Since I wrote the first article about setting up a workshop (see The Shed, Issue No. 117), two things have happened. The first was my wife suggesting that we reorganise the space used by household items so that I can extend my workshop to the full wi

On a weekend at the beginning of October, two notable events took place in Christchurch. One was the McLeans Island Swap Meet, run by the Canterbury branch of the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (VCC). The other was perhaps less than half the size bu

This description of the process of developing a T-intersection of two cylinders shows the base cylinder or drum on top purely for ease of layout. First, draw a plan view or profile of the base of the upright drum to scale and divide it into 16 equal

Erick Akeley is in a rather tricky position. He doesn’t own a house, but he does own five Morris Minors. Erick shares a rented house in Christchurch that has garaging for only his 1957 ute; the other four Minors he keeps in a rented farm shed on the

Whanganui Community Men’s Shed Trust Inc. has just two-and-half years to raise at least $800K. This is the estimated amount needed to build and kit out new premises when the trust’s current lease on the Marist Rugby Football Club rooms expires. The t

Hopefully, this article will help understanding of the inputs on an Arduino (and other microcontrollers) and what you need to be aware of when using them in sketches. I’ll show how you can detect and respond to multiple inputs and reveal one method o

Readers will know by now that I love nothing more than detective work. Recently I’ve been indulging in two such sleuthings, a happy delve reducing the frustration of a more serious one. The happy one is a significant piece of New Zealand maritime his

Hamiltonian Mike Mason is a rarity these days, a true craftsman who can create almost anything out of sheet metal. He spends his days in a hot rod and restoration shop, fabricating whatever is required, but after hours he turns his hand to using his

The carriage undergoing restoration – a huge job for several volunteers – tells a story of decline. First fitted out as luxury transport for the Duke of Gloucester’s royal visit in 1935, it was then converted to a first-class carriage on long-distanc

I’ve had the motorbike – an AJS 500cc single of about 1952 production – in storage and in bits for about 50 years. Calling it an ‘AJS 500’ is a bit misleading, as the engine number on the crankcase is for a 1953 Matchless 350 (same manufacturer – AMC

‘Dynamite Dave’ Alexander is a self-taught doer, with an eye for detail, unquestionable discipline, and a passion for motorsports. He’s been making things since he was a nipper, and has never stopped. He was raised on a remote Hawke’s Bay farm, where

Set to become a premier destination on New Zealand’s event calendar, the festival promises to be reminiscent of some of the most prestigious motoring events globally, thanks to its stunning location and world-class execution. This celebration of moto

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: We visit a woodworker in the Adelai

During World War II, the Austin Motor Company in the UK manufactured the K5 three-ton truck for the British armed forces. It was powered by a four-litre Austin six-cylinder pushrod overhead-valve (OHV) petrol engine. More than 12,000 of these were bu

Recently, this email from Pam came into my mailbox: “Hi Greg, “I read The Shed magazine on the plane on our way back from Aussie and quickly came to realise that I’m possibly married to your king. “I’ve been married to Dave for 50 years this week, an

If you’ve ever dreamed of creating your own beer, cider, or even spirits, MYO Drinks (Make Your Own Drinks) is here to make it happen. As an online hub for home drink-making products and knowledge, MYO Drinks offers Kiwis everything they need to get

I’ve just had one of those birthdays that doesn’t end in a 0 or a 5 but nevertheless gives you a bit of a chill that something is coming to an end. I am entering the ‘end stage’ of life – not in the dramatic sense, I hasten to add. Relax, dear reader

Rick Schreuder gets around. Living in Waiuku, 60km south of Auckland, he does shifts as a surf lifesaver at Karioitahi Surf Club, works as a firefighter at Manurewa, and for the past eight or nine years has been a frequent volunteer at the railway wo

A generation ago, in cities in the south of New Zealand’s South Island, very large Edwardian houses, formerly home to bank managers or successful doctors, fell out of favour. Today, they are B & Bs run by childless couples escaping Auckland or, in Du

Interested in collectables of the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s, Terry has a few classic cars and motorcycles. He had a very large barn built behind his residence to house his collections. Big as it is, the barn is – inevitably – not quite big enough. At near

It was a balmy Christmas Eve; from memory, it was 1983. It started off as any normal evening before the big day: wrapping presents and placing them around the tree. My final job was in the shed. With the family tucked up in bed asleep, I crept downst

When my friend Evan Wade said that he was going to build a smoker from two 200-litre drums, I leapt at the chance to cover it, as I had been wanting to cover a Texas-style smoker build for some time. This isn’t quite a traditional offset smoker like

In this second part of Introduction to Electronic Music, I will try to introduce the fundamental element of music – and, in general, any sound: the waveforms and how we can manipulate them. Waveform maths covers a wide range of physics and applies no

At one time it was advantageous for companies assembling motor vehicles in New Zealand to incorporate as many locally made components – such as tyres, paint, and upholstery – as possible. In the case of Morris Minors, the Wilco rear tray fitted to Ne

When I first came to New Zealand and saw a Morris Minor, it immediately appealed to me because of its retro styling, obviously influenced by the bulbous bodywork of 1940s Detroit sedans. The Minor’s designer, Alec Issigonis, said it was designed duri

Erick does all the routine maintenance himself: tune-ups, oil changes, changing brake shoes, bleeding brakes, and the like. He also does some more challenging jobs, such as swapping engines and gear-boxes. A rundown on what he’s done to the individua

The Husqvarna LC 142i is an easy-to-use battery lawnmower with a 42cm cutting width and is suitable for mowing small and medium-sized lawns. This mower is very easy to start – all that is needed is to remove the bail stop and pull the bail down. The