The Shed

One key to a long, happy, and healthy life, they say, is to keep both your mind and body active while seeking companionship and friendship. We each have our own ways of achieving this, but it’s clear that the readers of The Shed excel in meeting these criteria for a fulfilling life. This issue’s cover story is a perfect illustration of that. Des Barnes is a tool collector, and his shed is packed with fascinating and unique hand tools, some of which are extremely rare and vintage. Not only does he collect these tools, but he also restores and rebuilds those he can. Des is an active member of the New Zealand Vintage Tool Collectors Club. You can easily imagine the puzzled looks on the faces of younger people who…

Tool collector Des Barnes jokingly calls himself “a magpie.” While he is attracted to an array of ageless apparatus, his initial collection was founded on necessity rather than a predilection for heritage handcraft. Des began buying tools as soon as he started his apprenticeship as a Cabinet maker and Joiner in 1958. He was a conscientious recruit eager to secure the right tool for the job. Needless to say, many of the tools that were necessary for the trade back then are considered collector’s items today. And he still owns them, including a few he made himself. The thing that drives Des’s collection these days is his deep respect for the skill and precision-crafting of traditional toolmakers. His beautifully presented tool displays on seven high glass shelves in his carpeted…

Send your letters to: editor@the-shed.nz Some advice when welding and gas bottle forge improvements Hi Greg, I enjoyed reading the article about the gas forge. Well done. There were a couple of issues that could help make the build a bit better. Yes, you definitely need a floor; it will hold more heat, therefore improving efficiency. Good gloves are a must. When I was working as a blacksmith, we tried a number of gloves and found that leather, no matter how thick, does not work well as it heats quickly and is very slow to cool, this includes the thick-lined welding gloves. We used a cotton glove of the type that had a thick looped design. The cotton dissipates the heat quickly Some sort of a door would also be…

Our local MenzShed is mainly set up for woodwork, and a perennial problem for us is getting quality wood for things like speaker cabinets, furniture and toolboxes. Much of what gets used is recycled timber – mainly rimu or oak – which has its own problems, with hidden screws and nails. There are strict protocols for the use of the Shed’s saws, jointer and especially its thicknesser. All second-hand timber must be tested with a hand-held metal detector by two MenzShed members before it passes through the thicknesser. Even so, the machine’s blades have to be expensively reground on a fairly regular basis to restore the cutting edges after they have suffered damage. An overlooked nail will leave a semicircular divot in the cutting edges which will prevent the thicknesser…

What’s happening online at the-shed.nz? Every week, we upload new content onto The Shed website to add to the hundreds of articles and videos already on the site for readers to discover, learn from, and enjoy. Some uploads of the past few months include: Project: saving thousands of dollars A sheddie clones a pair of Focal Utopia loudspeakers https://the-shed.nz/diy-audio-utopia/ My old car is a BBQ Old cars don’t die, they become BBQs https://the-shed.nz/my-car-the-barbecue/ AJS rebuild video 2 Follow our classic bike resto on video  https://the-shed.nz/video-of-from-rust-to-rrroarrr-part-two/ Learn how to solder like a pro Part one of tips and advice, of a two-part series  https://the-shed.nz/soldering-on-part-one/…

Elevate your outdoor entertainment area with your very own DIY swing chair. This is a satisfying weekend DIY project that you and your family and friends can enjoy for years to come. Swing chair to do list ✔ Prep and prime with the right Resene primer for your materials ✔ Build out the base, framing and construct the chair ✔ Paint with Resene Lustacryl in your chosen colour ✔ Suspend your chair and hang out! View how to make your own swing chair, plus cut lists and step-by-step instructions at masterstrokebyresene.com Visit your local Resene ColorShop for all your decorating needs and the widest range of NZ made paints, wood stains and colours. Watch now!…