Men's Sheds?

ACHiPo

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Came across this article and thought it might interest folks here. Basically men live longer these days, and get bored, so some have started "Men's Sheds"--kinda like Scouts for old farts. I belong to a hobby machinist group, which could qualify I suppose, but we all have our own shops. I guess this and other forums like it are kinda like "virtual men's sheds?" Have others here heard of these things?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nati...?utm_term=.563719fd118d&wpisrc=nl_most&wpmm=1
 
we have a lot of them in Oz but its very rare to find one with metal working tools, mainly woodworking projects.
The down side for me is all the ones I've looked at only open from 8 till 12.
My first coffee is around 10:30 and I dont get going till midday so they all close by the time I'm awake sufficiently to get involved.
 
On several of the forums I'm on and I think on here too I've heard the Australian members mention "Men's Sheds" but that the first actual article I've ever seen on it.

I have seen first hand how retired guys can fade quickly without some kind of purpose. I will never run into that because no place I ever worked had a real retirement program so I'm lucky to have a home biz that's my working retirement.

My dad was doing great until it just got too dangerous for him to do mobile home roofs by himself, which he loved to do. He started watching a lot of tv and has really gone down hill. My grandfather didn't last long after retiring. I worry about my friend down the street and try to pop in on him when I see him out in his garage. But that seems less and less. He's in a local seniors cycling club that does two rides a week and seems more of a social club than exercise. This area has a lot of guys like me doing small manufacturing out of their garage or shop. I never seem to bump into them but only hear of them like from a guy who was selling machining tooling on CL. It would fun to network with others like that and see other guys shops if we could somehow get around the idea somebody might rip off our stuff or ideas :)
 
On several of the forums I'm on and I think on here too I've heard the Australian members mention "Men's Sheds" but that the first actual article I've ever seen on it.

I have seen first hand how retired guys can fade quickly without some kind of purpose. I will never run into that because no place I ever worked had a real retirement program so I'm lucky to have a home biz that's my working retirement.

My dad was doing great until it just got too dangerous for him to do mobile home roofs by himself, which he loved to do. He started watching a lot of tv and has really gone down hill. My grandfather didn't last long after retiring. I worry about my friend down the street and try to pop in on him when I see him out in his garage. But that seems less and less. He's in a local seniors cycling club that does two rides a week and seems more of a social club than exercise. This area has a lot of guys like me doing small manufacturing out of their garage or shop. I never seem to bump into them but only hear of them like from a guy who was selling machining tooling on CL. It would fun to network with others like that and see other guys shops if we could somehow get around the idea somebody might rip off our stuff or ideas :)
C-Bag,
I like your signature line--I've heard it a little differently, "A simple mind can make simple things complicated. A complex mind can make complex things simple.", or as Mark Twain said, "In two days I can give you two pages. If you want two paragraphs it will take two weeks" or something to that effect.

Anyway the thought of senior "maker spaces" seems to make a good idea. I've heard of other shops (there's one in Oakland, but more targeted at artists than craftspeople), but it seems a lot of them go under with costs, liability insurance, etc.

Evan
 
Hi Evan. I read that once many years ago and I've tried to look it up to credit it properly but can't find it. My clouded brain thinks it was the structural engineer for Jim Hall's Chaparral. But you know how brain clouds are.

There is a maker space here too but cost and overhead always dooms these things.and its really is too bad. But I take solace there are virtual places like this and the incredible people on YouTube that are archiving their knowledge and expertise. It doesn't necessarily fill the social gap. For me, I'm lucky I have a circle of bluegrass musicians that fill that gap. Most of those folks I've known for over 40yrs. That's in stark contrast to every place I ever worked as those acquaintances never carried on after I left. What's funny is as much as I've hung out playing music with these folks I don't really know that much about them, because we are too busy singin' and pickin' :)
 
Hi all
I have recently joined a Mens Shed in Bundanoon which caters for a variety of mens interest groups.The groups range from the ever popular woodworkers with all types of dedicated machinery. My interest is the metal working group that has a decent size lathe, a shaping machine and a vertical mill along with grinders, laser cutter, gas and electric welders.
 
Hi all
I never got to finish my previous post (must have pressed some key that said send??)
The other groups catered for are photographers, science, radio hams, electronics and hopefully a new group of which there is interest
for me and that is amateur astronomy. So when the work capacity of my Sieg C1 lathe at home exceeds it,s measly 35mm O.D. the Sheds
machine fits the bill!
Ivan
 
My greatest concern when offered early retirement from HP (12+ years ago) was that I'd turn into a couch potato. Fortunately, I've been so durn busy since retirement that I wonder how I ever had time to go to work! I can definitely relate to the value of staying busy, especially with something you really enjoy :)
 
we have a lot of them in Oz but its very rare to find one with metal working tools, mainly woodworking projects.
The down side for me is all the ones I've looked at only open from 8 till 12.
My first coffee is around 10:30 and I dont get going till midday so they all close by the time I'm awake sufficiently to get involved.

G'day Charles, yes I have the same problem here, Nothing gets done until after 10.30 am. First coffee a around 8.30 then a few in house chores, second coffee at around 10.30 then maybe I'll get interested. This time of teh year it's mostly cutting firewood. Brr, today was max 11c even though it was bright and sunny still plurry cold
 
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