The Shed

Acceptance doesn’t happen; it unfolds, I reckon, and it takes all sorts to make the world go round. I learnt this early on in my publishing career. When I started in this editing a magazine lark some 30 years ago, as the editor of New Zealand Classic

Much as even the most accomplished sheddie might like to think otherwise, there is no way to emulate Rod Tempero’s success in building replicas of fabulous mid-20th-century European-style sports racing cars. Anyone who had the networks and upfront ca

On Saturday, 25 July, Henry’s Rod Shop threw open its doors and staged an open day to celebrate. Classic American and European cars as well as bikes turned up in force on what turned out to be a near-perfect, blue-sky day. To make sure no one had to

Letter of the MONTH I enjoy the articles in all of your magazines, and look forward to buying each issue. Regarding your article by Ritchie Wilson, Engines Enable Exploration (July–August 2020, Issue No. 91), in the section ‘The Hamilton jet is born’

Leslie Junior — LJ to his friends — liked to steal bikes. He was 14 and living on the streets of Christchurch. With the help of his friends, he would steal the bikes, trash them, and dump them out the back of his mother’s house. This worked well unti

A registered charitable trust, which describes its raison d’être as “We strive to make the act of reimagining the world joyful, tangible, and infectious”, Gap Filler has received international recognition along with a number of high-profile awards. F

CCC bike policy For cyclists who use a bike as their preferred form of transport, the flatness of Christchurch is ideal. For the adventurous, the Port Hills are right there — an opportunity to bike across to Lyttelton, or around the Summit Road, and

SUBSCRIBE OR RENEW YOUR SUBSCRIPTION TO THE SHED THIS MONTH AND RECEIVE RECEIVE FOUR E-TICKETS WITH A TWO-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION, VALUED AT $116, OR TWO E-TICKETS WITH A ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION, VALUED AT $58 This year get two shows for the price of one! Bi

For me, World War II technology hits the spot; ships and aircraft, in particular. They had massive battleships back then, and amazing aircraft that looked as if they were absolutely perfect for the job they were designed to do: readjust the thinking

The Mark IX Supermarine Spitfire fought in the Battle of Britain, along with the Hurricane. This one came as a kit build, meaning that, as well as the plans, you get the ribs cut out, all the material for the build in random lengths, and some hardwar

There is something evocative, and very old school, about the clattering rumble of a radial aircraft engine. The term ‘radial’ comes from the Latin word radius, which originally referred to the spokes on a cart wheel and the way they start at the cent

After shifting house a while ago and finding myself with a very small workshop, I decided to give away my old sawhorses and build myself a pair of folding ones. I couldn’t find exactly what I was looking for on the internet so I decided to design my

When I started brewing many years ago, I spent many hours washing and sanitizing bottles each time I bottled a brew. I’d bottle in my recycled crate glass bottles and keep them inside for a couple of days to keep warm while they gassed up before movi

When Yağmur Habora was a fine-arts student in Izmir on Turkey’s Adriatic coast from 1998 to 2003, part of the curriculum was an introductory leatherwork class. Fast-forward to 2015, and Yağmur was employed at a failing Christchurch bar and restaurant

In the first part of this vintage upcycling project in Issue No. 92 of The Shed, I anticipated that it would become quite a complex project. For that reason I have divided it into several articles, to make it easier to build and understand. In part o

His dad sold stuff to my dad. He sold — and still sells — stuff to me. His son has sold stuff to mine. The yard has been where it is, chiselled into a Dunedin hillside below our old family home, for as long as I can remember. I sometimes go there on

A lathe is a machine for producing round shafts. It has been an essential tool since the wheel was first thought of. The lathe was one of the first machine tools invented and dates back to 1300BC when Egyptians used a two-man lathe. Just as important

In issue 92 of The Shed, I stated that this article would be dedicated to the doorbell. However, the doorbell design has been changed a bit to make it more efficient, and is still being tested, so we have to delay that part of the project. Instead, t

As sheddies many of us have to grapple with a common problem. For one reason or another the selection of tools at our disposal often falls just short of what we require to undertake our projects. Few of us are fortunate enough to be able to buy every

Adrian Worsley is an artist with a difference, creating sculptural works from mainly scrap metal. He works from a fully resourced and well-equipped workshop in Te Aroha, in the heart of the Waikato. His treasure trove of parts in the maze-like space

Adrian started the creation of the horse with a drawing, then created a wire frame with the jockey as a separate piece that can be hoisted on and off the horse with a gantry. He has three gantries, as he does most of his work alone. Occasionally, he

Featuring 18 of the best projects from the last 10 years, The Best of The Shed includes all of our most popular projects. With step-by-step instructions, the 176-page book will take you through a variety of projects, including a pizza oven, a trailer