Menz Sheds

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TLD

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#197861 15-Jun-2016 18:10

Seeing this forum made me think how much easier it is to do some projects with the proper tools. When I got early retirement aged just 52, I couldn't believe my luck, but by heck I missed having access to an engineering workshop. A few weeks ago I discovered there is now a Menz Shed in Blenheim, and while it is currently only equipped for wood working, it is well on its way to having an engineering extension. OK the average of the members is kind of on the old side, but there is at least one lad in his twenties, and more importantly, they have big saws, planers and thicknesser, wood lathes, drill stands, radial saws etc.

When the Blenheim shed extension is kitted out it will have Arc, Mig & Tig welding (steel, aluminium and stainless steel). That's the only item I know has been approved, but I'd be surprised if it doesn't have a metal work lathe and vertical milling machine, and I know there is talk of a sheet metal folder.

So if you ever wish you had the use of a decent workshop, check out the list to see where your nearest shed is.

http://menzshed.org.nz/

Trevor Dennis
Rapaura (near Blenheim)

RUKI

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#1574863 16-Jun-2016 09:25

Just another money making "charity" by the look of it.

In Auckland there is really free one: http://www.tangleball.org.nz/

frankv

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#1574954 16-Jun-2016 11:43

RUKI:

Just another money making "charity" by the look of it.

Seems harsh

The only cost incurred by Sheds is the $25.00 annual membership fee.

They won't make stuff-all money at that rate.

ubergeeknz

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#1574959 16-Jun-2016 11:56

RUKI:

Just another money making "charity" by the look of it.

What makes you say that? At $25 a year? Hardly a rort is it?

spearsniper

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#1574980 16-Jun-2016 12:22

I have a couple within 10 minutes drive, but their hours are squarely aimed at the retired.
It would have been great to access the tools, and the years of knowledge of the other members, but alas will need to wait a few more years before I will have the leisurely hours to allow this to happen.

gzt

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#1574988 16-Jun-2016 12:35

First step is becoming a member. You may find they are more flexible than they appear.

SepticSceptic

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#1574990 16-Jun-2016 12:37

$25.00 is cheap ...

But I wonder how much H&S standards that they have to adhere to ? That kind of overhead can really blow out any cheap subs.

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gzt

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#1574999 16-Jun-2016 12:56

The MENZ aspect of it kind of surprises me. I'm not sure that all community toolshed/workshop things are necessarily exclusively 'men's' organisations.

nickb800

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#1575001 16-Jun-2016 12:58

It seems like they split between 'free time' to work on your personal projects and working together to build things for the community (playgrounds for kindies, etc). Does anyone know how the two relate? Are you able to join and just work on your own projects without an expectation to work on community projects? I know that sounds rather selfish, but I'm not at the stage of life where I'm looking for things to occupy my time, if you know what I mean. Would of course make a fair contribution to running costs and maintenance activities.

gzt

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#1575004 16-Jun-2016 13:04

They are all different. Contact your local one. The link in the OP is for a national association it does not operate member organisations, set their rules, accept money on their behalf etc etc.

dpw

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#1575015 16-Jun-2016 13:36

There's one in Amberley too, and yes, they're aimed towards the retired. Here in Amberley I was one of, if not the, youngest in the group... at 42. I tried to get involved but the nature of our working lives meant it was extremely difficult. It was made worse by my IT background and the serious lack of IT knowledge and sensibility in the group. Having my email address and contact details spread around in open view of everyone was not something I could tolerate. Repeated mentions and requests to respect privacy didn't stick, so I left and hope my request to remove all my contact details was done properly. It's a nice idea and, at least from what I've seen in Amberley and Halswell, far from "money making charity". Yes, they are money making, but the focus is towards expanding facilities for members while benefiting the community.

Now I am also involved in Timebank, a concept that worked well with Menz Shed in a more organised and formalised sense. It's worthwhile checking out if you wish to be more involved in your community.

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TLD

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#1585126 3-Jul-2016 14:59

SepticSceptic:

$25.00 is cheap ...

But I wonder how much H&S standards that they have to adhere to ? That kind of overhead can really blow out any cheap subs.

I asked the same question. They are at least aware of the new laws around safety, but I can't say how strictly they adhere to them.

http://menzshed.org.nz/library/safety/

From what I have seen, the machines do have guards fitted, and there is always someone there to help you if you don't have experience on a particular machine. On the other hand, pretty much every grindstone I saw had some aluminium clogging up the grit. That was a huge no-no in my old workshop, and being caught grinding aluminium or brass would get you banned. The Blenheim shed has two bench linishers which would be good for soft metal as well as wood. They also have proper extraction and filters, and I have even see people use it!

I was on the Marlborough COGS committee for six years, so I have a good idea of what most community organisations have in their bank accounts, and the Menz Shed would be _very_ near the bottom of the list. They don't have the full time professional fund raisers whose sole job was sending out glossy funding applications to every funder in the country regardless of how relevant they were to the region. When I was on COGS, the nicer your application, the lower your chance of a grant, because they already had a stack of money.

Trevor Dennis
Rapaura (near Blenheim)

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TLD

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#1585130 3-Jul-2016 15:15

dpw:

There's one in Amberley too, and yes, they're aimed towards the retired.

The Blenheim shed is open Mondays and Thursdays from 1pm till 4pm, but also on Saturday morning from 9am till around 12pm, but if one of the key-holders is there, it will stay open longer. The thing is, it is completely OK for to only visit a few times a year when you need to use the machines. I would have saved more than the $25 subscription last year when I had some hardwood table legs shortened, because I didn't day risk using my skill-saw. It's pretty much a no brainer if do any DIY IMO. There are draws full of hardware like screws, nuts & bolts, and stacks of wood. I bet most of us have spent a fortune on packs of screws for the job you are about to do.

They are very charitable with community projects. Our shed is making a big Wendy house for a local school for just the cost of materials — or less taking into account the materials we already have. Just last week we had a trailer load of nice wood donated to us. They take on small building projects for silly money, like dismantling an old bike shed at a local school mostly for the wood, but with a drink thrown in.

If there is a downside, some of the old boys really do like to chat, and can be standing behind you when you are desperately trying to get a job done before closing time. Every single one of them is nice and friendly, but catch them on a bad day and they like a good moan. These are grumpy old men after all.

Trevor Dennis
Rapaura (near Blenheim)