An Aussie Barn Build

[HOTFR8]

I've just kept the registration paid to date.

Depending on how much use it gets in the future I may switch it to the club permit scheme. It's a lot cheaper and the last I heard they were changing it to 90 days a year you could drive it and it didn't have to be a club event. If that goes through it would be great because it means you vould pretty much drive it every weekend.

Cheers

Michael

A wise move to keep it registered. The permit scheme you can have a choice of 90 or 45 days. You still have to belong to a club and with the new scheme you have to complete a log book showing use. The permit scheme is good but if you have full rego I would say keep it as to go from permit back to full registration may require an engineers report.

 

[Aussie Mike]

Cleaned the floor in the machine shop and got the mill back into position. It's coming together nicely. Need to get some more art and memorabilia to hang on the walls. Also got to make some racks for mill tooling and morse taper drill bits etc.

Cheers

Michael

 

[ODIS]

A very nice build Michael. Like how you have finished off the interior too. Interesting about the water issues you have had and the solution to keep water stored on your property. Drought, then a ton of rain...... Global Warming or is this just the way it has always been?

Looks like your Cobra project is a nice one. Engine is clearly a good one and for those that give you grief on your choice of power plant, when they own the car (if ever) they can change it to whatever they want....

Great thread and thanks for sharing your progress.

Ody.

 

[Aussie Mike]

Thanks Ody and others.

Now that I've got the machine shop section pretty well sorted It's time to get stuck back into my fabrication area. I've got a steel topped work bench against the mall but I really want a decent sized fabrication table.

I started building one a little while back and now it's time to get stuck into it and finish it.

The legs are made from 4" square section and about .120" wall. I've machined up some 12mm thick plates for the bottoms of them and drilled and tapped them and welded them on.

I've got some heavy duty castors with a foot that screws down and lifts the castor off the floor. This lets me get the whole thing level and stable and also lets me move it when I need. It'll probable weigh 500+KG when it's all done. The castors are rated at 250KG each.

The rest of the frame so far is made from heavy C section. I've Machined the ends of the cross pieces square and all the same length in the mill. The top C sections are 4"x2" and the bottom shelf frame is 3"x1.5". I like C section because you can clamp stuff to the top edge easily.

There's a bit more progress since these pics. A lot more cross braces have gone in and the bottom shelf is welded in. I had some wire feed problems with my MIG which has slowed me down but it's sorted now.

Cheers

Michael

 

[NASMAN]

FAB-u-lous

 

[Plushy]

Thats a Serious Fab Table Mike !

 

[AndysMBgarage]

That's a sensational shed Michael especially with the machine shop of the side.

I have a couple of questions if you don't mind.

Did you place any additional reinforcing and depth in the slab for the placement of the 2 post hoist?

What considerations for power did you make with the lathe/mill, and was 3 phase needed?

Cheers

 

[Aussie Mike]

Hi Andrew,

Yes I did place additional concrete where the hoist is. I knew I wanted a hoist from the start. The slab is 6" on the sides and 7" in the middle bay where the hoist is. They used F72 mesh right through and 32MPA concrete. It's hard going drilling through it.

When I drilled the anchors for the hoist I went down 6" and didn't come out the other side so I'm confident they put the extra in the middle bay. The slab has been down for about 2 years now and hasn't cracked anywher that I can see.

Unfortunately I only have single phase power but I ran in a 10mm main from the shed sub board to the main house switch board. I had all my machinery from my old house and only had single phase there. 3 phase would be nice but I can't justify the expense of getting it put in. The only thing I want that really needs it is a decent sized compressor. I have a plan for this though and figure I can run a 3 phase compressor of a VSD (Variable Speed Drive) which converts 3 Phase to single phase. The advantage is I could run a more efficient 3 phase motor and also set up the VSD to have a soft start to take the power spike off the main when it starts up.

I have a sparky mate who wired the shed for me that has been wording me up on them. He uses them a lot with his industrial work. You can pick up a 5.5KW unit for about $1K which should run a 7HP 3Phase compressor off a single phase supply. It all has to be wired in permanently but that's not a big issue.

I reckon you could use one with a Lathe or mill too and be able to set the motor sppeed via the VSD.

I'll keep you posted.

Cheers

Michael

 

[Aussie Mike]

Hi All,

Just a small update. I did a bit more work on the interior over the Christmas break.

My old work bench was looking a bit tired (Especially against the new wall) so I thought I'd freshen it up a bit. I built this thing about 20 years ago and it's been a really good bench. I cut the bottom of the legs off and welded on pads that I could thread some new adjustable feet into. I also gave it a fresh coat of paint. It's come up really nice.

Cheers

 

[CNGsaves]

That is FABULOUS building . . . ehh mate??

Love the look of steel skeleton . . . . strong and functional.

Curious what it would have cost to get rid of all the posts that clutter the middle of building? Could you put up some monster beams in roof every so many feet that span the entire width to eliminate those posts??

Speaking of costs, mind giving us round-a-bout price of completed build?

Keep sending pics . . . we Like it!!

 

[ConCretin]

How the hell do I miss these things? Seems like I spend half my waking hours here and I still stumble on gems like this I haven't seen before.

Awesome build. I love the structure, it's set up beautifully with all the machine tools and you're building cool cars. What a great thread!

 

[Aussie Mike]

How the hell do I miss these things? Seems like I spend half my waking hours here and I still stumble on gems like this I haven't seen before.

Awesome build. I love the structure, it's set up beautifully with all the machine tools and you're building cool cars. What a great thread!

Thanks, I'm always finding new and interesting threads on here. I've been really enjoying seing the progress on your amazing build. Looking forward to seeing more updates this year.

Cheers

Michael

 

[Aussie Mike]

That is FABULOUS building . . . ehh mate??

Love the look of steel skeleton . . . . strong and functional.

Curious what it would have cost to get rid of all the posts that clutter the middle of building? Could you put up some monster beams in roof every so many feet that span the entire width to eliminate those posts??

Speaking of costs, mind giving us round-a-bout price of completed build?

Keep sending pics . . . we Like it!!

I actually don't mind the posts in the middle. Most of them don't get in the way at all. The uprights for the hoist are right next to one pair. The pair at the back are walled in for a storage area and a future office/bathroom area.

The bays are 4M (13') wide which gives you plenty of room around any car that's in there. I actually plan to put a few power points and air line connections on a couple of the posts as a nice central point.

As for cost, I'd rather not put anything down in print in case my wife reads this forum.

Cheers

Michael

 

[HOTFR8]

The timber paneling and the corugated iron on the inside walls sure makes for a great finish.

 

[Aussie Mike]

The timber paneling and the corugated iron on the inside walls sure makes for a great finish.

Thanks. Certaily a lot less spiders with the walls lined, less places for them to hide. The corrugated iron gives a lot of diffused reflected light at night. It seems so much brighter now when working out there with the fluro lights on.

Cheers

Michael

 

[CNGsaves]

Forgot to comment about your AWESOME water collection system!! I had seen one on a farmer's giant chicken barn that enabled him to get cheaper insurance since he had his own on-site water reserve in case of fire. His were very large underground cisterns that also provided water for the chickens.

Curious if you've ever seen the water storage containers elevated as high as possible so that you'd get gravity feed for free to push that water to wherever you needed it?

Out on my grandpa's rural farmhouse they lived 50 yrs with just a simple vertical plunger-pull well under a windmill. An electric motor was used to power the up & down pumping (ie no windmill blades up top) that pushed water about 25 ft over (while 15 feet in air) to 300 gallon water tank built into attic of the "wash house" that created all the gravity feed that was needed for showers and house needs!! Thus, no pump pressure what-so-ever! That generation knew what it was to survive on the land.

Kudos to your terrific Aussie build. Keep us posted . . . We Like !

 

[HOTFR8]

Thanks. Certaily a lot less spiders with the walls lined, less places for them to hide. The corrugated iron gives a lot of diffused reflected light at night. It seems so much brighter now when working out there with the fluro lights on.

Cheers

Michael

I can see that would work well for the light and the Spiders. I would also guess the Spiders are behind tha paneling as well.

 

[Aussie Mike]

I would also guess the Spiders are behind tha paneling as well.

And they can ****** stay there. I hate Red Backs, we get our fair share of them. I always put on a pair of welding gloves if I go sorting through my scrap steel pile.

 

[Aussie Mike]

Probably a bit big to easily elevate them. They weight 23 tons each when full. You get a fair bit of water pressure just at ground level and the tanks are on the high side of my property. There is about an 8' head of water in there when they are full. You could probably just use gravity to feed a drip irrigation system but you need a pump for multiple sprinklers.

I have been contemplating finding an old farm wind mill and putting it up in the back yard. However I reckon I'll put a wind turbine on it and run it to a grid feed inverter.

Cheers

Michael

 

[1/2 Cup]

You need congratulating, green with envy

 

[Aussie Mike]

Thanks 1/2 Cup.

I regularly head up your way. I've got friends in Avenel and Nagambie. Me and a good friend have 2 sites every year at the Shep swap meet. Been going for nearly 20 years now.

Cheers

Michael

 

[HOTFR8]

And they can ****** stay there. I hate Red Backs, we get our fair share of them. I always put on a pair of welding gloves if I go sorting through my scrap steel pile.

I use Fly Spray on them. Easily sweep down the cobwebs then without issue.
Still gloves are a good idea and I even have to watch the overalls and boots at times.

Can we see more of the interior of your shed as it looks good.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Mike,
I am a Shepp swap meet veteran as well, in fact since it began , and dare i say it some 40 years ago, I live in central Shepparton within 1 km of the show grounds.
We should perhaps organise a catchup for all the GJ member that can attend at this years event??? Your thoughts???

 

[HOTFR8]

Sounds like a plan if it does not clash with the Castlemaine Rod Run.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Sounds like a plan if it does not clash with the Castlemaine Rod Run.

We need to pencil it in to the calender for sure, Simon are you able to give us a date on the Rod Run??

 

[1/2 Cup]

The swap meet is on the 8th of Sept this year.........

 

[HOTFR8]

We need to pencil it in to the calender for sure, Simon are you able to give us a date on the Rod Run??

The swap meet is on the 8th of Sept this year.........

If the Rod Run is on it will be that same weekend.

 

[PrecisionTools]

Great shed build. Just wondering if you could remember where to source the adjustable feet on your bench legs?

 

[theoldwizard1]

How is the water supply holding up, or is it still too early in the dry season to tell ?

 

[1/2 Cup]

strange as it might seem all of our storages are above 90 percent full..............

 

[1/2 Cup]

If the Rod Run is on it will be that same weekend.

Now thats a tough call.......................................................

 

[1/2 Cup]

Great shed build. Just wondering if you could remember where to source the adjustable feet on your bench legs?

Try Dyna Ridge in Brisbane, expensive but real good to deal with. I bought similar units last year that included 50x50 RHS inserts at $50 per leg!!

 

[Aussie Mike]

Great shed build. Just wondering if you could remember where to source the adjustable feet on your bench legs?

I got them through Castors Galore in Sydney road Campbelfield (just up from where the ring road goes under Sydney road). Good guys with a good range at good prices.

These ones have a 16mm thread on them and were about $20 each. I didn't use inserts, just welded on 16mm nuts.

Cheers

Michael

 

[Aussie Mike]

How is the water supply holding up, or is it still too early in the dry season to tell ?

It's been hot and dry lately. A lot of bush fires around the state and down in Tasmainia lately.

We've not had a lot of rain in the last month or two but we are still on tank water, no need to switch to town water yet. It's looking like some rain tonight so that might fill up the house tank a bit. The Shed tanks are still full as I haven't got much irrigation plumbed in from them.

Cheers

Michael

 

[Aussie Mike]

If the Rod Run is on it will be that same weekend.

What about the Ballarat Swap on the 23rd and 24th Feb. I'll be going for a look as usual.

Cheers

Michael

 

[gazza]

Speaking of Ballarat swap meet, I have a stall there again this year. Last year was my first year selling and buying, I think the new organisers did a great job.
Dont forget they have gone back to Saturday and Sunday trading only, no public access untill early Saturday morning.
cheers Gazza

 

[PrecisionTools]

Thanks for the tips here guys...

 

[HOTFR8]

We are getting off topic here.

Ballarat Swap would be a good meeting place. We must make sure we advise Plushy. He lives not far from the Ballarat Swap.

 

[Aussie Mike]

Can we see more of the interior of your shed as it looks good.

I'm a bit of a messy person at times so a lot of the shed is a bit disorganized.

Lining the shed and setting up each section is my own way of trying to cure myself of this and get the place more organized. It's easier to keep tidy if things have a place where they are supposed to live.

I'll take more pics as I get things set up.

Cheers

Michael

 

[HOTFR8]

I'm a bit of a messy person at times so a lot of the shed is a bit disorganized.

Lining the shed and setting up each section is my own way of trying to cure myself of this and get the place more organized. It's easier to keep tidy if things have a place where they are supposed to live.

I'll take more pics as I get things set up.

Cheers

Michael

Thats OK we do not mind the mess as it just shows you are working and have things / projects in progress.