Garden Bench Refurbishment
In 2025, we were contacted to ascertain whether we would completely refurbish a dilapidated cast iron framed garden bench, (the final result is shown in the photograph).
Once inspected, it was agreed that Dunstable Men in Sheds would undertake the work with the customer agreeing to source the hard wood and paint with DMIS sourcing the metal primer and the appropriate bolts and screws.
The hard wood chosen was Red Grandis, although Sapele was a suitable alternative. Hammerite paint was recommended for the metal work and Stainless Steel bolts and screws were purchased in order that the finished bench would be rot & rust free.
Outline (2025) costs were as follows:
Wood battens - £86
Paints & Primer - £76
Bolts & Screws - £20
Contribution to Shed o/heads - £50
The customer on seeing a picture of the finished item commented -" You've done an absolutely stellar job and I couldn't be happier. I feel that it must be one of the nicest things to be produced in the shed. I've shown the photos to anyone and everyone and can't wait to see it in the garden".
Aardvark Examination Stand
We would like to highlight a unique project that Dunstable Men in Sheds have undertaken with Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire. The Shed was approached by the zoo to design and build an Aardvark Examination Stand, that would help the zookeepers and vets to monitor the health of the resident Aardvarks.
The idea is for the Aardvark to stand up on its back legs, with its front legs resting on a platform about 600mm off the ground. This would then allow the vets to use ultrasound equipment to more easily view the stomach area of the Aardvark, so they could do general medical scans and check for pregnancies, without having to sedate the animal.
The design process involved a visit to Whipsnade Zoo, where the zookeepers introduced us to the pair of resident Aardvarks in their outside pen area. It was an interesting experience being up close to the Aardvarks in their own environment. They are nocturnal mammals, native to Africa and known for their burrowing habits, with a diet primarily of ants and termites. Aardvarks have a stocky body, long pig-like snout and large rabbit-like ears. They can weigh up to 65Kg and measure about 2m long. Working with the zookeepers in the Aardvark outside pen, we took some rough measurements and went away to design and build the project.
The resulting work is a stand that opens up like a step ladder and a bowl of food is put on a platform at the top of the stand. This encourages the Aardvark to stand up on its back legs, put its front legs on the top platform and eat from the bowl. The zookeepers can then perform their checks on the Aardvark stomach area, while the Aardvark is distracted eating the food. After the examination, the stand is designed to fold up so it can be easily carried away.
After construction, we took the stand back to the zoo and the zookeeper tried it out with the Aardvark. The photo shows the Aardvark using its front legs to climb up the stand to eat the food that is in the bowl on the top platform. The zookeeper was very happy with the result and will use it in future Aardvark vet examinations.
Customisable Designs
We know that everyone has different requirements and we can fulfil requirements from your own specifications/plans or we can just produce a unique design for you.
Quality Craftmanship
At Men in Sheds we are happy to take bespoke commissions and we pride ourselves on our quality craftsmanship. We use mainly reclaimed materials and have a team of experienced builders who take great care in constructing your article to ensure it meets your requirements.
Turnaround Times
We always do our best to provide a fast turnaround but some items may take slightly longer if special materials need to be sourced.
Affordable Prices
We believe that everyone should have access to reasonably priced goods and we do everything we can to provide fair prices for commissions we fulfil.
Customer Satisfaction
At Men in Sheds, we are committed to ensuring that you are completely satisfied with your item and we take the time to understand your needs and preferences to ensure that your finished article meets your expectations.