August 2018 Newsletter
Presidents Message
The committee has decided to make a donation to the NSW drought relief and this is
being arranged in partnership with the Gilgandra Men's Shed who will use the donation in community activities. $1,000 will be donated plus the proceeds from a garage sale we will hold at the shed shortly - further details to follow.
SMOKO "toolbox talks" will be held regularly to provide info and feedback to members.
The kitchen area floor has been painted and it looks great, making cleaning much easier. Thanks to the members who contributed to the preparation and painting. Other floor areas will be painted as time permits.
Our old ute (1991 vintage) is showing it's age and the committee has decided to replace it with a more modern version of similar type. Let Robert or David know if you see anything suitable in the $6,000 range.
Shed Manager's Report
UPCOMING EVENT
- Tuesday, August 14, Presentation + Screening starts at 10.00 am
- Thursday, August 30, further screening tests if required.
- Your attendance would be most appreciated.
TOOL SHED MEETINGS
Committee Meetings. Committee Meetings are held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. These Tool Shed meetings will help keep members informed of new decisions, and also to reinforce to members the current rules, changes in methods etc. Members are invited to voice any concerns and suggestions at this time.
FLOOR PAINTING
MEN'S SHED WEEK
Membership fees are now overdue and are required before you can operate any machinery / work in the shed.
Please contact the office to pay if you have not already done so.
Donation
Tom Skinner "ON AIR"
Helping our farmers
DROUGHT ASSISTANCE
SALEABLE GOODS REQUIRED
President stops to..
On August 6 President Ken Ryan addressed a local group called "AVACHAT" at the Boambee Centre on Bruce King Drive. The members of AVACHAT meet every Monday morning for 2 hours to 'chat' about local events, catch up with other members, and be entertained by local speakers from other businesses and clubs.
The idea was started 4 years ago by Margaret Bridgeman and 3 friends. The group has since grown to over 90 regular supporters. When Ken was asked to speak about the Men's Shed he jumped at the chance. Armed with some digital pics and a sort history list, Ken donned on the microphone headset and chatted for 35 minutes with the attendees. The morning started with a friendly chat, including a tea and snack break, followed by Ken's talk. Members of the group were quite supportive of the Men's Shed ideals and workings, making jokes that women shedders would spoil it for the men.
Margaret said that the main driving force is to get people 'out of the house' and give them a peaceful place to catch up with their community. It is completely volunteer driven, and like the Men's Shed, members are at no obligation to attend. Each meeting they have a small lottery to keep the petty cash tin alive, which goes towards outgoing events like bus trips to South West Rocks, and the recently held Winter Solstice event.
WEAVERS BAMBOO
FREE TO GOOD HOME
Around the Shed
SILKY OAK BOX
WOODWORKING
Refurbishment by Tom Skinner
WARHAMMER
An initial design is shown here.
TIMBER GOBLETS
THE WARREN SANGER AWARD
award and after a pleasant day things are now as they were. What a woman!"
EXCEPTIONAL TABLE STAND
by Tom Skinner
Mick preparing to weld a chair
Tom using a big compass in designing a shield
Graham making a start on the botanic garden
and now... The Shedmen
JAM SESSION EVERY WEDNESDAY ARVO
Shedders are welcome to jam every Wednesday afternoon at the Coffs Harbour Men's Shed in Howard Street.
The acoustics may be bad, but the talent is great. This small band of "Shredders" cut a music video in July which can be found on our website, or can be accessed by clicking this link:
https://youtu.be/6gpJwJ6V6KQ
Other members (not shown here) regularly join in but were busy on the day. Dedicated space will be available to the group as resources allow, potentially with better acoustics and a permanent setup, so members can meet more often, and different genres can be catered for.
Painting the kitchen floor
Members had to 'rough it' recently as the kitchen and display area had a makeover. The bare concrete floor was
getting rather grubby so the Committee decided it was time to paint and seal the floor. Contents were moved, the floor was washed, then acid washed, and finally painted with a slight grey colour paint. Thanks to all Shedders who got involved. Each improvement we make helps to make the Men's Shed a better place for all.
Pyrography
Pyrography or pyrogravure is the art of decorating wood or other materials with burn marks resulting from the controlled application of a heated object such as a poker. It is also known as pokerwork or wood burning.
The term means "writing with fire", from the Greek pur (fire) and graphos (writing). It can be practiced using specialized modern pyrography tools, or using a metal implement heated in a fire, or even sunlight concentrated with a magnifying lens. Pyrography dates from the 17th century and reached its highest standard in the 19th century. In its crude form it is pokerwork.
Here at the shed we have our own 'Pyromaniac' in Andrew Ryan. Andrew has been burning timber for the last 3 years and has created a myriad of Pyrographs for sale in the shed. Anyone interested in Pyrography, or who
wants a design burned onto timber, catch up with Andrew and discuss your needs.
samples
The Lighter Side
DRILL PRESS
A tall upright machine useful for suddenly snatching flat metal bar stock out of your hands so that it smacks you in the chest and flings your beer across the room, denting the freshly painted project which you had carefully set in the corner where nothing could get to it.
WIRE WHEEL
Cleans paint off bolts and then throws them somewhere under the workbench with the speed of light . Also removes fingerprints and hard-earned calluses from fingers in about the time it takes you to say, 'Oh sh--!'
SKILL SAW
A portable cutting tool used to make studs too short.
PLIERS
Used to round off bolt heads. Sometimes used in the creation of blood-blisters.
BELT SANDER
An electric sanding tool commonly used to convert minor touch-up jobs into major refinishing jobs.
HACKSAW
One of a family of cutting tools built on the Ouija board principle... It transforms human energy into a crooked,
unpredictable motion, and the more you attempt to influence its course, the more dismal your future becomes.
VICE-GRIPS
Generally used after pliers to completely round off bolt heads. If nothing else is available, they can also be used to transfer intense welding heat to the palm of your hand.
OXYACETYLENE TORCH
Used almost entirely for lighting various flammable objects in your shop on fire. Also handy for igniting the grease inside the wheel hub out of which you want to remove a bearing race.
Mens Shedder circa 1580
TABLE SAW
A large stationary power tool commonly used to launch wood projectiles for testing wall integrity.
HYDRAULIC FLOOR JACK
Used for lowering an automobile to the ground after you have installed your new brake shoes, trapping the jack handle firmly under the bumper.
BAND SAW
A large stationary power saw primarily used by most shops to cut good aluminum sheet into smaller pieces that more easily fit into the trash can after you cut on the inside of the line instead of the outside edge.
TWO-TON ENGINE HOIST
A tool for testing the maximum tensile strength of everything you forgot to disconnect.
PHILLIPS SCREWDRIVER
Normally used to stab the vacuum seals under lids or for opening old-style paper-and-tin oil cans and splashing oil on your shirt; but can also be used, as the name implies, to strip out Phillips screw heads.
STRAIGHT SCREWDRIVER
A tool for opening paint cans. Sometimes used to convert common slotted screws into non-removable screws and butchering your palms.
PRY BAR
A tool used to crumple the metal surrounding that clip or bracket you needed to remove in order to replace a 50 cent part.
HOSE CUTTER
A tool used to make hoses too short.
HAMMER
Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit.
UTILITY KNIFE
Used to open and slice through the contents of cardboard cartons delivered to your front door; works particularly well on contents such as seats, vinyl records, liquids in plastic bottles, collector magazines, refund checks, and rubber or plastic parts. Especially useful for slicing work clothes, but only while in use.
SON-OF-A-BITCH TOOL
(A personal favorite!!) Any handy tool that you grab and throw across the garage while yelling 'Son of a BITCH!' at the top of your lungs. It is also, most often, the next tool that you will need.
Coffs Harbour History
Coffs Harbour and Dorrigo Advocate
Friday June 2nd, 1939
COFFS BANANAS
"Not Queensland Grown"
Supporters of the Coffs Harbour Men's Shed
The Coffs Harbour Community Men's Shed wishes to thank all our supporters, both large and small,
for their ongoing support and generous donations of time and money.