The Shed 116, August/September 2024

Passion meets purpose
When life deals you lemons, make lemonade: a business collapse led John to build a new, bigger business based on his passion for motorcycles
“I really want an old dairy factory”– that’s what John thought when contemplating the move from Katikati to Taranaki a few years ago.
He sat down after his divorce and thought: “What do I need for the rest of my life?
“Well, I need a shed, a bed in the corner, and a place to stuff around with my motorbikes.”
John’s search took him all over the North Island; he was looking for something that was cheap enough. It didn’t have to be flash, as he wanted a few bob to help his kids to get on the property ladder as well as to be able to follow his passion for building and customising motorbikes – something that he had been doing for a long time.
An old garage in Patea came into the picture but, although it met all the criteria, it became too complicated to purchase. Then an acquaintance told him of a house he had for sale in a small town a little further up the coast. In the end, that turned out to be the perfect location.” 

Also in this edition:
Art viewed through a tram window
A sheddie uses Matariki as a great excuse to travel on an historic Christchurch tram.
Building an acoustic guitar: Part 3: Frets, fingerboard, and finishing
Job done – what next? Max and his father have put the final touches to Max’s shed
Future-proofing MDF cupboards. Particle board and MDF: inexpensive and a popular choice for storage cupboards
Mitre 10: 1974–2024: The first 50 years (Part 2)
Arduino basics – Coding for beginners – learning the lingo, where to start, and what to buy.
Ara’s DIY motor-body restoration class
The Shed shrink: A timely reminder about fundraising
Off the grid:  A nostalgic reconstruction of one of the more dramatic winners of Le Mans.
Book review: Worse Things Happen at Sea By John McCrystal
My shed: Building a rural life
Take one dream, two creative and innovative people, a path less travelled, a dash of business acumen, and voila!
Back o’ The Shed: The right to repair
To read a fully illustrated and expanded content rundown of what’s in this issue, head here to our website