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Manning Men’s Shed Newsletter An activity of the Manning Senior Citizens Centre March 2019#03

Editor’s Note: The purpose of this Newsletter is to showcase the involvement of MMS in various shed,

community, and personal projects, plus the usual members’ news. While working on your projects please remember to take photos of what you are doing or have completed, and forward these to the Hon Editor (Eric Goddard) preferably via email or on a memory stick.

Mon: 8:30 -12:00 1.00 - 4:30 Tue: 8:30 -12:00 1.00 - 4:30 Wed: 8:30 -12:00 1.00 - 4:30 Fri am: 8:30 -12:00 Fri pm: 1.00 - 4:30 for machine and shed maintenance only Thur: The Shed is also open on Thursdays 9:00 - 3:30 for toy making only - if you are interested speak to

Don, Bernie or Allan.

New Compactus Storage

The setting up of the Compactus Unit for storage of tools is proceeding and some tools are now stored in that location.

Some of the shelves have been fitted with slotted strips along the front and back edges and have been partitioned. Partitioning is essential to prevent the leads on the power tools getting mixed up with other tools. The partitioning has been arranged so that the partition width can be adjusted to suit the size of the tools. It is therefore important that the power tools have their leads coiled up and are place back into the partition they were taken from.

The shelves for boxed power tools are not partitioned. The boxes containing the tools are simply stacked in the shelves. The boxes have the type, make and asset number painted on the outside.

Printed labels have now been attached to the outside of the compactus to indicate where specific tools are located. In the longer term the individual partitions where the tools are stored will also be labelled.

Untested hand power tools will also be placed onto a reserved set of un-partitioned shelves prior to testing. These tools will be placed into the appropriate partitioned shelves when tested.

Just a reminder that only one set of shelves can be accessed at any time and before you open a set please ensure there is nobody inside an already open set.

Note that the compactus will be locked in the closed position by the Shed Leader at the end of the afternoon session (or in the case of Thursday toy when the shed is due to be closed). The Shed

Leader for the morning session will open the compactus and lock it into the open position.

Locking the compactus in the open position will prevent the storage of items in the area required for opening the compactus. This means that access to the sign-on computer will be restricted and will require the adjacent glass door to be closed. There will still be sufficient room to access the badge storage racks.

The Compactus locked in the open position with the Sign-On Computer and Name Badge Storage area (note the need to close the adjacent glass door to access this area)

Contacts Shed Telephone Number: 9313 2739 Shed Email; ManningMensShed@iinet.net.au Shed Coordinator: Allan Waugh Shed Committee: Ron Tompkin (Chairman), Keith Hayes (Vice

Chairman), Kingsley Waterhouse (Sec), John Paisley (Treas), Bernie Dierks, Greg Abbott, David Vicary, Mel Taylor, Dennis Menzies (Representing the Rotary Club of Como) Membership: Don Cameron and Greg Abbott. Assets Management: Eric Goddard. Manning Senior Citizens Centre: Glenn Rogers, 9450 6273

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First Shed Meeting and BBQ for 2019

The first Shed Monthly (February) Meeting and BBQ for 2019 was held on Friday 1st March commencing at 2.30pm. The Feedback Session started at 2.30pm.

Shed Coordinator, Allan Waugh, outlined a proposal to enhance our safety performance in the Shed (see Machine Safety Training below).

Assets Leader, Eric Goddard, reported on what has been done so far with transferring the hand power tools into the new Compactus. Eric indicated that the partitions have been sized for the tools to fit, and requested that members return the tools to the partition they were originally in.

Allan Waugh reported that we had not had an overwhelming response for volunteers to help with the Friday afternoon maintenance sessions. Please consider assisting us to keep the machinery and other equipment in a safe working condition.

Allan also pointed out that the access to the Switchboard must be keep clear. This is a safety requirement to ensure we can get to the board quickly in the event of a major electrical fault.

Allan also indicated that the use of Members’ drawer cabinets is under review. It has been noticed that many are not in regular use. “Owners” of cabinets not being used will be asked to clean them out so that they can be allocated to new members. Any cabinets that are deemed to be “not in use” may have their contents removed.

It appears that a few members are helping themselves to materials and hardware from the shed and the container for use in personal projects. Although, occasionally, we do get donations of these items from external benefactors, we also have to replenish stocks from time to time. Members are reminded that we expect them to make a donation to the shed if they take materials from shed supplies. Community projects we undertake will generally make free use of shed resources and private projects that come to the shed will have a material cost included in the estimate that is provided to an external client.

Machine Safety Training

The Shed Management Committee has proposed that current Gold Badge Members undertake a requalification for their badge by completing a number of training sessions. These sessions will revisit the use of Shed Machinery in line with current safety practices. These sessions will be split into two phases. Phase One will focus on the Woodwork Shop Machinery and Phase Two will focus on the Metalwork Shop Machinery.

A Third Phase will commence once the first two have been completed. In Phase Three the requalified Gold Badge Members will undertake basic training and supervision of the other lower

competency level members who are not confident of their level of knowledge or experience

March 2019 Shed Meeting and BBQ

The March 2019 Shed Meeting and BBQ will be held on Friday 29th March 2019 commencing at 2.30pm for the meeting and 3.00pm for the BBQ.

Dr Nicky Howe of SouthCare will talk about the MMS Membership scholarships.

Friday Afternoon Maintenance

Except for the last Friday of each Month, Friday afternoons are set aside for maintenance of the shed machines. Please note that we do not allow the use of the machines during this period.

As was indicated at the Shed Meeting on 1st March we would appreciate more people assisting with this important work which ensures that our machines are in good and safe working order.

Loan of Shed Equipment

Members can borrow shed equipment including the shed trailer for offsite use. However, Members must register, in the Loan Book in the Shed Coordinators Office, the details of each item borrowed plus the date taken. Members must also enter the date each item is returned. Unless special permission has been given by the Shed Coordinator the loan period is for one day.

In the case of the shed trailer members should be aware that, when they are towing the trailer, they are fully responsible for any breaches of the road rules and for ensuring that the trailer is not overloaded and that items being carried are properly secured.

Cleaning Up

Last month’s Newsletter noted that some machines had been left uncleaned. Unfortunately, this is still occurring. The Shed policy is that whoever uses a machine is responsible for cleaning it up. If there is no-one waiting to use the machine then the it must clean it before members go back to work on their project. A member who has just finished using a machine, can mutually agree with someone who is waiting to use the machine that the latter will assume responsibility to clean the machine. A member who has agreed to assume responsibility for cleaning a machine must then follow the same procedure. If there is no one waiting to use a machine please do not assume that someone else will use the machine. Members are requested to abide by these rules.

It has also been noted that when members are obtaining materials from the container or the racks at the back of the shed, they are not always tidying up after they have moved items to get access to the workpiece they want. Leaving pieces lying around on the paving adjacent to the racks or in the

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access way in the container is an unsafe practice (tripping hazard) and members should ensure that moved items are placed back where they came from.

It is noticeable that offcut material is increasingly being left lying around in the Shed. This is also an unsafe practice (tripping hazard). Any unwanted useable material should be placed back in the container or in the storage racks at the back of the shed, or if unusable should be disposed of – if the small bins in the shed are full then empty them in the rubbish bins outside.

We are all volunteers in the shed so if it needs to be done it’s not somebody else’s job its yours.

Membership Badges and Competency

All Members will be assessed by the shed Coordinator or a Gold Badge Member at the time of joining and will be assigned a badge colour according to their deemed competency and experience. The table below summarizes the four levels.

Level Example requirements to meet level

Green Completed induction

Bronze Safely operates most hand tools

Safely operates some power tools

Knows what some machinery does

Rarely uses or lacks confidence or has limited knowledge in safely using machinery

Silver Knows the purpose of most machinery and power tools

Confidently and safely operates basic machinery.

Demonstrates confidence and knowledge about safely operating some advanced machinery with assistance/guidance.

Limited experience in safely using advanced machinery, perhaps a long time ago

Gold Hands-on trade/technical background/work experience

Safely operates a range of complex machinery

Demonstrates confidence, understands limitations, and has knowledge regarding safely operating advanced machinery.

Able to fully assess risks in dealing with unfamiliar processes and machinery.

Current Gold Badge Members

Gold Badge Members are those members of the Shed who are deemed to have a high level of experience and knowledge of the various machines used in the shed. These members are designated to carry out training and assessment of all other members in relation to the machines.

The following members currently have Gold Badges:

Ron Tompkin Stuart Rawlinson Kingsley Waterhouse Bernie Dierks David Vicary Ken Langdale Rob Goldfinch Peter Repton Rob Uppill James Turner Roland Prince Victor Singleton Allan Waugh Mel Taylor Ross Bedford Stephen Finch

For electrical issues please speak to David Winslade.

If you have not been trained and assessed for a machine or you have any questions about using machines in the shed please speak to one of these members for assistance.

Shed Committee Positions

Brian Graham has offered to be a co-opted member of the Shed Committee

Proposed New Shed Officers

1. Welfare Officer:

Alan Naber has agreed to be the Welfare Officer. It is proposed that, through Alan, two members will be identified to arrange visits to a member who may need assistance, for instance, to offer to undertake domestic jobs like lawnmowing etc.

2. Social Activities Officer:

This is someone who would take the lead in organising Shed activities off the premises. These would include evening functions that could include wives, partners etc., develop a program of external visits that might be of interest to members. This might include visits to other Men’s Sheds, excursions to commercial of other woodwork,

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metalwork, engineering premises, gardens and nurseries etc. as well as general interest day tours. It is envisaged that this person would also organise fund-raising events, such as Farmers’ Market stalls etc.

If you are interested in taking on the role of Social Activities Officer please get touch with Keith Hayes or Allan Waugh.

Garden Produce

The Shed Garden is not able to provide the volume of produce that may be required to regularly satisfy the requirements of Shed Members. The Shed Committee has therefore agreed that the following arrangements be implemented for the distribution of garden produce.

1. All Garden produce will first be offered to regular Garden Members (Shed Members who look after the garden on a regular basis).

2. Shed Member should not remove produce without seeking approval from a Shed Committee Member.

3. Produce not required by regular Garden Members will be offered to other Shed Members for a donation reflecting the wholesale price of the produce.

4. Produce from the Shed Garden may be taken at no cost by a chef for the purpose of enhancing our Monthly Friday functions!

Shed Projects

Boronia Project

The Boronia Pre-release Centre for Women, located in Bentley, manages minimum-security female prisoners and their children in a community-style setting, and adopts a forward-looking model that recognizes the diverse needs of women in prison. The Boronia Project is a joint community project being undertaken by the Rotary Club of Como and the Soroptimists International South Perth Branch to build a Children’s Playground, and we have been asked to make various items for installation at the playground.

A number of Shed Members have been busy over the last few weeks constructing these items.

James Turner has made a Vertical Axis “Windmill” and a “Spanner Xylophone”

Dave Vicary has made up a wooden frame to which a number of different lengths of metal pipe have been suspended. The children can use an attached striker to play a tune!

Allan Waugh and Barry Textor put together a large size noughts and crosses (tick, tack, toe!) game. Barry Textor has used the CNC Router he donated to the shed to cut out O’s and X’s plus numerals and animal symbols for an adjacent similar game.

Noughts and Crosses Vertical Axis Windmill

Brett Goodwin, James Turner and Mel Taylor have together constructed a large sit in tractor. This has involved welding up a frame onto which car wheels (rear) and smaller wheels (front) have been fitted. One of the donated blue plastic barrels has been painted red and has been fitted to the front as the engine compartment. There is a small steering wheel at the back of the blue drum and Dave Vicary used the Arbortech wood sculpting tools to make a temporary old-style tractor seat for it. A vintage cast iron seat being donated to the Shed, will be fitted later.

Mel Taylor with the Tractor (under construction)

Barry Textor also used the CNC Router to carve large Rotary Club and Soroptimists logos. These were fitted to the Tractor’s rear wheels and to the vanes of the Windmill.

Como Rotary Club logos

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Soroptimist International logos

Internal Shelf for the Compactus

Vere (left) and Jack assembling the shelf

Jack and his friend Vere have helped Eric Goddard to make a small shelf for the compactus shelves so that two longer power tools could be fitted in sideways, one behind and above the other. Roy Campbell painted the shelf.

Martin Gets A Date

Sorry but this has nothing to do with Martin Lawton taking a lady out to Dinner!

Martin has just completed renovation of a rather nice-looking table which he discovered to be quite old. The table has a lovely parquetry top and shapely legs (that’s about as close as he got to a lady!). The table had some intricate joints and struts underneath and it needed to be pulled apart to remove the old animal glue which had become brittle and was no longer holding things together.

The hidden date

In the process of taking the table apart Martin found a date written in pencil that was hidden between two pieces of timber. The date? “16 Nov 1881”. We believe the date was preserved by being behind the timber so we think it is genuine.

Martin re-glued and re-assembled the table and gave it a polish. It is now solid and looks good. The client was delighted with it. Good Job Martin!!

Martin Lawton polishing the table

Income from Shed Projects

In the last month three external projects were completed generating total donations of $160, compared to 12 projects and $370 last month.

Members Projects

Hot Stuff from John – Old Smokey

John Paisley has made a large Smoke Kiln for his wife, who is a ceramic sculptor, for her smoke fired ceramics.

The kiln is made from two 44-gallon drums. Only a third of the second drum is used for the top lid section with chimney. James Turner welded a flange which is bolted to the top of the drum, with a steel O ring on the underside, which supports and houses the stainless-steel chimney. The top drum section with chimney sits loosely on the rim of the base drum as a lid which is removed when loading and unloading the kiln.

The inside of both the bottom and top lid section are lined with 50ml ceramic fibre blanket and the base of the kiln is lined with thermal bricks and ceramic fibre board. The whole unit is mounted on a portable trolley.

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A gas burner can be inserted into the kiln via a wide threaded metal pipe fitted through a hole and welded to the base side of the bottom drum. This can be sealed off during the smoke reduction. “Old Smokey” is now almost finish and ready for his maiden test firing.

Old Smokey

David Competes in the Wine and Cheese Table Stakes

The continuing demand for the Paisley inspired picnic table, which proved so popular at our Manning Farmers’ Market stall in November last year, has generated some competition within the Shed for the mini picnic table market.

David’s new bright red slim-line wine and cheese platter seen here adjacent to a table top of its more elaborate competitor.

David Vicary has recently trotted out a new, slim line version shown below. It has a stake which is simply screwed into the underside of the table and pushed into the ground for an instant wine and cheese platter. Neat job David!

John’s Wishing Well

John Gleeson is making a wooden Wishing Well which will be used at a family wedding. With the

help of other members John has cut out a wooden circular disc for the base, and a wooden annulus (used half way up), to which lengths of board have been glued and stapled to form the well shape.

John Gleeson working on his Wishing Well

Perth Wood School 2019 Open Day

Your attention is drawn to this popular annual open day, showcasing Australian woodwork with the theme of Tools, Timbers & Techniques. It is being held on Saturday 6th of April 9am - 4pm at Auswest Timbers 455 Orrong Road, Welshpool.

Entry and parking are free. There will be interesting and informative demos and heaps of the very best woodworking tools and timbers available.

Tools Timbers & Techniques is the best little woodworking event in Perth!

Exhibitors include:

Lie-Nielsen Toolworks,

Japanese Tools Australia,

Boffins Books,

Timbecon,

Carbatec,

Hand Tool Preservation Society,

Fine Woodworking Association of WA,

Kerrie Bear Veneers,

Perth Kids Shed,

U Resin, Auswest Timbers and of course

Perth Wood School.

This year your Shed Coordinator will be running a demonstration on making Kumiko panels as one of the Fine Woodworking Association’s activities at this event, so come along and heckle him!

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Activities at last year’s very popular event

Safety Issues

Personal Protective Equipment.

All Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is now stored in the green steel shelves at the crib room end of the compactus. This includes hard hats, ear plugs and ear muffs as well as gloves, safety glasses, dust masks, and a high visibility vest.

Please ensure that these items, with the exception of used ear plugs and used dust masks, are put back in the shelves after use. This keeps the shed tidy and also keeps the equipment safe from damage.

Used earplugs and dust masks should be disposed of into the rubbish bins after use.

If you use your own PPE please store it in your personal drawer or take it home. Anything left out in the shed is likely to be used by other members or may be accidentally damaged.

If you notice that the supplies of ear plugs and dust masks are running low or there is a need to replace or repair faulty or damaged safety equipment please advise the shed leader or leave a note for the Shed Coordinator in the office.

Mobile Stools Modified

We had one accident in the last month, being a fall, which occurred when a mobile stool rolled out from under a member who was trying to sit on it. Some strain injury resulted.

As required by Shed procedures, an Accident Report was completed and the Insurer was advised.

The wheels on all four similar stools have since been removed to prevent a similar recurrence.

St Patricks Day – Irish Jokes

Sunday 17th March was St Patricks Day so here are few Irish Jokes.

At the Airport

Paddy and Mick were at the airport ready to go off for a holiday. Mick asked Paddy how he was. Paddy replied that he was OK but wished he had the TV with him.

Perplexed Mick asked Paddy why. Paddy replied “because I left the tickets on top of it”.

In the Bathroom

Paddy was in the bathroom when Mick asked him if he had found the shampoo.

Paddy replied that he had but it was not much good to him, “the bottle says for dry hair and I’ve just wet mine.

At the Airport Again?

“Hello, QANTAS?” said Big Mick Lonergan. “Could ye be tellin’ me how long it takes to fly from Perth to Melbourne?” The voice on the telephone said “I’ll see sir, just a minute.” “Ahh, ’tis fast. Thank ye,” Mick said as he hung up.

At the Airport Again

Paddy and Mick are back from their holiday and Paddy is at the customs desk.

“What’s in the bottle?” says the customs officer. Paddy replies “just holy water sir”.

The customs officer picks up the bottle, opens it and smells the contents. “This is not holy water its whisky” he says.

Paddy replies “what - another miracle”.

At the Brewery

One night, Mrs McMillen answers the door to see her husband’s best friend, Paddy, standing on the doorstep.

“Hello Paddy, but where is my husband? He went with you to the beer factory.”

Paddy shook his head. “Ah Mrs McMillen, there was a terrible accident at the beer factory. Your husband fell into a vat of Guinness stout and drowned.” Mrs McMillen starts crying. “Oh, don’t tell me that! Did he at least go quickly?”

Paddy shakes his head. “Not really – he got out three times to pee!”

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A Stroke of Genie-us

Three guys – one Irish, one English, and one Scottish – are out walking along the beach together one day. They come across a lantern and a genie pops out of it. “I will give you each one wish, that’s three wishes in total,” says the genie.

The Scottish guy says, “I am a fisherman, my dad’s a fisherman, his dad was a fisherman and my son will be one too. I want all the oceans full of fish for all eternity.” So, with a blink of the genie’s eye, the oceans were teeming with fish.

The Englishman was amazed, so he said, “I want a wall around England, protecting her, so that no one will get in for all eternity.” Again, with a blink of the genie’s eye, there was a huge wall around England.

The Irishman asks, “I’m very curious. Please tell me more about this wall.” The genie explains, “Well, it’s about 150 feet high, 50 feet thick, protecting England so that nothing can get in or out.”

The Irishman says, “Fill it up with water.”

at Work

Two Irishmen looking for work see a sign that reads TREE FELLERS WANTED. “Oh, now, look at that,” said Paddy. “What a pity there’s only de two of us!”

In the Street

Two Irish lads were working for the Dublin public works department. One would dig a hole and the other would follow behind him and fill the hole in.

They worked up one side of the street, then down the other, then moved on to the next street, working furiously all day without rest, one man digging a hole, the other filling it in again.

An onlooker was amazed at their hard work, but couldn’t understand what they were doing. So, he asked the hole digger, “I’m impressed by the effort you two are putting into your work, but I don’t get it – why do you dig a hole, only to have your partner follow behind and fill it up again?”

The hole digger wiped his brow and sighed, “Well, I suppose it probably looks odd because we’re normally a three-person team. But today the lad who plants the trees called in sick.'”

Coming Manning Men’s Shed Events

Date Day Time Event

29 March Friday 2.30pm to 4.00pm End of Month BBQ ** with visitor Dr Nicky Howe of SouthCare talk on MMS Membership scholarships

31 March Sunday 10.00am to 3.00pm Fundraising Stall at Hello Manning Festival **

06 April Saturday 9.00am to 4.00pm- Perth Wood School Open Day

13 April Saturday 7.30am to 12.30pm Fundraising Stall at Manning Farmers Market **

26 April Friday 2.30pm to 4.00pm End of Month BBQ

18/19 Dec Wed/Thur 11.30am to 3.30pm Christmas lunch, Manning Bowling or MSCC

Note: Events above marked thus ** require members to assist with preparing for, then running the event. If

you are able to help out please advise a Committee member and get details of what is happening.

Coming Manning Senior Citizens Centre Events

Date Day Time Event

Weekly Wed/Fri 12.00pm Lunch in the Senior Citizens Centre

22 March Friday Check at MSCC River Cruise

17 April Wednesday 12.00pm Easter Celebration Lunch “Adam Penn”

24 April Wednesday 12.00pm Anzac Day Celebration “Brett Nosworthy”

03 May Friday 12.00pm Mother’s Day Celebration “Claire Jones”

13 May Monday 09:00am Bus Trip to Optus Stadium and Matagarup Bridge ($71)