11/08/2023

This has been in the 'planning' stage for a couple of years now but I've only just got around to getting on with it. I desperately need more storage space to move stuff into as the workshop is now extremely cluttered. I've gained all my brother's tools and equipment, a lot of which is on the workshop floor and getting in the way and I have to clear a space on the work bench whenever I want to work on a loco or similar.

I originally intended to build a shed using the same construction as the workshop i.e. metal cladding on a timber frame but eventually decided to buy a ready built timber shed to save time. I wanted one 9' x 7' but the only place that I could find selling one had been out of stock since the first Covid lockdown. I finally settled for an 8' x 8' and ordered one in January when they were on sale for 10% off. I didn't really want it until the better weather later in the year but I had room to store it in the dry under the carport so took advantage of the offer. I was rather annoyed when I found out that the supplier is now offering 20% off the same shed!

It's a standard sectional shed that you just screw together so I'm not going to go into any detail about putting it up. I used the same type of base construction as the workshop i.e. a wooden frame resting on concrete blocks, again to avoid the hassle of pouring a solid concrete base. Of course, the ground wasn't level so more earthworks were required and more soil moved down to the bottom of the garden.

The shed went up fairly easily despite doing it on my own. The hardest part was lifting the roof panels into place but I managed ok. The quality is probably above average but still a bit rough. Some of the nails have been driven in so far that they have nearly gone through the shiplap cladding!

The shed came with a wooden floor but it's not solid enough for my liking so I have covered it with 18mm MDF flooring. The walls and roof have been insulated with the same aluminised bubble wrap that I used on the workshop and then lined with 9mm plywood. I could have used thinner ply but I want to be able to screw shelf brackets to it. I want to get as many shelves in here as I can to utilise as much of the wall space as possible. Once again I have covered the floor with Altro non slip vinyl flooring got as an offcut from Ebay.

Originally the plan was for the shed to be just used for storage but I've now decided to put in work benches down one side as well to take a Sieg C3 lathe and a Sieg X2 milling machine that came from my brother. I'm also going to put the Kennet and the Quorn tool and cutter grinders in here and perhaps a few other machines. The Kennet and Quorn are still up in the old bedroom workshop but moving them will make room for the 3D printer and probably encourage me to use them more. I've also recently acquired a couple of secondhand Roland Modela MDX15 cnc milling machines/routers to play with. I want to try them out for making patterns as H. Watanabe (Live Steam from Castings) uses one for all his. Why two? Well, the second one was very cheap and will be a source of spare parts for the first one as I would imagine things like replacement spindles and motors are very hard to get hold of now. Actually, both of them are in very good condition and haven't seen much use so far.

At the moment I am just finishing off fitting the plywood sheets to the interior. Once that is done it will get a coat of emulsion paint and the electrics fitted. I can then start moving things in to it and get a bit more organised (hopefully!).

15/08/2023

The lining is now finished and most of it painted. I decided to make the centre section of the 'ceiling' flat to make fitting the LED panels easier and I've cut out squares to recess the two LED panels. Hopefully tomorrow I will make a start on the electrics.

19/08/2023

All the electrics are now done. The only thing left to do is to frame out the door, fit a plywood skin to that and then fit a decent lock.

Note to self - must get the workshop door repainted!

I've made a start on the shelving by using some of the plastic shelving units that I got from my Brother's.

It's a bit random but I didn't want to have to buy any more if I could help it. This is what was left after I used most of it under the carport for storage but I could steal some for the shed if necessary. Some years ago I bought some of the cheap metal framed shelving units to put in the steel shed but whilst the frames are ok, the MDF shelves are rubbish. They are too thin and warp and sag if they get a bit damp. These plastic shelf units are much better. The shelving on the opposite wall will be made from some tongue and groove planks that I have mounted with metal shelf brackets.

The next job is probably to get the benches set up. These also came out of my Brother's garage and I think originally came from Machine Mart. They consist of a knock together steel frame with MDF for the top and shelves. I may have to repaint the steel frames as they have suffered a bit from being stored for a couple of years in the big greenhouse (the only place available at the time!) and gone a bit rusty.

21/08/2023

I've installed the benches after cleaning them up. The only rusty bits were the short cross members for the larger benches. The paint had not adhered very well to these and came off very easily. I've also moved the comnpressor to it's new home but unfortunately with the outlets in the best position for access the gauges are at the back where you can't see them! I'll have to see if I can turn the fitting that holds them around by 90°.

At last I could move the lathe and the milling machine into the shed and get them off the workshop floor and from under the car port. The bits under the carport have suffered a bit with damp and acquired some surface rust but that will all clean off. Both machines will be stripped down anyway and any work necessary done to them. I've yet to decide the final positions for them.

24/08/2023

I decided that I wanted something stronger for the bench tops so got some more 18mm chipboard flooring and cut that up. I was going to just replace the existing tops with that but in the end I used the 18mm chipboard with the original MDF on top.

I've decided to put the lathe and the mill at the far end of the shed and the tool and cutter grinders at the door end. I've also added some shelving made from the tongue and groove that I had lying around and another wooden shelf unit by the mill.

The benches are a bit 'wobbly' when they have got some weight on the top so I think they will have to be screwed to the wall at the top to stiffen them up.

Hopefully, tomorrow I can start to move some more stuff out of the workshop and into the shed. There are boxes and boxes of tools, taps and dies etc. and stuff for the lathe and the mill. Tonight I did move the three Dead Weight pressure gauge testers that I acquired some time ago. These had been living in the house until now. One is complete with all the weights and working but the other two were picked up cheaply for spares. One of the spares testers is complete and probably works but the other has one of the pistons missing. The box of weights for the first tester weighs a ton so I'll have to take the weights out and move them bit by bit!

25/08/2023

A bit more moving in today. I've cleared the workshop floor now and moved the tool and cutter grinders from upstairs in the house. The dead weight testers are now also in the shed.

The shelves are starting to fill up with stuff out of the workshop and the large greenhouse! There's a lot of stuff needs sorting out but that can wait for another day.

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