Absolutely Correct – A Man’s Got to Have A Shed.
In Australia, the back yard shed (Workshop) is a haven for the practical minded bloke, it is somewhere to escape from this crazy world and, well, just be yourself and do your own thing.
Many blokes set up their shed with a pool table (Billiards), darts, or old time Pinball machines, some are equipped with a bar so they can invite a few mates around and have some good old fashioned yarn over a cold beer – They call it their man cave.
But what else can you do in your shed?
Let me tell you what the more industrious or creative types do in their sheds.
There are many sheds across the country and cities that have fantastic metal working machinery installed where all sorts of unique projects are created by retired engineers, professional trade workers, and the semi-skilled, self taught home handy man type of people.
The non practical members of the population would be amazed at the unique creations that have been created in the humble backyard shed…. I kid you not.
Most bloke’s need a shed to relax, create, repair, rebuild, relax, and just lose oneself for a few hours or a few days. A man’s shed is his castle… and for some, it’s a place where one can regain some clear thinking, maybe even your sanity.
Following is what some blokes have been known to create in their sheds:|
Woodturning is a widespread practical type of hobby that almost anyone can do, it is not hard to learn, and the equipment & tools can be home built, and the main consumable material of “timber or wood” is plentiful. The skills to do woodturning can mastered by anyone with the desire to learn.
Furniture making can also be undertaken by the home craft person, if you are skilled enough you could create furniture pieces that would be worth many thousands of dollars if you bought them in a furniture store.
Reproduction antiques, modern, or classic design furniture can be made in the home shed if you have the skills and some good hand tools, think of the basic skills of the old time furniture makers, they did not have access to precision saws, routers, planners etc.
The Simple Ingredients for Success – Basic Skills – Elbow Grease – Passion.
If you don’t like working with wood or timber, then perhaps working with metal is your bag, of course you will need different types of tools and skill sets to work with metal, but again, the skills can be easily learnt from books, night classes or even private tuition.
Metal can be cut and bent & shaped into all sorts designs using special forms or dies, decorative wrought iron designs on domestic gates are created using these techniques. You may ask the question; is it possible for the home worker to do all of this in his shed?
Absolutely, learn the skills, buy some tools and get the creative juices flowing to make your own metal creations.
Metal Casting – (Backyard Metal Casting)
I.E, the melting and pouring of molten metal into sand moulds is one of the fastest growing creative metal craft hobbies around the world.
Some of the most amazing objects have been created in sheds (Backyard Foundry) around the world, everything from simple doorknobs, to handles and levers for machines, to special parts for vintage car & motorcycles, even home built aeroplane engine crank cases for micro light aircraft.
Or you can design and build things for special projects you may be working on… the sky is the limit.
You may think that this is just pie in the sky stuff, but it is not, it is happening at this very moment somewhere around the globe, it could be happening in a shed not far from you.
You would be surprised at just how many people there might be in your neighbour hood who are busy creating all kinds of things.
Why not join the band, become one of these special breed of people…
You don’t need much… a shed, some tools, a few basic skills, and a good dose of imagination, it wont cost you much to set up if you build most of the gear your self, and the personal satisfaction & value returned to you will be multiplied tenfold in self esteem and individual rewards.
A blokes shed is a blokes special place to do what ever you want.
So what are you waiting for?
Start here: