Kenfab HQ (Australia)

Kenfab · Jan 27, 2015

Hi,
Thought id make a thread for my Shed/ Workshop / House and Projects.

Heres a bit of a back story from my Introduction Thread

Kenfab said:
My names Ken. Im 25, from a town called Adelaide in South Australia.
Im a qualified master plumber, I work for a big construction company as well as run my own small business on the side.

I really enjoy welding but im just a self taught beginner really. Ive done some stainless exhausts and intercooler pipes for mates using lobster back bends. I think in the states you call em piecuts. My mates call me kenfab joking around (short for ken fabrications)

Ive got a 9m x 6m shed at home (30ft x 20ft)

I plan on knocking it down though and building a 10x 12 shed there (32ft x 40ft)

I also rent a 250sqm shed with mates that has 2 hoists.

Ive got quite a few projects on the go but to start with im:
restoring a heuer 160 vice that i got for $20
Building a steel/ timber outdoor table.

Ill probably make a garage thread to try and keep myself motivated to actually get through all my projects ( i have a habit of starting 50 things and never finishing them)

Anyway on with the story.

When moved into our house 2 years ago, and I had a Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo. (2005 model, 4.0L inline-6 Gt3582r 500hp at the wheels, 11.2 1/4 mile Street car)

So i claimed the Carport with the electric roller door, while my missus got the manual opening gate with no cover for her car.

Anyways i recently blew up the trans in the XR6, so i sold it and bought a Work ute (truck), 2012 D40 Nissan Navara (Frontier in the states) its got a 2.5L Turbo Diesel Motor. Only trouble is, it didn't fit in the roller door.

So I picked up a one year old roller door for $100 from Gumtree (australian version of craigslist) and then drew up the plans in Sketchup

One friday night i bought the steel and got to work.

Laid out a stringline, dug the hole for the post, ripped down the side part of the fence, concreted the post in the ground.

ajohno · Jan 27, 2015

Welcome.

I had a FG turbo and now have a diesel Territory.

Looks good what you have done so far.

Kenfab · Jan 27, 2015

The next day i got handy and starting doing the rest

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v509/vltken/10945936_10152574515250588_344651963_n.jpg

I didnt want to cut the existing concrete for the other post so I bought these cool concrete anchor bolts, they have 550nm of clamp force each so should be plenty for the freestanding frame. Steel is 90x90x3mm Galv.

I hung the door, but didnt put enough tension on it and had to take it off and roll it and put it back up again haha.

Ripped Down the gate, then re built a small part of the fence on the side.

I was left with a bit of a gap where i had to leave space to clear the eaves.

Kenfab · Jan 27, 2015

Good thing my father in law is the state manager for a timber supply company

Ignore the upside down door, i made the rookie mistake of notching the hinges out while it was laying down on, and realised i did them on the wrong side.

I twizzled it around the other way and gave it a lick of paint.
I also scored the correct motor for the door from gumtree ($50), it has 2 internal motors in the drum which didnt end up fitting even though the holes are pre drilled, but im not afraid to get out the die grinder and make stuff fit.

Did a bit of a risky manoeuvre to install it but got it done.

The paint bled under the masking tape a bit but oh well, ill touch it up one day.

91CF1861-B545-4EE1-96BE-056611B7C4EC.png.jpeg

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Kenfab · Jan 27, 2015

Recently treated myself to a toolbox. Wanted a snap on but i settled for a 40" sidchrome

Heres a sneeky top drawer pic, dont have alot yet but im working on it

This is my workshop i rent with a few mates. We just painted the floor in 2pac epoxy.

drivesitfar · Jan 27, 2015

Ken: nice job finding all the parts and installing that extra door to get your truck in behind it and into your yard. it looks like you might have a bit more concrete pad to make, but otherwise done with that a project.

did you say you have a motor installed in the roll up door? does it work with a handheld opener?

since you'll probably be posting on other threads and this one will be yours maybe putting a link to it in your signature will help other members find this thread.

did you say in your introduction thread that you are going to tear down a shed and build a new one? any pictures of the old one before you tear it down.

good luck

51rider · Jan 27, 2015

Nice job there and kudos for finding all the parts on Gumtree at good prices.

I like the Mr Man painting on the wall in the rental place-what are you going to use it for?

Nice cabinet too almost the same as mine but a different brand name.

OzarkMan · Jan 27, 2015

Looks really nice and tidy! Smart use of the door between the house and sideyard gate.

1/2 Cup · Jan 27, 2015

Well done Ken, :thumbup:

I really like the roller door at the front of the drive like the way you have done its heaps better than gates, keeps prying eyes out and offers security for the back yard.

Regards

HSpencer · Jan 27, 2015

Beautiful place and I love the work your doing on it. You might have me beat on driveway steepness. My front drive way is 60 degrees. Not a problem though as we have few snow or icy days.
Great Work!!! I will be following your progress.

Best Regards
Herb Spencer

80WTI_55_CHEV · Jan 27, 2015

Hi Ken welcome aboard the GJ, that falcon you had was no slouch running low 11's down the 1/4. Looks like a greek owned the place before you with all the concrete, look forward to future posts mate. Lee

metalhead140 · Jan 27, 2015

Nice work so far, loving that big workshop space! I've looked into something like that with a mate but never found anywhere suitable for the right price. Have you moved stuff in there yet?

HOTFR8 · Jan 27, 2015

Nicely done Ken.

Kenfab · Jan 28, 2015

drivesitfar said:
Ken: nice job finding all the parts and installing that extra door to get your truck in behind it and into your yard. it looks like you might have a bit more concrete pad to make, but otherwise done with that a project.

did you say you have a motor installed in the roll up door? does it work with a handheld opener?

since you'll probably be posting on other threads and this one will be yours maybe putting a link to it in your signature will help other members find this thread.

did you say in your introduction thread that you are going to tear down a shed and build a new one? any pictures of the old one before you tear it down.

good luck

Yeah a bit more concrete to go, but i wanna put a roof over the top so ill have to put some posts in first, my ute is 4x4 so it loves driving in the half dirt half pavers bit on the side. Yeah the roller door motor came with 3 remotes, ive got them in all my cars, my driveway is too steep to leave cars on the handbrake, you have to turn em off in gear.

this is my shed 9m x 6m (29x20 ft)

and this is the plan for the future, but its a long way off $$ :beer:

Will hopefully be 12m x 10m (40x32 ft)

51rider said:
Nice job there and kudos for finding all the parts on Gumtree at good prices.

I like the Mr Man painting on the wall in the rental place-what are you going to use it for?

Nice cabinet too almost the same as mine but a different brand name.

Thanks mate, yeh gumtree is great i love a bargain.
Haha the purple bloke is ronald mc donalds friend, Grimace.
When we first got the keys we had a bucks show there for a really fat mate of ours, he looks exactly like the purple bloke, except not purple.
Heres a pic from the bucks show, (haha ill remove it if its not allowed)

Basically the rental place is where me and my mates can go work on our cars, we have 3 hoists, horizontal bandsaw, welders, linisher, etc and room for 10 cars plus a lockable yard. $50 per week between 5 guys is a small price to pay for a commercial workshop. We are running a $440 per month surplus so we blow that on more cool workshop tools. We painted 2 months ago, so we have it packed full.

MesaAZguy said:
Looks really nice and tidy! Smart use of the door between the house and sideyard gate.

Thanks mate, it actually turned out to be the exact width of a door by accident. :beer:

1/2 Cup said:
Well done Ken,

I really like the roller door at the front of the drive like the way you have done its heaps better than gates, keeps prying eyes out and offers security for the back yard.

Regards

Thanks mate,
Yeah those gates were rubbish, they rattled in the wind non stop also. The security is also good, but I have a 2YO German Shepherd Security system that helps guard everything

HSpencer said:
Beautiful place and I love the work your doing on it. You might have me beat on driveway steepness. My front drive way is 60 degrees. Not a problem though as we have few snow or icy days.
Great Work!!! I will be following your progress.

Best Regards
Herb Spencer

Thanks mate, ive never measured the angle on the driveway, but im interested now that you mention it. Its kind of funny, we have relatives who refuse to come over because they cant walk up the driveway.
Yeah we dont get temperatures lower than 5 degrees C (41 degrees F) very often, id hate to see if it snowed or was icy.

80WTI_55_CHEV said:
Hi Ken welcome aboard the GJ, that falcon you had was no slouch running low 11's down the 1/4. Looks like a greek owned the place before you with all the concrete, look forward to future posts mate. Lee

Thanks Lee, Yeah the falcon was great, unfortunatly after i popped the trans it was never the same again, was a fun daily driver though, scared alot of people who got in the passenger seat. Im currently building something alot faster for the street though

HAHAHA yeah definitely a greek, they didnt go to the extent of spray-creting the trees and grass though.

metalhead140 said:
Nice work so far, loving that big workshop space! I've looked into something like that with a mate but never found anywhere suitable for the right price. Have you moved stuff in there yet?

Yeah the workshop is great! Generally a spot like that is $1000 per month, but we get it alot cheaper cos we know the landlord. You definitely want a close group of trustworthy mates in there with ya or it gets very stressful.
Yeah we painted 2 months ago, so its chock full of **** at the moment.

HOTFR8 said:
Nicely done Ken.

Thanks mate!

Kenfab · Jan 28, 2015

So i treated myself today for going into work on my day off

Got this carter 4L vice and ryobi 800w biscuit joiner off gumtree for $80
He wanted $60 for the vice and $75 for the joiner but I went for an American Pickers Style bundle haha.

Then I went to bunnings (big home hardware store chain here in Aus)

Got these 1200mm quick clamps

Couple of Tactix box thingos

Then this Kincrome drawer thing caught my eye

Hopefully the missus doesnt find the receipt

Also got these estwing hammers the other day
15oz Ultimate and 24oz Nailing Hammer

Disregard my plumbing work diary underneath, Im not sure why they put pictures of blokes on the covers :dunno:

HOTFR8 · Jan 28, 2015

I am glad you censored your own photo. Well it saved me doing it for you.

Kenfab · Jan 28, 2015

haha i didnt, we found the photo on her instagram profile (already censored) after the bucks show. I just remembered it when someone mentioned the purple guy

Kenfab · Jan 28, 2015

Having my ute tray all open had its perks

(dropping off my 1988 suzuki gsxr 250 to its new owner when i sold it) but it was just too hard to use for work, my tools would get wet when it rained or I would have to put everything inside the cab when I parked somewhere to prevent theft.

So i decided to get a canopy, I went down to the local nissan dealer, but they wanted $4200 for the one they sell as a "genuine" nissan one. However its made by an US company called Snugtop.

So once again I lurked on gumtree and came across this

Apparently the guy who owned it hit a power pole, drink driving. I got told that he got out of the car and walked away with a few bruises. Pretty bad crash though, the seams were peeled end to end.

Offered the wrecker $800 cash and pulled it off myself, and bolted it onto my rig and went home.

Needs a bit of fibreglass love and then ill get it paint matched to my car.

Ive since added 4x 3ft strips of aluminium with 5050 Led Strip Siliconed to it.

Probably will build some slide out drawers for the tray next

Kenfab · Dec 29, 2015

Ok so long time no post, haha. Things have been quite busy here over the last year, my laptop has died so going into my office to sit at the computer at night has been very low on my list of things to do. I did however take a few pictures along the way, not as many as i thought i did, but enough to catch everyone up on what has been happening.

Here is how the house was sitting

1/2 Cup · Dec 29, 2015

Looking fantastic Kenfab :thumbup:

Your home has a lovely street appeal. :thumbup:

You guys are in for another hot one today and its also coming our way too.

Thanks for the update.

Regards

Kenfab · Dec 29, 2015

I went to see the father in law, as he runs a fairly large timber company here.

He had some nice offcuts?(1200mm/47") of 90x45 (2x4) Laminated Merbau

He was about to chuck them in the scrap bin so i grabbed everything

I wasnt too sure about how well they would biscuit/glue up with what i had so i did a test run of 2 overnight, the next day they were nice and solid. I Got together enough pieces that made a decent sized top for a table and put them together.

Excuse the lack of workshop, my shed was quite a mess at this stage and it just seemed to be a lot easier to work outside in my carport/outdoor dining area.

1/2 Cup · Dec 29, 2015

Great score with the timber. :thumbup:

and even more so that you could make good use of it. The table should look fantastic. :thumbup:

What are you doing for the legs??

Regards

Kenfab · Dec 29, 2015

1/2 Cup said:
Looking fantastic Kenfab

Your home has a lovely street appeal.

You guys are in for another hot one today and its also coming our way too.

Thanks for the update.

Regards

Thanks mate! Yeah it looks like it will be warm for the last few days of my holidays

1/2 Cup said:
Great score with the timber. and even more so that you could make good use of it. The table should look fantastic.

What are you doing for the legs??

Regards

Thanks again! Yeah Im not really upset about the amount of free timber I get a hold of.

Haha if I actually remember correctly you made some tables with a victorian ash top, that inspired this table

Kenfab · Dec 29, 2015

So I treated myself to a bosch random orbital sander and a ryobi vacuum.

86070376_2_1000x700_ryobi-30l-1400w-wet-and-dry-vacuum-cleaner-upload-photos.jpg

They worked great despite using way too fine a grade of sandpaper. Im pretty new to woodworking so I still need a bit more experience in picking what to buy at the shops.

I did pick up a vice also

1/2 Cup · Dec 29, 2015

Nice gear, I must get myself a vac like yours. I have a Triton dust collector that you plug into a home vac which is a little clumsy.

Those Bosch sanders are great and should give you great service. :thumbup:

It is great to see that what I do has inspired some one else. :thumbup:

Here is the table I did a while ago.

View media item 41579
Regards

Kenfab · Dec 29, 2015

While the rest of my photos upload to photobucket, Here was the state of my shed at the time, not really sure if it has improved now. :dunno:

2 of my money pits, a 1971 Mazda "R100" and a 1973 Mazda 1300 Sedan.

Forever fixing issues, but its what gives these old cars character

Put a set of SSR Starshark wheels on it to give it a bit more of the japanese modified look.

off to the workshop we rent to get ready for a cruise.

parked at the jaf cruise 2014 with a mates 1300 wagon

Kenfab · Dec 29, 2015

Shortly after the cruise this was how our workshop was looking.

3x Hoists (or lifts as you guys call them)

It was a good setup, but I got into a bit of an argument with one of the guys about a junk part of his going to the scrap yard. He threatened to mess with my gear while I was at work. So I went down there and grabbed everything I owned and took it home.

He probably would have never messed with anything of mine, but once the trust is gone in a situation like that, it just doesnt work anymore.

Kenfab · Dec 29, 2015

Enough of the sob story and onto more table haha :beer:

Decided to make the frame up out of 50x50 SHS. My second hand makita cold cut saw did a horrible job on the mitre cuts, needs a new blade, so i went back to the old makita friction saw.

i love these clamps!

Annnndddd.... it was about this point that I realised that the table was far too high.
Current Dimensions were 1200mm/47in High, 1200mm/47in Long, 650mm/25in wide.

So now the fun part of removing 100mm/4in from the legs :eyecrazy:

Was relatively painless, I expected to have a few more issues.
And onto test fitting the top

ajohno · Dec 29, 2015

Coming along nicely.

Kenfab · Dec 29, 2015

Time for a lick of paint

New favourite paint, doesnt last long though! went with Satin Black

The black really shows up all the imperfections in the frame, I went way too hard with the flap disc trying to smooth the welds, I should have used some filler to fill it back up. Oh well

Decided to make a matching one but this one will have a cut out drop down stainless cooler for beers to sit in. Havent built the frame yet though.

Its a bit hard to see, but the bench underneath is new, just built from scrap 90x45 lengths, 90x90 posts and some solid timber doors that i got from work.

racingtadpole · Dec 29, 2015

Nice looking bench..... Edited the rest once I realised it wasnt a work bench.

You north or south of Anzac Hwy?

1/2 Cup · Dec 29, 2015

Question answered, the table looks fantastic Kenfab :thumbup:

The satin black really sets the timber off. :thumbup:

Regards

Kenfab · Dec 29, 2015

Update on the Navara:

So the canopy on the back was pretty short lived, Basically the first time it rained and it filled up with water and soaked all my tools, I pulled it off and sold it haha.

Made a $200 profit and got a soft tonneau cover.

Decided to treat the old girl to a new look.

and my partner in crime giving me a hand

Kenfab · Dec 29, 2015

ajohno said:
Coming along nicely.

Thanks buddy :thumbup:

racingtadpole said:
Nice looking bench..... Edited the rest once I realised it wasnt a work bench.

You north or south of Anzac Hwy?

Nah its just like a bar style table i guess, i should probably make some stools. South :eyecrazy:

What about yourself?

1/2 Cup said:
Question answered, the table looks fantastic Kenfab

The satin black really sets the timber off.

Regards

Thanks mate! still unsure what finish to put on the timber, but it doesnt look to bad raw. Satin black is awesome!

1/2 Cup · Dec 29, 2015

Kenfab said:
Thanks buddy

Nah its just like a bar style table i guess, i should probably make some stools. South What about yourself?

Thanks mate! still unsure what finish to put on the timber, but it doesnt look to bad raw. Satin black is awesome!

I use Cabots Danish Oil, you can put as little or as much on as you like to build a nice lustre, lightly sand between coats.

Make sure you get no air bubbles using a good quality brush and wipe of any excess with a lint free cloth after each coat.

Regards

jwhcars · Dec 29, 2015

Nice bench and have a healthy and prosperous New Year.

Kenfab · Dec 29, 2015

So apparently cutting your stormwater in summer to install a roller door and then leaving it unfinished all the way to winter is a bad idea. I probably should have known this being a plumber :beer:

Cant find the pictures but this was an absolute mud pit full of water.

every day baths for the mud monster were becoming tiresome, this is the 3rd rinse and see how dirty the water is.

Time to start digging!

Snapped my new shovel on this serious root from my neighbours pencil pine

Then it rained

So enough of that silliness with the shovel, any excuse to hire a new toy is a good one!

woops doesnt fit under the roller door with the Cab on!

dig dig

doesnt look like much

The missus having a play before it goes back to the hire place, note the spoil pile behind

Looking back now, i probably could have saved a few dollars and hand dug it, but i definitely had more fun this way

Kenfab · Dec 29, 2015

Father in law came through with the goods again! I love free timber

Woops, rose bush got in the way while i carried it inside.

Laminated Merbau posts, assorted sizes from 70x70 and 90x90

Some big structural pine and some really nice tasmanian oak

Cut the oak down into rough sizing for the future dining table plan

Time to paint before i assemble the carport, paint brush was painful to use.

much better

Kenfab · Dec 29, 2015

Fast forward a few months

My drill press hates me haha, Corner brackets for the carport.

Knocked this up by myself in a day with a couple of acrow props
Ran the stormwater through and put the steel mesh down.

2 cubes of my favourite stuff! Had a mate give me a hand laying down the small slab

Had to have a webber while we worked!

Oh yeah, father in law had some trusses come back from a job that were made wrong, conveniently they were the perfect size for me :beer:

Kenfab · Dec 29, 2015

Got some of this magical stuff from work.

Its 50x50 aluminium inline glazing post, comes with all sorts of cool base plates and infill panels. Takes a 19mm pane of glass.

Went down to see the father in law for some decking timber, raided the scrap pile for what i needed. 90x19mm Merbau Decking

Started to knock up this new fence to stop the dog getting out when we open the roller doors.

The aluminium profile takes 19mm timber like it was made to!

woops bottom section was in a different type of timber, I think its kapur, Ill change it over soon, DandD LokkLatch for the gate section. I was pretty happy with how it came out.

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