Tool for garden shed conversion

wannabecraig

I'm going to convert my 4x6 garden shed into a bike shed.
SO it's 4ft wide, I'll change that to about 70cm and either leave the
length or make it a little shorter. There will be a fair amount of wood cutting involved and I'm wondering what is the best tool I can get for this.

Was thinking of getting this;:
https://www.screwfix.ie/p/mac-allister-msmcs500-500w-76mm-electric-mini-saw-220-240v/419gf

Bonzo Delaney

Think you need a sabre/reciprocating saw but I'm not quiet sure what it is you're doing to the shed.
The saw you linked is only a hobby arts and crafts cutter
Max cut of 20mm it'd struggle with most shed timber element's

Dafterss

Max. Cut: 20mm

listermint

Is the shed not a bike shed in its current form without you destroying it ?

Calahonda52

why the need to reduce the size?
that tool is only a toy
post some pictures

wannabecraig

This is it. It's too big for my garden, I want to reduce the width to 70cm

Lumen

That is a difficult task requiring much skill.

I think you should just skip to the bit where you give up and burn your dreams of a narrower shed on an enormous pyre.

wannabecraig

Well my first thought was just to buy a narrower shed, so it'd save me a lot of hassle. I was just hoping to fill my next few weekends with a money costing worthless project so I didn't have to go on nature walks. I figured this would be it!

But if I were to plough ahead and do it, which tool would I buy?

CharlieHaghy

Lidl are doing chainsaws soon I think. Just cut it down and screw it back to the size you want. They have cordless drills there in stock now.

Rows Grower

wannabecraig wrote: »

This is it. It's too big for my garden, I want to reduce the width to 70cm

You need to rethink your life.

wannabecraig

Rows Grower wrote: »

You need to rethink your life.

I think that's what I'm using this for.

So is the suggestion to burn and get another then?

beauf

You could get one of those steel bike lockers then we least you'd be improving security slightly.

wannabecraig

I'm not overly concerned about security. I've got that sorted internally. It's really just about size reduction.
Small garden, nothing in shed except bike, was gonna take on a little project but probably needed some sense talked into me.

I'm doing some other work on the garden too, building a pergola and a bench/potting area where over where the shed is
so I figured I'd tool up for it!

Bonzo Delaney

If you do the maths you're orignal post here was you're six hundredth and sixty sixth post its a classic example of "the devil makes use of idle hands"

Its doable but as lumen mentioned a difficult task for a novice without an arsenal of tools.
Prob disassemble completely
Cut base down to width size
Cut end gable to size
Fix gable to base along with sides
Cut down door and fit support frame
Cut roof panels and re fit

Tools
Cordless drill
7inch circular saw
Reciprocating saw with metal blade to separate nailed panels
Hammer
Pry bar.

A folly imo

basill

I would disassemble completely and go for a "lean to" type design (could be open or closed to the elements) against that wall in the photo if you want a smaller footprint. Lots of different designs on pinterest. You might need to buy some treated timber and fixings to bolt whatever you end up with to the wall.

The Continental Op

Why not just cut the side off the shed thats opposite the wall and put your potting bench in there and run your pergola out from the open sided shed.

When I say cut the side off I mean remove the bulk of the wall while leaving the header and reinforcing it along with a bit of reinforcement in the corners.

The Continental Op

Bonzo Delaney wrote: »

If you do the maths you're orignal post here was you're six hundredth and sixty sixth post its a classic example of "the devil makes use of idle hands"

Its doable but as lumen mentioned a difficult task for a novice without an arsenal of tools.
Prob disassemble completely
Cut base down to width size
Cut end gable to size
Fix gable to base along with sides
Cut down door and fit support frame
Cut roof panels and re fit

Tools
Cordless drill
7inch circular saw
Reciprocating saw with metal blade to separate nailed panels
Hammer
Pry bar.

A folly imo

If dissembling I'd be looking for screws and bolts as thats how many of those flatpack sheds are put together.

Always a bitch if there are screws that you can't get out because most modern screws are so hard they are difficult to cut. Nails on the other hand cut easily.

To save on metal blades on my reciprocating saw and multitool I use a thin SS metal disk on a 4 1/2 inch angle grinder to cut any that aren't too deep in.

kerryjack

Why not go down to your local hardware and get a good quality hand saw for 15 quid. No Amazon or batteries required.

wannabecraig

ok, well I might just totally take apart and try to rebuild something into a smaller size.
It's kind of a learning experience, not really doing it to save money, I guess it's a project, or as somebody said, a folly.

But I'm probably going to do it anyway, as it needs to be taken apart, I can try to put together as I want then
and if it doesnt work I can just use wood for other stuff and buy the size thing I want.

Can you recommend a decent circular saw please.

wannabecraig

The Continental Op wrote: »

Why not just cut the side off the shed thats opposite the wall and put your potting bench in there and run your pergola out from the open sided shed.

When I say cut the side off I mean remove the bulk of the wall while leaving the header and reinforcing it along with a bit of reinforcement in the corners.

Was the plan, but a bit put off with the whole 'it's a highly skilled job' comments!

The Continental Op

wannabecraig wrote: »

Was the plan, but a bit put off with the whole 'it's a highly skilled job' comments!

Cutting a hole in a wall isn't that skilled. But there is a good bit of common sense necessary.

The wall will be screwed to the floor so 2-3 screws to cut through and then you need to leave enough timber to stop the roof falling down. So I'd allow for adding a couple of pieces of timber 2x2 or 2x4 at either end and a 2x4 support beam on top of them or screwed into the side of them on the inside.

Cut floor screws and a rood securing screws. Then screw the 2x4's at either end of the area to be cut out (after cutting out the lower bit of the wall at the bottom so the supports sit on the floor) and then use the edge as a line to cut down with a multi-tool. Then place a 2x4 up against the top of the frame you have created so it supports the roof and screw it in place.

Bonzo Delaney

wannabecraig wrote: »

Was the plan, but a bit put off with the whole 'it's a highly skilled job' comments!

Ah I don't think anyone mentions its a highly skilled task . Its one if those difficult pain in the arse jobs that could easily result in a tidy pile of firewood for yourself.
Take your time, plan your stages out, be patient with stubborn nails and screws and enjoy yourself.

Post pics during and after

Calahonda52

A world of hurt here if you don't have the tools and the skills.
especially since its 1200 wide and you want 700 so the door will need to be narrowed as well, as well as arsing around with the felt.

Its not an impossible job, what I would suggest is that you carefully take the shed apart, and sell it on adverts or done deal, making sure no potential buyer gets visibility of your bike etc.

Then design and build a custom made shed for the bike, my thinking is a lean to, as suggested earlier.
I built one recently, there is some information on here.

This way will, IMO, be a much more enjoyable experience all round and you can get exactly what you want

salmocab

Take it apart into the six pieces, reassemble with the right hand wall moved over as far as the door. Use new wood to close the top of it up to the roof. Use the outside bit for potting or whatever. A handsaw would do that along with a screw gun and hammer.