The Shed 120, April/May 2025

The Tool Room
At home with vintage hand-tool collector Des Barnes.
Tool collector Des Barnes jokingly calls himself “a magpie.”
While he is attracted to an array of ageless apparatus, his initial collection was founded on necessity rather than a predilection for heritage handcraft. Des began buying tools as soon as he started his apprenticeship as a Cabinet maker and Joiner in 1958. He was a conscientious recruit eager to secure the right tool for the job. Needless to say, many of the tools that were necessary for the trade back then are considered collector’s items today.  And he still owns them, including a few he made himself. 
The thing that drives Des’ collection these days is his deep respect for the skill and precision-crafting of traditional toolmakers. His beautifully presented tool displays on seven high glass shelves in his carpeted exhibition room certainly do justice to the artistry of their makers. In tool terms, he describes himself as a bit of a hand-plane and chisel devotee, but his quest for vintage utensils does not end there.
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A trip to a sawmill helps out with Christmas Lunch
A Christchurch Menzshed is mainly set up for woodwork, and a perennial problem for them is getting quality wood for things like speaker cabinets, furniture and toolboxes.
Project: Making a router bowl – without a lathe, and not necessarily round
Using a router to make a bowl is a hand-held router technique.
AJS motorbike restoration – part 3
It’s time to attend to the engine and gearbox. In this instalment, Peter pulls them apart to assess their condition and repair and restore them.
Arduino Basics 102 – Display
In this instalment in our series on Arduino basics, Mark discusses displays, what to choose and how best to use them – LEDs, LCDs, TFTs, OLEDs and more.
Understanding AI – DIY-AI
You can’t stop progress, but embracing something you do not understand is not easy. Nigel Young does the hard yards for us sheddies and tries out a couple of AI software programs to see if they will actually assist or hinder us in our workshops.
Profiling the New Plymouth Menzshed
This Taranaki Menzshed was on the verge of closure in 2019, but now, thanks to a small, dedicated team, it is flourishing like never before.
New reader competition – the ‘Versatile Shed of the Year’
Do you have New Zealand’s most interesting shed? Whether it’s the cleanest, most cluttered, epic man cave or simply one-of-a-kind, we want to see it! We love them all, and now it’s your chance to show off your shed and win.
The Shed Shrink
For some, a very brief encounter can bring about some life-changing positive changes.
Chris Gordon makes… Ed Roth’s Sidewalk Surfer
A trip to the dairy in the 1960s for bubblegum started a lifelong interest in the renowned hotrod illustrator. Chris’ latest project is an inspired electric-powered version of this classic skateboard.
A 24-drawer cabinet for your shed
Even if you are lucky enough to have a huge shed, you still need to organise your storage to avoid chaos.
Off the grid: The art of being a good mixer
Murray has had a very busy summer but has found the time to restore a vintage cake mixer and finds James May offers some inspiration for his project.
My shed: Paul’s Shed
This Leeston shed is home to a workshop, various cars, hot rods, and an extensive collection of advertising signs. The advertising signs relate to a broad range of products, from biscuits to bicycles and from ice cream to colas and oil companies. It also doubles as a home. It may be sheddie heaven.
Back O The Shed: Where have all the Blowers gone?
Jude laments our current lot of politicians, both here and abroad, who are neither great orators and lack any semblance of, or even a smidgen of, wit.
To see a fully illustrated content rundown of this issue, head here to our website