Hulloo from an auld mannie

[DodParticipant @dod]

I'm nearly ready to be consigned to the shed permanently as retirement looms.

With that in mind does anyone have ideas on how to prepare for that eventuality?

Some background of myself to set the thoughts flowing, been a white goods, printer, computer engineer most of me days with a couple of years of farm worker and now in me twilight years am in an educational establishment as a techie in the technical department (sheer bliss) and general trouser bottom stapler, shoe gluer, pendrive finder, recycler of anything to be thrown out, weather forecaster and advisor to anyone who asks.

Shed is 8 foot by 6 foot concrete block built with electric, a drill, small wood lathe and a load of hand tools and not much else.

Any advice welcome.

Dod

[DodParticipant @dod]

[Rik ShawParticipant @rikshaw]

Dod – Best advice – disregarding what you intend doing in your shed.

1. Enjoy – its your shed.

2. Make your shed comfortable /welcoming.

3. Look at what people do on here – then make it bigger, better, different and shinier than them.

5. Remember, whatever you were unable to achieve in your working life, your shed activities can put that to rights.

6 Last but not least, if there is a lovely lady in your life, she must be seen as being more important than the shed and its contents – and that includes you ! Long live your shed!

Rik

[DodParticipant @dod]

1. I have done that for the last 40 years

2. Well lit, floored, central heated, radio/cassette/cd player installed.

3. I'm drooling already.

5. Dont think the shed will make me rich except rich in spirit.

6. Most significant other is the light of me life but does not seem to reciprocate (so it seems to me) but after 41 years I must be doing something right.

Must off to look for number 4

[Rik ShawParticipant @rikshaw]

4. Think before asking for advice when you know it all already !

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

+1 for all the above;

Decide on your budget, what size machinery will fit your space, bear in mind what you spent on machinery add the same for tooling as it will cost as much if not more… most of all 'enjoy'

George.

[OuBallieParticipant @ouballie]

Welcome Dod.

Be prepared for the shock that everything will suddenly, and forever, take 4-10 times longer to do compared to when you where employed.

A fact I can attest to, much to my dismay and annoyance , but you may well be one of the lucky ones.

Geoff – That ever moving Black Hole every Workshop has does stretch ones patience to the limit though.

[CirclipParticipant @circlip]

And even if you add an extension to it, the amount of free space reduces by the cube root of diminishing volume. DAMHIK.

Regards Ian.

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

It matters not how big, or small your shed is, no one has ever had a big enough shed, and the smallest work places have produced some of the most amazing pieces of workmanship.

Ian S C

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Does the wifi reach it? Otherwise look into Powerline. Then sit back in the armchair and read the whole of this forum, all of it.

[pgk pgkParticipant @pgkpgk17461]

Retirement goals..

Plan on becoming increasingly eccentric and grumpy. Wearing your jumper backwards at least twice a week keeps OH on her toes. Generally complaining about stupid poiticians and the younger generation keeps you in with the old f@rt pub crowd. I find muddy boots can be a great conversation starter if you can time when OH has just washed the floor. Make lots of promises about jobs about the house but always have issues in't shed that take priority.Ordering large amounts of heavy metal to be delivered when you are at the other end of the garden helps keep her fit, too

[DodParticipant @dod]

Thanks to all you welcoming peoples and suggestions.

Budget – very little, 48 square feet or just shy of 4 1/2 metric thingys less bench,shelf unit lathe base and me = pretty small machinery and just where can I buy a Tardis type extension.

As in other pastimes, it is not the size that matters only what one does with it

Time is not of the essence, I could tooter aboot for Scots British team at the next Olympics.

Not enough head of steam for t' interwwwebnet to reach there and no enough interest (except this forum of course)

Offspring decided long ago that I am the ghost writer of the Grumpy Old Men series of books, politicians should be shot on principle due to their lack of same and I have been house trained so maybe that is my future ex wife is still around.

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