Hi from South Wales

[Nigel Smith 4Participant @nigelsmith4]

Hi guys,

A long time reader of Model Engineers Workshop, I thought it about time to join the 21st century and use the computer now that I've almost reached the big '65'. That said, despite what 'er indoors' says I'm still going to have the magazine each month.

So in anticipation of the pending retirement I've built a new workshop, a proper workshop built with blocks and cement. It has a boiler and central heating to keep humidity at bay, something my 10ft x 5ft wooden shed couldn't compete with. The new shed (sorry, workshop) is 30ft x 10ft so gives me a bit more room and comfort for myself and my Harrison L6 lathe. I'm sure we'll both be very happy in there.

That's enough of my rambling for now.

Nigel.

[Nigel Smith 4Participant @nigelsmith4]

[OldironParticipant @oldiron]

Welcome Nigel. Sounds to be just about the right size as a starter workshop. The central heating sounds a good idea.

regards

[David George 1Participant @davidgeorge1]

Hi Nigel welcome to the forum what are you interested in and what do you make in the shed (workshop).

David

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Welcome to the forum Nigel. Which bit of South Wales? I'm originally from Barry, but I did live in Porthcawl for a while.

Neil

[Nigel Smith 4Participant @nigelsmith4]

Posted by Oldiron on 21/01/2018 16:47:14:

Welcome Nigel. Sounds to be just about the right size as a starter workshop. The central heating sounds a good idea.

regards

As you will know the biggest enemy of any workshop is excess humidty, the central heating (along with proper insulation) should eliminate this problem. The workshop I had at my previous property I heated using a multi fuel burner, lovely and warm but the dust was something else. When I moved to my present property there was a wooden shed, it had to go hence building a new workshop. As for the size, I've had bigger workshops and smaller workshop, 30ft x 10ft suits me fine.

[Nigel Smith 4Participant @nigelsmith4]

Posted by David George 1 on 21/01/2018 19:35:33:

Hi Nigel welcome to the forum what are you interested in and what do you make in the shed (workshop).

David

Hi David,

I suppose my interest is anything I can make on the lathe. I've not worked in engineering since my late teens but always maintained an interest. In the last few years I've been asked to do various 'one offs' and a few small batch runs. Not particulary challenging work but nonetheless very enjoyable from my perspective. Now that I'm about to retire (counting the days!), hopefully I can do something for myself'. Time to do all those jobs I said I would do 'when I retire'!

Nigel.

[Nigel Smith 4Participant @nigelsmith4]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 21/01/2018 19:44:04:

Welcome to the forum Nigel. Which bit of South Wales? I'm originally from Barry, but I did live in Porthcawl for a while.

Neil

Hi Neil,

I'm not from Wales, I'm from West Dorset and moved to Wales 2 years ago in preparation for retirement. On the edge of the Beacons near Brynmawr so lots of lovely walks nearby. The only thing I'm getting to grips with is the rain, never seems to stop! The agent through whom I bought the house told me summer here was only two days (I thought he was joking), I asked for the dates but unfortunately he didn't know!

Nigel.

[pgk pgkParticipant @pgkpgk17461]

I believe it was Rob Bryden who once said "I was 11yrs old before i discovered one can take off a cagoule."

I'm in mid Wales. Two days without rain we call drought.

Welcome

pgk

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

When I moved from Wales to Warwickshire it was a shock to discover i didn't really need a raincoat – until the day I was caught out in a downpour!

One-third the rain compared to when I lived in Ceredigion.

Neil

[HevansccParticipant @hevanscc]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 21/01/2018 19:44:04:

Welcome to the forum Nigel. Which bit of South Wales? I'm originally from Barry, but I did live in Porthcawl for a while.

Neil

Porthcawl – know it well. Worked in a chip-shop on Trecco Bay for several summer vacations when I was a student during the 1980s. Being originally from the Rhondda valley, Porthcawl was an exotic coastal location . . .

Hywel

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Hevanscc on 22/01/2018 12:03:18:

Porthcawl was an exotic coastal location . . .

[Nigel Smith 4Participant @nigelsmith4]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 22/01/2018 14:22:53:

Posted by Hevanscc on 22/01/2018 12:03:18:

Porthcawl was an exotic coastal location . . .

I won't dispute the fact, though I've never been there.

Should I change my holiday plans? Vancouver or Porthcawl?

[David George 1Participant @davidgeorge1]

Is there still a wreck ship on the beach at Porthcawl in my youth I remember it was like pool when the tide went out.

David

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by Nigel Smith 4 on 22/01/2018 16:44:31:

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 22/01/2018 14:22:53:

Posted by Hevanscc on 22/01/2018 12:03:18:

Porthcawl was an exotic coastal location . . .

…

Should I change my holiday plans? Vancouver or Porthcawl?

Porthcawl's weather is warmer despite the place being nearly 2½° further north than Vancouver. By rights Wales should be colder than a penquin's bottom; actually it's rather balmy. The occasional showers are a plus; they stop tourists over-heating!

[john carruthersParticipant @johncarruthers46255]

Hello Nigel and welcome. I am looking at buying a place near Port talbot.
I will have to build a decent shed/shop too.

John.

[Nigel Smith 4Participant @nigelsmith4]

Posted by john carruthers on 23/01/2018 07:22:03:

Hello Nigel and welcome. I am looking at buying a place near Port talbot.
I will have to build a decent shed/shop too.

John.

Hi John,

Good luck with your project, build during the summer and make sure it's weathertight before the onset of winter!

Nigel.

[David Hill 5Participant @davidhill5]

We moved to Ceredigion 19 years ago and despite the rain, love it here. Unfortunately we are not Welsh but find the locals extremely welcoming. There are model engineers around but they keep a low profile. I found one whilst discussing my mother's funeral arrangements. I noticed Model Engineer on his coffee table! We live very close to the Museum of Internal Fire which is truly a magnificent museum especially as one wouldn't expect to find such a museum in a very rural area.

David

[Bill Davies 2Participant @billdavies2]

+1 for Internal Fire. I've visited several times, very enthusiastic team of volunteers. Large stationary internal combustion engines, several running each time I visited, and a willingness to start up any of interest (I suppose if they are not too big). Last time I went, they had a steam engine they intended to get running.

Also, some mid-century radio and telecoms equipment. I also had a quick view of their workshop; about as tidy as mine, but producing somewhat larger work.

I moved from Surrey to Somerset, then Wales. It definitely gets wetter as you go west! Bore da, all.

Bill

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