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A Shed Downunder.

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anth

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Australia
Depends on what your idea of expensive is, but personally I think they are, especially since I can tell how they were made (just currently lack the skill to make one!). For a 1500x90mm table you're looking at around $1.5k, and this is direct from the manufacturer, by far the cheapest we've been able to find them. These types of tables in the stores are well over $2k. I'd contemplate selling some if I were you, it'd be a good little money-maker!
 
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1/2 Cup

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Location
Shepparton. Victoria. Australia
commonut said:
How did your pending sales go BTW, did the horse drawn wagon, Retro Industrial Table and Brake Drum Pot Belly heater find new homes? You're way more disciplined than me, no way I could have contemplated selling something that had been in my family as long as that wagon, yet alone following through and actually advertising!
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It was a tough decision, but at the end of the day, in reality, I consider my self a caretaker of antiquities so to speak.

I have sold or donated a few bits and pieces, the issue I have is room as things have been getting a little out of control around here lately.

I still have all three, I put a top dollar on all of them, if they sell they sell, clinical as it may appear but I do have a contingency plan and that is to move them to my sons shed in the interim.

We have been reassessing our priorities lately and starting to plan some long term goals.

I will articulate our plans and just where things are at over the next week or so.:thumbup:

Many thanks for dropping by..
 
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1/2 Cup

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panthersteve said:
commonut said:
All of your projects look amazing, and I'm only slightly jealous of some of your scores (Victoria, especially Melbourne always has the best "stuff" on eBay, to bad everything that catches my eye is HEAVY).
QUOTE]

I agree 100%, the good stuff is always too far away :(
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I guess we are pretty fortunate in that regard being located where we are, that said it is still a two hour drive to Melbourne. Mrs 1/2 Cup loves getting out and about as well so pick up is not an issue.
The furthest I have freighted stuff was from Sydney it was a very old Church Pulpit ( and don't ask about why I would want a Church Pulpit, its a long story) I brought on Ebay and from memory cost about $70 to our door.

Cheers
Click to expand...
 
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Mr. 360

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Nov 23, 2012
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662
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Bowmanville, Ontario
1/2 Cup said:
View media item 41211
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Im a big fan of this thick bench top 'butcher block' style. I know you're doing it for seating but it's right up the alley of what ive been thinking for when i build new benches in my shop. I have a big old White Ash tree that I dropped about 3 years back, about 18" diameter. I'm planning to mill it all up for workbench material, perhaps quarter sawn. Like you, I don't have a biscuit jointer, so I might just have to borrow your dowel setup and get it done.

Work's looking great as usual, keep it up!
 
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1/2 Cup

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Mr. 360 said:
Im a big fan of this thick bench top 'butcher block' style. I know you're doing it for seating but it's right up the alley of what ive been thinking for when i build new benches in my shop. I have a big old White Ash tree that I dropped about 3 years back, about 18" diameter. I'm planning to mill it all up for workbench material, perhaps quarter sawn. Like you, I don't have a biscuit jointer, so I might just have to borrow your dowel setup and get it done.

Work's looking great as usual, keep it up!
Click to expand...

Many thanks Eric, your Ash should come up nice, just ideal for a bench top:thumbup:

I was browsing some classifieds here on the weekend and there was a slab of old growth Red Gum for sale about 2ft. x 6ft., the asking price was $2500AU:shocking:
Some of those timbers are getting real expensive here. The Victorian Ash I brought for the two Bench Sets that you see was $200AU.

The dowel kit is not the most high tech but does the job nicely, borrow away.;)

Regards..
 
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1/2 Cup

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Shepparton. Victoria. Australia
I have been putting in a fair bit of time at work lately and as a consequence my projects, in the Shed Downunder, that I have on the go have slowed to a snails pace so I thought I would share some of the stuff that I get involved with at work that may put things into a little clearer context.

My role as an Electrical/Mechanical Standards & Quality Coordinator at a Water Authority, that manages Bulk Water Storages and a Rural Irrigation delivery network that covers 1/3 of the State of Victoria, has me getting involved either directly as a project manager or indirectly in a QA role in some truly fascinating and diverse works that we undertake right across the organisation.
Just a sap shot of the projects I have on the go in my role at the moment.

Green field pump station
. 3 X 37 KW Main Pumps
. 2 X 11 KW Jockey Pumps
. All variable speed driven.
. 7 miles of pressurised pipe line.
. Remotely monitored and operated via our SCADA network.
. Due for completion next month.

6 x Ground water and Salinity Control Pump Station Electrical Upgrades.
. Due for completion next month.

The Hattah lakes Environmental Flows Project.


http://www.malleecma.vic.gov.au/news/hattah-lakes-program-takes-out-top-environmental-award

We have been involved in a number of environmental flow projects this year with most having an electrically actuated gates, automated fishways, water level and monitoring installed.

Corporation Primary Data Centre Upgrade.
. A $1.6m project.
. Dual redundant every thing.
. Climate control system.
. Dual U.P.S.
. Dual Redundant power supplies.
. Fire suppression system.
. New servers.

Main Office - Main Switchboard Upgrade (800 amp), dual ATS and Dual 220 kva Standby Generator Installation.
This has been a project over the last 12 months for me and we successfully commissioned the second of the generator sets yesterday (Saturday)morning.

Stand by power supply upgrades or new installations.

We have installed around 6 Gen sets and associated electricals this year.

Major Electrical Upgrades

Hoist/crane electrical control upgrades at four of our major water storages.

Irrigation System Modernisation

At last count we have in the order of 9000 remotely controlled, solar powered regulating gates and metered outlets.
The funding for this is in the order of $2.5B

Occupational Health and Safety compliance from an Electrical perspective.

So there is just a snap shot of the stuff I get involved with at work and at times keeps me off the streets and out of the Shed Downunder.

Have a great weekend.:thumbup:
 
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1/2 Cup

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HOTFR8 said:
The Hattah Lakes project looks very interesting.
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The Hattah Lakes pump station has been a huge logistical challenge for us. It is a six hour drive from here, an hours drive from Mildura and a 10 mile drive into the National park. The middle of nowhere so to speak.

The project required us to construct our own High Voltage (22 k.v.)underground power line into the Park with its own sub station on site.
The pumps are capable of pumping 1 million litres of water per day into the park for environmental flows from the Murray River.

Regards..
 
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1/2 Cup

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Shepparton. Victoria. Australia
Groundhog day.:sad:


Lesson not learned.

Eldest son was doing renovations at his house a few months back.

Eldest son, as you may remember, borrows my tools...........again.

2 weeks ago - Me to eldest son "I need that saw you borrowed can you return it please"
Eldest son to me - yep I will look for it.

1.5 weeks ago - phone conversation - Did you find my saw?
Eldest son to me - I will check and return it on the week end.

1 week ago - Me to eldest son - Did you find my saw?
Eldest son to me - nope I could not find it.

Damn:dunno:


I have always gone with the age old adage " If you borrow my tools and you break my tools, you now own that tool and you replace that tool with a new tool ".



Another visit to United Tools.

View media item 41336
$50 later out of my pocket - not happy!!

Yesterday - Eldest son to me. - Dad can I borrow your car stands??

Me - I weakened.

On the bright side he did return my car ramps that have been out there for 18 months.

Have a good one:thumbup:
 
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metalhead140

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Jan 15, 2013
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Location
NSW, Australia
Bench seats are looking good! I can relate to a lot of what you describe for your job, I work for Transgrid (high voltage transmission in NSW). Sounds like our companies face many similar challenges.
 
B

Bob Heine

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Boca Raton, Florida
1/2 Cup said:
I have always gone with the age old adage " If you borrow my tools and you break my tools, you now own that tool and you replace that tool with a new tool ".
Click to expand...
Lowered Expectations:

For many years I tried to follow that rule but it has morphed into "When I loan out a tool, I assume it's gone forever." I immediately buy a replacement based on that assumption. When my son turned 50 last year I realized that we get along much better since I stopped having those "Do you have my..." conversations.
 
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Carves

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Oct 9, 2013
Messages
459
Location
Central West NSW .. Australia
1/2 Cup said:
...... Another visit to United Tools.

View media item 41336
$50 later out of my pocket - not happy!!
Click to expand...


$50 .. :shocking:

Me ... being a cheapskate ... always keep an eye on mitre 10 or wherever - when these or similiar are on special.

page_6.jpg


If you, dont like them ... then buy a pair for the young bloke and say,
.... Here - especially for you .. :lol:


1/2 Cup said:
On the projects front I did manage to get another coat of Danish Oil on the Bench seat tops.
Click to expand...

Those seat tops are oiling up quite nicely .. :thumbup:
 
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1/2 Cup

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Shepparton. Victoria. Australia
metalhead140 said:
Bench seats are looking good! I can relate to a lot of what you describe for your job, I work for Transgrid (high voltage transmission in NSW). Sounds like our companies face many similar challenges.
Click to expand...

Many thanks.:thumbup:

You are correct, "challenges" being the operative word:thumbup:

It certainly makes for an interesting work place, its never dull i can assure you.:thumbup:

Regards
 
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1/2 Cup

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Shepparton. Victoria. Australia
Bob Heine said:
Lowered Expectations:

For many years I tried to follow that rule but it has morphed into "When I loan out a tool, I assume it's gone forever." I immediately buy a replacement based on that assumption. When my son turned 50 last year I realized that we get along much better since I stopped having those "Do you have my..." conversations.
Click to expand...

I have handed my eldest quite a bit of gear over the years, i shouldnt grizzle too much as he really does appreciate it and its great to see him making his own way in the world and having a go.:thumbup:

Carves said:
$50 .. :shocking:

Me ... being a cheapskate ... always keep an eye on mitre 10 or wherever - when these or similiar are on special.

page_6.jpg


If you, dont like them ... then buy a pair for the young bloke and say,
.... Here - especially for you .. :lol:




Those seat tops are oiling up quite nicely .. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Many thanks carves.:thumbup:

In the end i really don't mind, i also look at it this way Mrs 1/2 Cup doesn't say much about me buying replacement tools when i mention our eldest/ broken/ lost/damaged in the same sentence. So i can be a win win;)
 
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CoopVA

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Virginia
That's some pretty good work stuff you got going there 1/2 Cup! I'm the Coordination Dept. manager for a large electrical contractor.... I can relate to a lot of that!

Benches are looking great!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
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metalhead140

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Messages
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Location
NSW, Australia
1/2 Cup said:
Many thanks.:thumbup:

You are correct, "challenges" being the operative word:thumbup:

It certainly makes for an interesting work place, its never dull i can assure you.:thumbup:

Regards
Click to expand...

Never dull is right! Some days I think I wouldn't mind a dull day... But then I just remember all the boring jobs I've worked, much better to be kept on your toes I reckon. :)
 
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1/2 Cup

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Its funny how you read back through your own thread and all of a sudden the penny drops.

I just realised I have not properly articulated the finishing process on the bench seat tops.

Typically we have used Cabots Danish Oil on all of our timber trims in the house and all of the bench tops I have built and have applied each coat with a brush, sanding in between each coat until I have achieved the desired gloss level, that's usually a full gloss.

I will recount from post #614 page 31

[ I purchased the timber as Dressed All Round (DAR) and it is a select grade.
The finish is very smooth as I dont have much in the way of planing gear. I prefer it this way, taking great care to getting the finished surface as near as flat as possible that way i just run over it with a belt sander to remove any minor missalignment.

The secret is carefull measurement, drilling of the dowels and taking care when you glue and clamp the pieces together.

The Victorian Ash I am using, if you seal it well, shrinks very little over time.

I am a bit of a novice in terms of woodworking myself but you soon learn from your mistakes as I have found over a few projects.]

This time I have adopted a different methodology.

. Following the jointing procedure the timber was lightly belt sanded with 80 grit to blend any minor imperfections in the joins.
. Lightly Randomly orbital sand with 180 grit.
. Wipe with tack rag.
. Block sand with 320 grit with the grain, wipe and inspect the surface under a fluorescent light to ensure an even finish.
. Apply the first coat of oil with a brush to ensure an even covering, then with a lint free cloth burnish the oil into the timber until an even finish is achieved.
. The rubbing in took some time, the ambient temps were pretty low and as a result the oil did not tack of, which is a plus to getting an even finish and penetration into the timber.
. Let the oil dry for 48 hours however I was surprised, given the smooth finish I had sanding the timber, as to how much the gain had raised so I re block sanded with 180 grit then wiped with a tack rag again, let sit for a further 24 hours then applied the second coat burnishing it with a rag as per the first coat.
. Let the oil dry for a further 48 hours, being a bit cooler here (10 C)
. I have just blocked that coat out tonight with a scotch brite pad to a nice even finish and I am finding ever so slightly the gloss level starting to build.

30/06/2014

. The scotch brite worked a treat, I applied ( brushed ) a third coat today. Temperatures still around the 10C, then rubbed the oil in again with a lint free cloth. Looking better every coat!

I will keep this post updated as I go through the steps. I am pretty pleased with the results thus far.

Have a great day.
 
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1/2 Cup

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CoopVA said:
That'll work!

I am really looking forward to having a play and seeing how it performs.:thumbup:


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

larryscustomcycles said:
Geez mate, if your skills with metal are anything like what they are with timber you are quite the rare bloke.
Click to expand...

Some say that I am a "rare commodity" for sure and are not necessarily referring to any skills that I may be perceived to have.:lol:

Through out my working life I have been pretty fortunate to have worked with some real old school tradesmen "craftsmen " if you like and worked in various industries that have endowed me, more with the desire to emulate their skills and work ethic.

I don't always get it right the first time, believe me, but I have a crack any way.:thumbup:
 
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1/2 Cup

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Shepparton. Victoria. Australia
We had a cold, miserable and overcast typical winters weekend here. Worked Saturday morning commissioning the last few outstanding items (air conditioning load shed and generator control system mods) that we had left over to do from our upgrade of the Main Switchboard and Dual redundant standby power supplies for the Primary data centre at our head office.
The net result was not a whole heap got done in the Shed Downunder , just basic clean up and the third coat of Danish Oil on the bench seat tops.

During the clean up I cleared some shelves to do some rearranging and found some long lost treasures I had stored that will be used down the track when I start the carport replacement and storage solution build.

View media item 41427
These are original 1950s cast iron bunker lights, once again destined for the dumpster, that came from a plant room refit that we were doing many years ago. I striped, cleaned and had the frames powder coated, replace the electrics and seals as a matter of course.

Have a good one..:thumbup:
 
8

80WTI_55_CHEV

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Dec 8, 2012
Messages
820
Location
bundamba australia
Hi Steve, that unimig tig welder is great at that price and they perform really well, the only thing i would do is upgrade the earth lead as you will find it gets really hot, you could almost weld with it sometimes. The bunker lights look great too:thumbup:
keep up the great work.
Lee
 
G

Guster

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Mar 11, 2012
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Location
Auckland, New Zealand
1/2 Cup said:
SHOP / ADD TOO WISH LIST / ADD TO CART / CHECKOUT
https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/W174

I recieved an email saying that part of my order is now on backorder, another week to wait by the looks of it.

The good news is not 24 hours of placing the order the welder came on special.:D
Click to expand...

If it is anything like this one I got from the NZ H&F counterpart you will really enjoy and get good use out of it: http://www.machineryhouse.co.nz/W1125
Might pay to get the foot pedal too!

Had it for over 9 months and still learning about all its features.
 
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