men in sheds

[skotl]

This intrigued me so I just googled it but I dunno... Seems mostly woodwork, which I guess is probably cheaper and safer (?) than metalworking, maybe...

But then I started to get antsy at the thought of other people using my tools.

I would be interested in people's experience, though - the thought of a shared workshop with a bridgeport and a water cutter table is great, but I suspect I'm being over-optimistic!

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

This intrigued me so I just googled it but I dunno... Seems mostly woodwork, which I guess is probably cheaper and safer (?) than metalworking, maybe...

But then I started to get antsy at the thought of other people using my tools.

I would be interested in people's experience, though - the thought of a shared workshop with a bridgeport and a water cutter table is great, but I suspect I'm being over-optimistic!

Wood is easier to start with.
It also is what a lot of members know.
One shed I am involved in has a small metal working shop. But don't have insurance for hot work.
Yet.
I know of one. I had a shed visit who has a small pottery section.

Each shed is it's own.
They are as difference as our sheds.

 

[Agroshield]

I have in the past repaired/restored tools for a brain injury rehabilitation centre as freebies but never worked alongside others doing it.

If this is the kind of thing you enjoy, may I draw your attention to Remap (https://www.remap.org.uk/) as a possible continuation of it? Thanks.

the thought of a shared workshop with a Bridgeport and a water cutter table is great, but I suspect I'm being over-optimistic!

Perhaps have a look at maker spaces or hack spaces as . E.g. (https://wiki.ehlab.uk/start). For a different flavour, see (https://london.hackspace.org.uk/ or https://buildingbloqs.com/).

 

[Turbo]

I'm another shedder, joined up 3 years ago & it has been critical for keeping my mental health on the level. Even after we were closed for lockdown I was still going in to help make flat packs of things like garden planters to send out to members who were isolating.

Unfortunately since Xmas we have been completely closed, orders from Der Fuhrer & since then my mental health has been going downhill. I have made a decision over the weekend that I'm going back in next week (I'm a keyholder & supervisor), otherwise I'm headed to a very dark place I've been before & don't want to return to!

As has been said, sheds vary in what they do, ours is very active but another local one does very little apart from drink tea & chat!

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Might have to give it a go if we are ever allowed out to play again

Go along and have a look.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

I'm another shedder, joined up 3 years ago & it has been critical for keeping my mental health on the level. Even after we were closed for lockdown I was still going in to help make flat packs of things like garden planters to send out to members who were isolating.

Unfortunately since Xmas we have been completely closed, orders from Der Fuhrer & since then my mental health has been going downhill. I have made a decision over the weekend that I'm going back in next week (I'm a keyholder & supervisor), otherwise I'm headed to a very dark place I've been before & don't want to return to!

As has been said, sheds vary in what they do, ours is very active but another local one does very little apart from drink tea & chat!

The last paragraph is true for a lot.
But look at this way.
The members are out of their day to day location.
They are meeting others. They can have a chat etc..
MIS is what you make it.

 

[gaz1]

As has been said, sheds vary in what they do, ours is very active but another local one does very little apart from drink tea & chat!

the last paragraph is why many men dont go to them even i wouldnt id go once just to take a look and if ive seen that i wouldnt go again

for me making things is better than tea and chats and id presume its most of the men if not some of the ladies as well

 

[Stueeee]

This intrigued me so I just googled it but I dunno... Seems mostly woodwork, which I guess is probably cheaper and safer (?) than metalworking, maybe...

But then I started to get antsy at the thought of other people using my tools.

I would be interested in people's experience, though - the thought of a shared workshop with a bridgeport and a water cutter table is great, but I suspect I'm being over-optimistic!

My partner Sue is a virtual MIS. I have sorted (and am still sorting) an automatically operated extraction system for their shed -ATM, nobody thinks to turn the extraction on when they light up a machine so you can cut the air with a spade after a few minutes.

I think most of the sheds are about woodwork. Certainly the shed Sue belongs to is well equipped for carpentry type stuff: table, sliding mitre and bandsaws, planer thicknesser etc. morticer, pillar drills and so on. There's a good selection of hand tools -apparently these are mostly donated. The members at Sue's shed have a wide level of abilities and a wide range of skills; but from what I've seen, nobody has been left to struggle with carrying out a job that they don't really have the 'know how' for. A huge amount of tea drinking and chat goes on of course; all in all the MIS is a thoroughly good thing from what I've seen of it.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Welding, grinding etc are 'hot works' and carry fire risks, so insurance features. Iirc, @The_Yellow_Ardvark has experience of a MIS where that is OK?

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Welding, grinding etc are 'hot works' and carry fire risks, so insurance features. Iirc, @The_Yellow_Ardvark has experience of a MIS where that is OK?

I do.
2 out of the 3 can do limited hot works. Only when certain conditions are met.

But it depends on other factors.
Insurance is the tough one.

 

[Feet 'n Inches]

I do.
2 out of the 3 can do limited hot works. Only when certain conditions are met.

But it depends on other factors.
Insurance is the tough one.

No issues with insurance in my shed. The insurers had no problems with welding and grinding but bringing in gas welding/cutting gear raised the premiums beyond an acceptable level. The bench I use is capped off with scrap aluminium checker plate and curtained off for the safety of others. The nearest woodworking bench is around 4 feet away and we're a pretty tidy lot so fire risks are minimal.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

When I started with one it was wood all the way.
Now it is metal, wood, pottery, allotment, restoration, repairs and coffee.

All because our members got it done.
Unlike some sheds, were the members want others to do it all.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

No issues with insurance in my shed. The insurers had no problems with welding and grinding but bringing in gas welding/cutting gear raised the premiums beyond an acceptable level. The bench I use is capped off with scrap aluminium checker plate and curtained off for the safety of others. The nearest woodworking bench is around 4 feet away and we're a pretty tidy lot so fire risks are minimal.

See it can be done.
One shed it was to costly on the insurance, as they rented the unit.

 

[Feet 'n Inches]

See it can be done.
One shed it was to costly on the insurance, as they rented the unit.

it's worth saying that the actual building is/was a stone outhouse that I believe was an adjunct to what is now a pub although it may have once been some form of manor house.

 

[Agroshield]

I have sorted (and am still sorting) an automatically operated extraction system for their shed -ATM, nobody thinks to turn the extraction on when they light up a machine so you can cut the air with a spade after a few minutes.

If you search for 'gas interlock controller', this will do what you want. They are used in commercial kitchens with a solenoid valve on the gas line such that if the fan is not running, the gas does not flow. They work on either current sensing or pressure sensing on the fan. You would not use a gas solenoid valve, just a contactor on the supply to the machines: no fan, no juice to the machine.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

If you search for 'gas interlock controller', this will do what you want. They are used in commercial kitchens with a solenoid valve on the gas line such that if the fan is not running, the gas does not flow. They work on either current sensing or pressure sensing on the fan. You would not use a gas solenoid valve, just a contactor on the supply to the machines: no fan, no juice to the machine.

One Shed I help out with has a simple system.
By each machine has a extractor attached, switched on at the wall nothing goes life.
But when the machine is stopped the extraction kicks in.

There was a few "older" members who thought H&S was not for them.

They got educated.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

and we're a pretty tidy lot so fire risks are minimal.

Famous last words... Do you operate a rota system for who stays behind on 'fire watch' after lowsing time?

 

[Feet 'n Inches]

Famous last words... Do you operate a rota system for who stays behind on 'fire watch' after lowsing time?

Usually me - I'm the last to leave as I have home commitments first thing most days.

 

[Turbo]

We did a plasma cutting art course a while back & it was allowed as long as we were outside in the car park but officially we are not allowed hot work for insurance purposes.

It hasn't stopped us From buying a plasma, stick welder, a forge & an anvil. They were bought as & when they were available so that if we get a more suitable premises we can properly separate the wood & metalwork into different buildings.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

so that if we get a more suitable premises we can properly separate the wood & metalwork into different buildings.

The way of a forward thinking shed.