Lock-down projects

[sean_iow]

I've continued to work my way through the projects I never quite get round to.

A separate guy for the doors of the Deschutes.



I thought it might make getting the pitch right easier as the angle of the front guy doesn't have such an effect on the shape but not sure it made that much difference. I don't think I've ever managed to pitch it the same twice but I'll keep practicing.

Next I finally repaired the small seat bag which had a hole rubbed through it on last years HT550, and that was in just the 120 miles I did.



I also shortened it by 40mm. It's the right size for a small waterproof on the Spearfish as the framebag on that is much smaller than the hardtail. When the seams were unpicked it covered the table in fine quartz dust This time I've reinforced it with some heavy duty cordura.



And lastly the biggest project I've taken on so far, and the most overdue. My mum has an issue with doves/pigeons taking all the food off the bird table. As she cant go out anywhere and watching the birds is one of the simple pleasures keeping her going I finally did something about it. I ordered a ground feeder which is just a mesh house. The old bird table was too small plus it was pretty rotten. A rummage through the salvaged timber pile at my mum's house (my late father would break up pallets for firewood but set aside the better stuff for re-use) produced the materials. Most of a Saturday sawing and sanding followed by some preservative and we have



It's mounted on a fence post spike for two reasons, firstly it meant I could adjust the height to suit my mum as you have to open the top and reach in and secondly, she's not as steady on her feet as she once was (but not bad for 83) so this way she can lean on it for balance and it wont topple over. The size of the mesh opening is adjustable. It's proving quite popular with the wildlife, she's had 2 squirrels in there at the same time (proper red ones) all manner of small birds and even the woodpecker makes it in. The pigeons have to look on hungrily whilst those who can get in gorge themselves on meal-worms and monkey nuts

[RIP]

Marvellous! So the holes are big enough to let the squirrels in as well? That's quite generous of you. On the other hand the reds need all the TLC they can get of course. We fitted a giant circular baffle under our feeders and it's quite amusing watching the greys futilely trying to work out a way round it. Thinking about it, that's probably a mistake on my part because all that thinking is making their brains bigger and perhaps improving the gene pool of greys. I might take it away and slap some anti-climb paint on for a laugh instead.

[thenorthwind]

I think they're way ahead of that Reg, thanks to this guy:
https://www.facebook.com/MarkRoberYouTu ... 8361391817

[sean_iow]

Marvellous! So the holes are big enough to let the squirrels in as well?

The reds are mainly fluff, they can get in just abut anywhere a small bird can. My mum puts walnuts out for them, although she then often finds them buried in her plant pots

[sean_iow]

I think they're way ahead of that Reg, thanks to this guy:
https://www.facebook.com/MarkRoberYouTu ... 8361391817

That is epic, and as they are in the USA it's ok they are grey, or weirdly also black?

[thenorthwind]

Yes, I think I'm right in saying that over there the greys are considered the native species and the reds the invaders.

[sean_iow]

When I ride on the mainland and I see a grey i always say out loud "don't try and sneak into my bag to stow away, I know your game" just to warn them not to try and use my bike bags to smuggle themselves back to the Island

Clearly even before lock-down I have been spending too much time alone as I talk to squirrels

[sean_iow]

After a brief respite between lock-downs the projects are back on, plus it's pretty cold out so it's an excuse to stay in the warm. I've been using the waist pack I bought off Escape Goat quite a bit but now it's winter it gets covered in mud off the back wheel. I could fit better mud guards I suppose and I have one for the HT but I'd have to buy another for the full sus so I made a cover for the bag instead. I started with a plastic bag prototype to check the fit



And then just reproduced it in a coated nylon.





The top and bottom seams are elasticated and there is a bit of elastic each side I just slide the waist straps through. It's elasticated enough that I can just pull it down to get inside when riding. It seems to work and I can just take it off and hose it down or chuck it in the wash with the riding kit.





Of course it was only after I finished it that I googled it and discovered that Evoc sell a cover for it

[thenorthwind]

That looks great Sean!

[sean_iow]

It's funny that some of the simplest things I make are often the most rewarding, the cover works perfectly and was pretty easy to make.

I'm most pleased that it keeps the mud off the zips which don't like getting covered.

[Bearbonesnorm]

Do you need us to send some more plastic bags Sean?

[sean_iow]

Do you need us to send some more plastic bags Sean?

I have enough deliveries that I'm ok for now thanks. I never throw them out, they all get reused, mostly by turning inside out and using them to post stuff in.

[summittoppler]

I'm not sure how I missed this thread but here's my project from Lockdown 1.
My typical shed with literally everything thrown in. It was so annoying to get a bike out, luckily I had a van at the time which the bike(s) lived in some of the time.
20200524_163425 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

Off with the roof and 3 sides!
20200526_104715 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

Queuing and paying over the odds for stuff here as the local builders merchants were closed
20200530_084409 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

20200526_104651 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

New roof and stud walls
20200526_152048 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

Extension on the shed
20200529_182624 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

Now with added security (not in pic )
20200608_151057 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

Doors
20200720_140208 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

20200724_153654-01 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

20200724_171454-01 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

20200725_104623 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

Apparently its not the shed anymore....
20200711_104346 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

[sean_iow]

Wow That puts my 'writing on wiggle boxes with a sharpie' to shame That also seemed to escalate quickly, you went form tiding the shed to building guest accommodation in a few easy steps

[summittoppler]

Wow That puts my 'writing on wiggle boxes with a sharpie' to shame That also seemed to escalate quickly, you went form tiding the shed to building guest accommodation in a few easy steps

I should have added, it's the Drinks Den now
20200724_153730-01 by Jeff Price, on Flickr

[Bearbonesnorm]

Nice work Jeff.

[Dave Barter]

I too embarked on a shed project

We had a small space at the back of our garden ripe for some man-sheddage. I got several quotes from specialist garden office companies all of whom declined to proceed when they found out there is a severe width restriction on our street. So I spoke to a local builder I knew and we came up with a design based on a timberframed cedar clad office with glass frontage.

Alun's quote was nearly half the specialists as well. What could go wrong?



Well nothing as it happens. Alun did a great job on the frame. Working with an electrician I got power and networking to the shed and all the neighbours nosed and pried for weeks. I had to give daily updates.



The next job was to install the heater/air-con unit. Yes, you heard right, air-con. This shed location is in a sun trap and I know what it can be like in summer. We are never moving again so I treated myself to a special unit that does not need an external pump. but it does need two gurt big vent holes and they were very stressful to cut and line. As you can guess I swore my tits off, but Helen did as well and the neighbours stopped asking questions for fear of a battering.



We laid the floor using engineered hardwood. The two of us make a great team, Helen measures and I cut. My power saw was in the basement down two flights of stairs. I was utterly bolloxed at the end of the job after nearly climbing Snowdon. As you can see the taper on the shed caused more swearing



We finished late on the Friday night before lockdown. This photo celebrates the end of painting and the installation of lighting with the heater hung. Out of shot is a bottle of wine that we'd chugged in about 10 minutes and another one lined up.



I now have a rather nice workspace and a proper commute again of up the garden. It's inspired me to crack on with a number of writing and coding projects. So watch this space.

[chris n]

Ooh, can I show off my new garage too?

It all started on Christmas Eve (2019) ...


Asbestos roof. Oops.


Tree fellers (two actually) came.


Left me with this lot, plus about the same again once I'd finished processing the stump.

Fast forward a few months... Old roof off.


New roof on.


Lots of wood and shiny stuff later.


Lined with OSB and put recycled PVC floor tiles down.


Built some shelves, hung the bikes up and started to tidy stuff away.


One new workbench down one long wall - benchtop lathe goes on here on Monday


Another new bench at the end for fettling.

[sean_iow]

Every time I look at my recycled wiggle boxes I'm going to have shed envy. I'm going to have to up my game

[petemaz]

chris n - can I ask if you removed the asbestos roofing yourself, if so how did you get on? I have a similar job for our garage in the spring. I'm also trying to decide if I should insulate or not! thanks

[Bearbonesnorm]

Ooh some proper shedage here. I'm liking it. I'm now considering building a shed within my barn because I reckon it'll be easier than tidying the barn up

[redefined_cycles]

Every time I look at my recycled wiggle boxes I'm going to have shed envy. I'm going to have to up my game

Me too. So glad I clicked into this here thread after ages. I really need to sort my shed out. Started but not finished.

Sean, that bird feeder is genius and might show the missus and get her to make us one for the garden...

[chris n]

chris n - can I ask if you removed the asbestos roofing yourself, if so how did you get on? I have a similar job for our garage in the spring. I'm also trying to decide if I should insulate or not! thanks

Was easy enough once I'd worked out how to remove the fixings to take them off the roof myself - was a little tricky as the sheets were 40kg each and 1 m x 2.7 m and I had 11 of them to get rid of) - then double wrapped them in heavy gauge plastic sheet for disposal. I paid a waste disposal contractor to collect and take them to a proper site for me but your local tip may accept them. Wear a mask, obviously. Whether you wear overalls etc, is up to you...

Insulating makes a huge difference inside and I'd definitely recommend it. I used 50mm PIR boards for the ceiling and stud wall, and 40mm foil blanket for the brick/stone walls. You need to be careful about how much space it takes up inside (the walls are effectively 100 mm thicker now), but any insulation is better than none I reckon.

[petemaz]

chris n - can I ask if you removed the asbestos roofing yourself, if so how did you get on? I have a similar job for our garage in the spring. I'm also trying to decide if I should insulate or not! thanks

Was easy enough once I'd worked out how to remove the fixings to take them off the roof myself - was a little tricky as the sheets were 40kg each and 1 m x 2.7 m and I had 11 of them to get rid of) - then double wrapped them in heavy gauge plastic sheet for disposal. I paid a waste disposal contractor to collect and take them to a proper site for me but your local tip may accept them. Wear a mask, obviously. Whether you wear overalls etc, is up to you...

Insulating makes a huge difference inside and I'd definitely recommend it. I used 50mm PIR boards for the ceiling and stud wall, and 40mm foil blanket for the brick/stone walls. You need to be careful about how much space it takes up inside (the walls are effectively 100 mm thicker now), but any insulation is better than none I reckon.

That really helpful, many thanks

[thenorthwind]

Lots of garage envy going on here. In the middle of some much more modest improvements to my single-skin brick wall attached single garage. I'm slowly insulating the external walls and ceiling with offcuts and surplus insulation board from Gumtree/skips and boarding it out with a combination of OSB and pallets. Will hopefully replace the stupid electric roller door with insulated steel barn doors at some point.

Lined with OSB and put recycled PVC floor tiles down.

Can I ask where you got the flooring from please? Was loathe to buy expanded foam flooring but it does seem like a practical option. PVC isn't a commonly recycled plastic so finding a use for that sounds like a win. Or do you mean they were PVC tiles that you've re-used from somewhere else, rather than made from recycle PVC?