Men's Shed

[herbie]

We're forming a Men's Shed group in our town, have about 20 members so far.
Any regulars here involved in one? Retired guys meet, share skills, do projects etc.
Any tips or project ideas?

[Dougie93]

11 hours ago, herbie said:

Any tips or project ideas?

paramilitary training course ; Loyalist Militia

[Greg]

@herbie, lets update that topic title and make it more descriptive:

[herbie]

If you're not familiar the Men's Shed idea is a growing movement where mainly retired workers form a social group to promote and share the skills they've acquired over the years.
It provides a place to hang out, socialize and return something to your community. Usually there's an area with a cribbage gamer and coffee always on, and a work area.
Gather and recycle things and repair them, like guys reupholstering couches, woodworking, rewiring etc. etc. and usually a 2nd hand shop where those things are returned, given or sold not for profit.

For example, I can go and someone will show me how to do woodworking stuff that I was never very good at, another basic plumbing or welding, etc. I can in return show them how to use iPhones, or Windows or fix their broken electronics.
In a nearby town, their shelter was donated rent free and is big enough to bring your car in and do an oil change or radiator flush yourself - with help form others. Handy when it's -25 ouitside! Membership fees and 2nd hand sales just cover heat & light, coffee and donuts.

It's a great idea to promote purpose and belonging to retired men. Years ago I did a study for ny union that found after an early retirement buyout, almost 2/3 of those retirees died withing 5 years. They had no plan for retirement, no purpose once they did. My own Dad aged at double speed after a golden parachute, was in a home within 20 years, my father-in-law discovered "golfing" was not a retirement plan and drank himself to death even quicker.

We've all had many years of experience and skills we can share with each other, and there are many in our communities that can't afford professionals for some things. Go fix that little old lady's sink or show an old fart how to use an Amazon Fire Stick, you're on a pension you don't need the dough. Most of them will offer what they can afford and be insulted if you don't take it, so accept that. Some need your company more than they need a bill, some their company is worth far more than money.

It's something to do, something that gives back and something of you that you can share that makes you feel good.

[Iceni warrior]

My only experience of Men's Shed was in Ireland. I managed to get a seat in their annual soap box derby. Great fun and I managed to get third place and a little trophy presented in front of the IRA memorial on the high street.

Have you got a hill with a few bends on it?

 

[CouchPotato]

On 2/14/2025 at 4:35 PM, herbie said:

If you're not familiar the Men's Shed idea is a growing movement where mainly retired workers form a social group to promote and share the skills they've acquired over the years.
It provides a place to hang out, socialize and return something to your community. Usually there's an area with a cribbage gamer and coffee always on, and a work area.
Gather and recycle things and repair them, like guys reupholstering couches, woodworking, rewiring etc. etc. and usually a 2nd hand shop where those things are returned, given or sold not for profit.

For example, I can go and someone will show me how to do woodworking stuff that I was never very good at, another basic plumbing or welding, etc. I can in return show them how to use iPhones, or Windows or fix their broken electronics.

That sounds like a really cool idea, herbie. I have never heard of anything like that around here. But I would love to learn woodworking and stuff like that.

I don't know if it's just me, but one thing I've noticed in the last several years is that people of all skillsets have become more understanding and patient with people who have no knowledge of the things they are into. Like I can remember being a kid helping my uncle with something, and he might say something like "Go grab me that twaggle ratchet." And when I didn't respond immediately he might say "What's wrong with you, don't know what a twaggle ratchet is?" It really just turns you off from ever learning to use a twaggle ratchet.

Edited March 1, 2025 by CouchPotato

[herbie]

One of the reasons I'm involved. Might be a master of electronic stuff, but I'm useless with woodworking, painting and some automotive related stuff. Love to cook but know dick about baking.
Great opportunity to trade skills, help the community and give seniors a sense of purpose. I think that was what made both my father and father in law pass so soon after retirement.

I'm also disgusted with people who simply refuse to learn new things and have to be sneaky teaching them, so they don't realize they are.

[herbie]

On 2/27/2025 at 10:52 AM, Iceni warrior said:

Have you got a hill with a few bends on it?

How's about our annual end of ski season race where people ride leaky canoes, car hoods, even a bathtub down the slopes for prizes? Not really a function of a Men's Shed though, but something to sponsor.

[CouchPotato]

18 hours ago, herbie said:

but I'm useless with woodworking, painting and some automotive related stuff.

That's me right there. And even when I did help dad or other relatives with that kind of stuff I had very little interest and just did what I had to until I could go do something else. Kinda wish I hadn't been like that.

[herbie]

I was so bad at woodwork I think my Grade 9 bookcase is in some NSA lockup as they figure out how I got 4 dimensions out of one plank... measure nine times, cut once. curse. get more wood.

[RB]

It is an awesome idea that you are getting together.  Can it be guys and gals? I know retired folks in Scotland who build their own musical equipment in the garage from wood laying around the street and then "idea" they play music in the marketplace.  So fun.

[herbie]

There is no restrictions.
It's a place for people who feel isolated to internact with each other and commit to do some community services.

IE we've already discussed how a female electrician who lost her spouse would be welcome to join. The retired carpenters discussed building a wheelchair ramp, and as the person's on disability we're raising funds for the supplies too, as they haven't the funds.
Building raised planting beds from recycled wood & selling for yard sale prices, etc. etc.

[RB]

Sounds amazing.  Keep with it.

[herbie]

The Men's Shed idea sprung up from Australia and there are many all over now. The first one opened in our area a little over 3 years ago and has spread to 5 more in towns nearby.

https://mensshedscanada.ca/  CANADA
https://www.usmenssheds.org USA

I can say that I feel 100% better since joining up and doing positive things for our community. Setting up posters, meetings, marshalling events - getting out there and meeting people again. They've had me design websites, spreadsheets, databases, bulk emailers as well as print stuff, meet other community groups and arrange how to work with them. Find myself voluntarily putting in way more time and effort than I ever expected to, because it is enjoyable!

Look into it guys, I've not just used tech skills, membership on the Boards of companies and societies let me help the guys set things up properly right from scratch. Went from an idea last Xmas to a drop in and store front opening in Sept. Get involved, you won't regret it.

 

 

[herbie]

Made a deal with the 2nd hand store run by the Hospital auxilliary. They get household goods in their bin and can bring appliances and furniture to us, we'll fix, clean, test and return it for them to sell. Tools, computers, etc they don't want we fix and sell* in our Shed. One hand shakes the other sort of thing.
You can ask us for ppl to do some jobs too. We don't compete with local contractors but if it's a small job and you're low income we'll help. Like how we said no to a doctor's wife to landscape her lakeside mansion and handed her a contractor's business card.

* we don't really SELL at the storefront you must make an reasonable donation to get the goods. We'll mark some things so staff know to take any donation at all.

I think I will donate some computers and offer computer classes for seniors by donation. We have many of our own members who need to learn at least 20th Century skills.
The stick our the chest and brag I never had one o' them computers and the flip phone Freddies.

[herbie]

We're preparing our new site in a mall and I found one big problem.

We're all f^cking men.
Running around 2200 sq ft of empty with no floor plan. throwing out leftovers of the last tenant 'because they're ugly and I don't like them" when the entire purpose of a Men's Shed if to FIX, to reuse, refurbish, recycle.
I'm dragging a WOMAN down there, as I'm the only one who ever had a shop in a mall, and she's a designer/decorator who did my old place so well it won the award that year. Or understands you want the public to see something they want to go into and check out.
I was the one who had to explain repeatedly that there are rules in a shared mall and expenses beside rent. The mall owner hires the guy to sweep, snowplow and water flowers etc. for the whole mall, you can't opt out and do that yourself.

Oooh. Bit of an adventure being an Adult Rd teacher on top of everything else. Set our Grand Opening in November as the executive board understands herding cats will take a while.

 

[herbie]

Hee hee I got there goat at the last meeting.
Mentioned how I lectured the guys for tossing things out without authourization.

Reminded them what we do is fix things. We take in a broken chair, a washing machine, a lawnmower or trimmer. We fix it. We clean it and test it, Then we put it on the shelf to sell for a donation. We show anyone interested how to do that too.
So what we're doing is in fact repair, reuse and recycle all the "woke" things they despise so much.

Some of the guys laughed. Most sat their with their mouths hanging open....

Wanna buy a new lawnmower for $500 or a dishwasher for $800? Or get one rebuilt good as new by retired mechanics and Maytag repairmen for a $50 donation? Check out your Men's Shed.

[herbie]

The growing Men's Sheds movement is helping men who feel isolated

https://nationalpost.com/life/real-canadians-mensshed

Our local one is getting massive support with many many grants from private industry and public sources. The guys made panels for the Historic Park, plans to make planters for the community garden and hospital and are refinishing all kinds of furniture and appliances for our storefront. 
Other Men's Sheds have sent us tons of stuff to set up, we have a membet area with couches where we did a zoom meet with other sheds and even have a full size shuffleboard, crib tables and a kitchen area.

Opportunity to meet and make new friends for everyone. I have a gimped back and knees so do all the geek work, computers, websites, online banking, security cams, layout designs, etc. with a couple other guys. Other guys using their carpentry skills, a retired bank loan manager advising us, a chef, auto mechanics...
look into joining or forming one in your area.

[herbie]

Men's Sheds are open and inclusive. Just visit one and they'll welcome you. We've had many women walk in to see the stuff we had and then send their husbands to join as mambers