mtrs). 2 coats with a rolla, about 12 months ago. Just started to look a little tired, just today I've light sanded and 1 coat with a brush. Looks brand new. I'm in newcastle and get the weather as you do, but my door cops direct sun and rain. My shed is on " concrete panel shed". Hope this helps cheers Jason

Originally Posted by Scally

....I am hopeful that one day the car and lawnmower will find space in the garage!

We can all dream.

Thanks for your support Christos!!

No Jason I haven't decided on a finish yet.
There were some good suggestions earlier. My thoughts are that I can get away with something a bit lighter than the spar finishes.
I'll visit the shops and check them out.
I like the F&W products and I would prefer a satin finish like you used. Needing to re-coat after a year would be disappointing.

In the end I will have to decide between the look I want and level of protection.

Check out the web site thors hammer, it's a mob in The ACT that demolish the older buildings, and repurpose the timber to tables, doors benches etc. they use a German product called osmo, to stain and protect. He has some strong opinions, but I'd consider using the them for my next outdoor project. Cheers Jason

Interesting site.

The OSMO oil should be good stuff. It is $150.00 for 2.5litres.
There is a Victorian site that sells it but I couldn't find anything up this way in my quick look.

That is similar to the price for the Livos products. I like Livos for furniture but hadn't considered it for outdoors. I will have a read and see if they say it is suitable. I know I can buy it in Sydney.
Natural eco paints, oils & products, healthy choice to acrylic & polyurethane - Livos Australia

I am still undecided on a finish but have started with these two Feast and Watson products.

After sanding the blackwood panels to #320 I gave then several coats of Wood Shield Oil.

It says all the right things about protecting timber exposed to the elements.
It is a dark brownish colour and appears to have a lot of colloidal material in it. Easy to apply. It goes on like water. The instructions say to keep applying it until the timber wont accept anymore.. You can apply it wet on wet, as I did, or re-coat after 10 hours.

The timber darkened a fair bit and coloured the blackwood to an orange tint. The timber stayed as smooth as the final sand. No raising of the grain. The finish is flat.

I will give it a coat of the Weatherproof Vanish. This will give more weather protection and lift the finish to a Satin gloss.
I will do the same to the door frame.

After the door is assemble, I will give it all another coat or two of the Varnish.

So far it looks like it will give good protection for the timber and look like what I am after.

If I am happy with the result I'll do the same to the front doors.

Hi Scally I have just been reading your post and looking at the pictures it certainly is a grand design those beams are huge, I could see that it was quite a job to move them into place is the shed completed and are you going to show us the fit out.
I was bought up in Newcastle lived there till I was 23 and then came to the Central Coast.
Colbra

Thanks Colbra. Everything is big except the floor space.
My next project will be smaller, maybe a little trinket box so I can give my arms, legs and back a rest.

I have a basic plan for the fit-out but it will be adjusted as I work out the best layout.
A timber rack and drop saw along the back wall and bench and cabinets along the long side wall are the permanents.

I have the tablesaw at the front so I can utilise the yard for outfeed a long pieces.
I plan to locate the jointer and thickneser near the side door so I can utilise the outside space too.

Bandsaw, mortiser, sanding thickneser, drill press will have mobile bases so I can move them from the front corner out into space when I want to use them. Not sure about the router table yet?

Offcuts from the drop saw seem to accumulate so I would like a mobile waste bin under the shelf.

The bits and pieces, like jigs and tablesaw sleds will need a home somewhere.......

Plenty to work on. It will never be finished because new tools and machines keep appearing.

Once I get the power on and the walls lined, I'll start on the inside but that will be after Christmas.
I'll keep you posted.

Originally Posted by Scally

.... I'll start on the inside but that will be after Christmas.
I'll keep you posted.

O, then will have to wish you a merry Christmas.

I need help with my finishing technique.

I gave all the blackwood panels two coats of the Feast and Watson oil as mentioned above.

After 24 hours I tried to brush on the Feast and Watson Weathershield Vanish.

This is recommended on the cans for extra protection.

The polyurethane just wanted to pool over the oil finish. I tried thick and thin, fast and slow but it just wouldn't flow.


After another 24 hours I sanded it with #400 until it was almost flat.

Then tried a second coat.

It went on significantly better but still has the "orange-peel" effect.

The finish feels thick so I expect there will be good weather protection after 4 coats.


I am disappointed that after sanding to #320 with a ROS and getting a nice smooth finish. I now have a rippled poly finish.


Is this all I can expect or am I doing something wrong?

Any advice would be appreciated.

you've probably jumped the gun there Scally. The instructions for Woodshield say apply the topcoat varnish 7 days after applying the oil finish.

I am tending to agree as mention above.

I also went to their website to take a look at what they say and it is interesting

Quote " Bare timber may be stained directly with Feast Watson Woodshield and allowed to dry for 24 hours prior to applying Weatherproof. " Unquote

Feast Watson - Exterior Clear Finishes - Weatherproof


So I am just confused.