Post #662315 by rumackay on Mon, Dec 24, 2012 4:12 AM

Hi guys, long time lurker but I've finally got to the stage where I can post some progress shots. I absolutely love all the amazing bars you guys have shared and I've "borrowed" more than a few ideas so please take it as the sincerest form of flattery if you see something that looks familiar.

What should take anyone half handy a few months has taken me (so far) over six months and there's still plenty more to go. Most of the big stuff is done and now I'm onto the "top layers" and it's starting to take shape. I'm hoping to have most of it done for my 40th at the end of Feb 2013 so I've been in overdrive the last few weeks.

"The Mahi Mahi Room" - I've always loved the beach and tropical stuff so when I decided to build a play room for me it was the tiki themed bars that caught my attention. Whilst not being full-on tiki (there will be a tv for the footy) it will eventually blend tiki with man cave. I also plan on getting a replica Mahi Mahi and mounting it somewhere in the shed as a mascot, I always loved their colours, great eating and Mahi Mahi means "very strong" (or something close) in Hawaiian so a fitting choice for a blokes room

When I built my house I decided that it would be cheaper and allow me more space to build a slightly bigger shed rather than adding a dedicated rumpus or similar in the house. Also my mates have been known to get a little loose on the turps and things sometimes get messy - so keeping them outside is the goal.

The shed is 9m x 15m (whatever that works out to in feet) with the back 9m x 9m dedicated to the Mahi Mahi Room which leaves 6m x 9m for parking.

The pics:

Up she goes

The finished shed

Inside - the blank canvas

A few months later, the power is hooked up and I finally got around to starting the process of insulating and lining the walls with 12mm plywood. I actually still haven't finished this but I'll do the remaining bits as they need to be done.

I'm using timber look vinyl planks seeing as I know someone who can get them cheap for me :wink: They don't get glued down they stick together and "float" on the floor. Here they are http://www.armstrong-aust.com.au/resflrpac/en-au/Luxe-Plank-good.html

Two thirds done

Starting the frame for the bar

One of the bar top layers. There are three in total (12mm plywood) plus a "foundation" layer of 45mm x 240mm pine to secure it all. It's solid as - we had 5 blokes jump up and down on it at the same time to test it - it didn't look like budging

The front sheeted up. This will eventually be covered in woven bamboo ply and other stuff so it didn't need to be perfect. Luckily, that's my speciality :)

Starting the frame for the bar back

Starting to take shape

Yes, there's a hole, but that's been done for a reason. I won't spoil the surprise, that's a little way down the track yet

A few more months on and things have slowly moved along. A lot of time has been taken up with fiddly stuff that you can't really tell has been done, but it all adds up. Some carved posts and trims to give it a tiki feel. The canopy is also taking shape

Yes, I work messy :)

Staining started. Not the most enjoyable job, but it has to be done

And that's where I'm at. Plenty to go yet but it's starting to feel like a bar. I'm only a "C" woodworker so there's a lot of stuff that other guys could have knocked out much quicker and with better results, but it's mine, and with the exception of one or two little things I've managed to do it all myself (although I didn't put up the shed) and I'm happy with it overall.

There's also a lot of stuff that's ready to go but I won't post up picks until I get a little further along. Money is still a little tight and there's plenty of stuff I'd love to be able to go out and buy but little by little it will all take shape

Cheers for looking

[ Edited by: rumackay 2015-12-17 19:05 ]