Projects and Activities
The Shed's members undertake a wide variety of woodworking and metalworking projects. Over the past two years the Shed has completed more than 70 projects ranging across these categories:
Members' Personal Projects
Shed members can bring along their own projects from home to work on in the Shed's workshop and take advantage of the skills and experience of other members along with the help of extra hands. Personal projects work-in-progress can usually be stored at the Shed between sessions.
Shed members can bring along their own projects from home to work on in the Shed's workshop and take advantage of the skills and experience of other members along with the help of extra hands. Personal projects work-in-progress can usually be stored at the Shed between sessions.
Shed Development Projects
The Shed started from scratch with nothing in October 2022. Since then the Shed members have worked to build-up our workshop infrastructure including:
The Shed started from scratch with nothing in October 2022. Since then the Shed members have worked to build-up our workshop infrastructure including:
- Upgrading electric power and lighting
- Workshop roof insulation
- Building mobile workbenches
- Building racking and shelving for tools, timber, materials and fixings
- Creating a compound mitre saws bench with a common deck/fence
- Installing dust extraction systems
- Building mobile power tool and equipment benches
Enterprise Projects
When not working on personal or Shed development projects, Shed members make a range of products and models primarily for sale to help cover the costs of materials and to raise some extra money to support the operations of the Shed. Types of products made include:
When not working on personal or Shed development projects, Shed members make a range of products and models primarily for sale to help cover the costs of materials and to raise some extra money to support the operations of the Shed. Types of products made include:
- Nesting Boxes
- Metal Sculptures
- Planter Wheelbarrows
- Outdoor/Garden Furniture
- Plant Display Units
- Street Libraries
Community Projects
From time to time the Shed is asked to assist community organisations and groups with projects to support their activities. Examples of community projects include:
From time to time the Shed is asked to assist community organisations and groups with projects to support their activities. Examples of community projects include:
- Refurbishing traffic signs for a local kindergarten
- Building an indoor "street" library for another local kindergarten
- Building stage access stairs for a local church
- Making wooden stakes for a local reforestation tree planting project
- Building storage cupboards for a local Sunday School
- Making mahjong boards for a local Retire Active Group
- Building a street library now located in a public park in Craigburn Farm
Private Commissions
Members of the public often approach the Shed with requests for help to repair, refurbish or build an item of furniture or equipment. These projects are only taken on when the Shed is confident that our members have the expertise and capacity to complete the work. Our customers sometimes need to be patient as the time that can be spent on their projects is limited by the length of Shed sessions and the availability of materials. Customers are asked for a donation to cover the costs of materials and to contribute to the cost of operating the Shed. Examples of the Shed's private commissions are:
Members of the public often approach the Shed with requests for help to repair, refurbish or build an item of furniture or equipment. These projects are only taken on when the Shed is confident that our members have the expertise and capacity to complete the work. Our customers sometimes need to be patient as the time that can be spent on their projects is limited by the length of Shed sessions and the availability of materials. Customers are asked for a donation to cover the costs of materials and to contribute to the cost of operating the Shed. Examples of the Shed's private commissions are:
- Repairing a storm-damaged pergola
- Refurbishing a set of teak outdoor chairs
- Refurbishing and/or mending dining chairs for many customers
- Making staghorn fern backboards to order
- Making a learning tower for toddlers
- Restoring an antique chair
- Repairing outdoor Bali umbrellas
- Repairing a wrought iron laundry trolley
- Refurbishing a timber deck
- Making a wooden four-wheeled dolly
Alternatively to project work, some members choose to engage in non-workshop activities including discussing the finer points of coffee, tea, board games, darts, and card games.
And Shed development continues toward realising fully functional and effective workshop and storage spaces.