The Shed 112, December/January 2024

The shed of dreams
The cover story in our 2023 year ending issue is on the jaw dropping memorabilia collection of Terry Dalton. This is not simply a small room filled with a few bits and pieces, this is an enormous cathedral-like shed, crammed with memories. The collection is truly varied but includes a huge chunk of 1950s American Graffiti Americana including the cars and diners from that decade. Our own Kiwana has not been overlooked and there is an enormous swag of that as well. You really need to see it to appreciate it. Terry’s shed probably houses the most significant private collection of memorabilia in NZ.
A top table for summer
Our The Shed magazine archives have some incredible projects that are just too good to be published just once. So for our summer issue here’s another cracker project republished for readers, how to make ‘A top table for summer’.
This table will need you to use your welding and carpentry skills to complete so it's a real skill tester for sure.

Resurrecting an old computer
How many old computers have you thrown away? If you are like the rest of us, plenty I’d say. Well these old computers can be a real asset to you in your workshop for a variety of tasks and to get them up and running and performing useful tasks for you, is not that daunting a job. Here Sandy Fergusson tells us you don’t always have to sound the death knell when given the sombre diagnosis: “Your computer has reached the end of its life”.
A different kind of swansong
Sheds are not just for repairs and projects, they are also places where sheddies can let their imaginations run wild and create whatever their hearts desire. Colin Brookes is a man of many talents. If it’s “been there and done that”, he pretty much qualifies. As a child living in London during the WWII blitz he was haunted by the flying bombs aimed at his city by the German war machine. These flying bombs called ‘doodlebugs’ were powered by pulse-jet engines. Coming full circle, Colin decided to use a pulse-jet engine to power a contraption he built in his shed, a jet buggy.
Make a crossbow  – part 3
This is the final instalment in this quest to make a crossbow.
In Nigel Young’s previous articles, he touched on the need for prioritising the design and the implications of that on factors such as weight, balance, and ease of use. In this Part 3, introducing the prod now impacts on each of these. This is no longer the archery equivalent of a rifle; the stock, sighting, and trigger are, but now weight – and, by extension, balance – has been introduced. The final result is a terrific looking crossbow that is remarkably accurate to boot.
Off the grid
Our resident off the gridder, Murray Grimwood undertakes dozens of projects in his off the grid shed. This month Murray rejoices in some of the smaller jobs needing to be undertaken and the real satisfaction that can come from those smaller jobs and taking a moment to appreciate some bloody well built vintage tools.
The Shed shrink
Rex Short – a man with zeal
Hopefully you have a mate like Rex. One of those guys who can do anything and fix anything and do anything for ya. Well Mark Seek wants to introduce you to a real good barstard in Taranaki.
Project: Table saw sled – a must-have for your workshop
The best home workshops are the best for a few good reasons and one being, having the right tools for the job. Andrew Broxholme reckons a Table Saw will really add to your workshop arsenal of great tools and in this issue 112, he shows us how to make our own.
Max’s shed – part 2
Max’s dad explains the importance of the six Ps
Max and his dad have made significant progress since the last issue of The Shed with walls now up and a roof securely fastened on. The hope is to get it all completed by Christmas. It's coming along nicely.
Model making
The quintessential craftsman
It all started for Wayne Nicholls 23 years ago when his wife casually asked him if he could make a tissue box for her. He had a few bits of wood lying around and thought he could make something out of those. After that, it was a toilet roll holder. Then he really went to town on what may be the fanciest potato storage box ever made. By now the pattern was set: a dedication to extreme perfection of detail and the idea that he could make anything out of wood.
Engineering
Slade Engineering changes hands
A Christchurch engineering company’s owner has retired, and a new, younger owner has taken over. The two men, superficially different, have a number of things in common.
Robot your life – the grass is always greener
In a world full of gadgets and high-tech machines, a young Auckland dad finds harmony in going all electric with his garden and lawn tools.
After a dangerous mishap with a ride-on petrol lawnmower, Mark Gibson decided it was time to go all electric with his lawn mowing and well, one electric thing led to another electric thing, and another…
Miniature railway
A man of many talents, Ian Jones has created a fairytale attraction for the young at heart in Whanganui.
Ian is a coach-builder by trade. On leaving school in Wellington, he did a coach-building apprenticeship with New Zealand Railways at the Woburn workshops.
Ian says that when coach-building, you learn woodwork, metalwork, welding, painting, upholstery, so you get good at everything. It was a very good skill base.
Back o’ The Shed
The end is nigh. A new shed for Christmas … maybe
The Shed magazine founder Jude Woodside has been building a new shed on his new rural property and he’s getting excited. He can see the end.. Hopefully.
The Auckland Blade show
The annual show is over for another year and we have a full report on this year's bigger and better than ever event.
Kiwi-built motorbike show
Could it be NZ’s isolation at the bottom of the world that inspires Kiwis to tackle near-impossible tasks?