CONSTRUCT A MOTORIZED TRIKE
BUILD THESE PINE BUNKS
NOVEMBER–DECEMBER 2018 ISSUE 81
GET CREATIVE WITH YOUR MAILBOX
PRODUCING
GUITARS FROM RECYCLED NATIVE TIMBER
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ELECTRONIC CRICKET REINVENTING THE GAME OF SPOTLIGHT
Contents
ON THE COVER
26
Guitar maker
4
Making stunning guitars from recycled native timber
Trikes
A sheddie builds some fun drift trikes for himself and his mates
112 54
60
How to make a smartphonecontrolled robot
A simple but effect way to gather swarf
BBC Micro Bit
78 2
Magnetic sweeper
Hi-fi speaker build
Can’t afford those top-shelf units? Well make your own
The Shed 81 November/December 2018
90
Unique mailboxes
Put your individuality on show with a bespoke mailbox
Workmate
The fascinating history of this well-known shed staple, often called ‘a shed in a cupboard’
42
Bunk build
Follow our step by step build of a set of wooden bunks
104
Magic mirror
Yes, your mirror can talk back to you — we show you how
98
68
72
“Dad, we want a train please” — a sheddie tells the tale
Things you should know about battery charging and good practice
Battery train
Every issue 1 18 24 40 121 124 126 128
Editorial News Letters Subscribe to The Shed Shed books for sale Shed back-issues order form Nationwide Menzshed listings Back o’ The Shed We welcome our new columnist, ex–Shed publisher Jude Woodside
Battery safety
18
News
Electronic cricket
Spotlight for the kids will never be the same once you make this
Subscribe and be in to win
This issue we have a Charmate Offset BBQ and Smoker pack, worth $1300, to be won by one lucky subscriber
A Taranaki sheddie invents a unique drilling aid for the oil and gas industry
40
The Shed 81 November/December 2018
3
Building a motorized trike
A CASUAL CHALLENGE TO BUILD A DRIFT TRIKE LED TO EIGHT MORE AND A SPECIAL RALLY
FUN ON THREE THE MOST YOU CAN HAVE
WHEELS By Ian Parkes
Photographs: Adam Croy
4
The Shed 81 November/December 2018
A beautifully organized shed made it easier for Kim to keep nine trikes on track
The Shed 81 November/December 2018
5
News — a shed invention
Problem solved A TARANAKI ENGINEER HAS COME UP WITH A PATENTED DEVICE THAT ENABLES DRILLERS TO WORK ON PROBLEMS THOUSANDS OF METRES UNDERGROUND By Ray Cleaver Photographs: Rob Tucker
A
Taranaki farm boy has come up with an invention that could save the geothermal and oil and gas industry millions of dollars — in his shed. Well, Mark Horwell is no longer a boy, though he was raised on a farm. In fact he has a degree in engineering, his shed has some high-tech equipment, and the concept and development of his invention have involved more than a dash of Kiwi ingenuity. Mark has come up with a device called a ‘Switchfloat’, which enables drillers to
18
work on problems thousands of metres underground. The Switchfloat is basically a nonreturn valve that can be opened downhole to allow wireline tools to be conveyed down the well.
Benefits
The Switchfloat system provides drilling operations with float-valve functionality while also allowing the valves to be locked open when required. All Switchfloat valves are able to be locked open by either pumping a ball or using a simple wireline
The Shed 81 November/December 2018
tool. A clear path is created through the valve so that tools can be conveyed safely within the drill string. Following this, the valves may then be closed to reinstate float-valve functionality. The major benefit of Switchfloat is when the drill pipe becomes stuck, it enables tools to be conveyed down the drill pipe to find out where it is stuck, and cut the drill pipe off. Switchfloat also allows surveys in the drill pipe without the removal of drill-string float valves. “This reduced tripping saves rig time, and wear and tear, and the device allows
The road to Switchfloat Mark (39) was raised on the family deer farm near Inglewood. He graduated as an engineer, with honours, from the University of Canterbury, and he has a few strings to his bow. He worked for Rolls-Royce in England 11 years ago in the field of aircraft-engine research and development. He developed methods to reduce residual stress in inertiafriction welding and filed three patent applications for the company.
The concept and development of his invention has involved more than a dash of Kiwi ingenuity
immediate wireline access in stuck pipe scenarios,” said Mark. “It reduces make and break cycles on drill-string-threaded connections and there’s safety benefits associated with reduced drill-string movements. “It also provides the ability to reverse circulate through a drill string containing float valves. The Switchfloat system is a patented technology and it has been successfully utilized in geothermal air-drilling operations with well temperatures exceeding 300°C.”
The idea
Geothermal wells in New Zealand are often drilled to around 3000m underground. High-pressure air and
Following that he was a stuntman for a while. He did a stunt course in Australia and performed in a live show in Berlin, racing round on motorbikes in Mad Max fashion. He also did some pyrotechnic work, telling The Shed that the 10 years of explosive expertise has helped in the oil and gas industry. His property has a few bike jumps and an off-road bike sits in the workshop. There’s nothing like a blat round the farm to clear the head.
water are pumped down the drill pipe and return up the annulus (outside of the drill pipe) to lift the drilled rock out of the bore hole. One-way non-return valves are often spaced about 150m apart down the string. This contains the pressure within the drill pipe and reduces the time taken
Right: The patented valveopening device in the Switchfloat Below: The non-return valve on the Switchfloat
The Shed 81 November/December 2018
19
Guitar making
Playing a fully scratch-built OMstyle acoustic guitar
26
The Shed 81 November/December 2018
C R E A T I V E
A SHEDDIE’S LOVE OF MUSIC AND WOOD FUSE IN THE CREATION OF BESPOKE GUITARS FROM RECYCLED TIMBER By Sue Allison Photographs: Juliet Nicholas
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Build a set of bunks
Our finished bunks complete with top of the line Sealy mattresses, ready for their new home
42
The Shed 81 November/December 2018
We decided to give the completed bunks to a needy family as recommended by the North Shore Women’s Centre
MAKING BUNKS IS THE PERFECT PROJECT FOR BEGINNER WOODWORKERS. MEN’S SHED NORTH SHORE HELPED WITH THE BUILD
W
hen planning content for The Shed, we strive to feature projects that have real usefulness and are fun to do. At a planning meeting, we discussed making a set of wooden bunks — kids love bunks and a wellmade set will last many years and can be handed down through the family. The ‘my dad made those’ scenario made us feel good. But there was the question of who would build them — a good skill set is required, a decent range of tools, and a bit of space, plus, what to do with the bunks once built?
Who, where, and how? By Ian Parkes Photography: Adam Croy and Roger Curl
We had visited the Men’s Shed North Shore in Auckland and been impressed with the members there and their extensive set-up. We approached Larry Klassen and his team and put
the idea to them. Great concept, they said, especially happy to be involved as The Shed had decided to give the completed bunks to a needy family, as recommended by the North Shore Women’s Centre, the bulk of whose work is focused on domestic violence. Our Shed team sourced some wonderful sponsors to assist with the worthy project. Placemakers supplied all the materials, Sleepyhead the mattresses, and Resene the polyurethane varnish finish. Two team members at the Menzshed took charge of the build — Bernard Gardner and Winston Garnett. Building your own bunks is a lot more simple than it looks, making them a great project even for first-time woodworkers. Unlike some things you could make, these will probably get used every day and every time you see them you will get
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THE SHED NOVEMBER–DECEMBER 2018 ISSUE 81
CONSTRUCT A MOTORIZED TRIKE
BUILD THESE PINE BUNKS
RECYCLED TIMBER GUITARS
NOVEMBER–DECEMBER 2018 ISSUE 81
GET CREATIVE WITH YOUR MAILBOX
PRODUCING
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ELECTRONIC CRICKET REINVENTING THE GAME OF SPOTLIGHT
PRIZE WINNERS CONGRATULATIONS TO GRAHAM A. FROM WHAKATANE & RON B. FROM HAMILTON CLOCKMAKER’S PRECISION & ARTISTRY
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