The constant battle against chaos (Oh Max...)

[Ember]

I'm sure I am not the only one with a work bench (and toy room) in a constant state of chaos. I try to be good, really I do. But no matter what I try I am constantly battling for control.

Part of my problem is lack of storage. Part is lack of space. And another part is being constantly called on to do something else before I've managed to satisfactorily complete what I am working on.

I have several different types of paints stored in tubs atop each other. A stack of plastic drawers with scenery supplies neatly stored away. But the brass stock, wood stock, plastic stock, brushes and the tools are an endless problem. I've tried a lot of different things that just don't work for me. I hate having to rummage through a drawer of stuff to find the set of pliers or file I'm needing for the task at hand.

In the last week I think I've taken a step in the right direction. I was getting a little tired of the half-baked attempts that sound good in theory, but just don't quite work.

So.... In the cupboard of my desk I have added two shelves on drawer runners. These slide out easily (well sort of) and allow access to everything on them. On the bottom one which has the smallest clearance I have pieces of PVC pipe cut in half and glued together. These were recycled from another idea that didn't quite work. Now they hold brass stock neatly ordered by size and profile. I can easily reach them from my work area.



The shelf above holds solder, flux bottles, modelling putty and my carousel of dremel bits. It's not perfect yet, but it's better than having it all scattered of my desktop.

[Ember]

Next I spent a bit of money on organizing my paints a bit.

I found a fellow in Adelaide that does laser cut hobby storage (Back 2 Base.ix) . They are available in either MDF or acrylic. I spent a little extra and bought the acrylic version. They look great.



They take up a little bit of desk real estate, but that's ok. Actually, I like them so much I've ordered a few more modules for other types of paint I use constantly.

I'm slowly starting to feel I could be getting somewhere. Next step is to hang the TV and soundsystem on the wall and then I can extend my desk another 30". Every little bit helps.

The drawer under the brush section will hold my honeycomb jig. One of the containers above will hold the brads that I use for pins. :) It's all coming together slowly.

Now, a question. Is there anything I can put in the container with the brads to stop them corroding? They are brights or rather were. I have a bit of a moisture problem in here. Only really noticeable in the depths of winter or if I leave the window open. But sometimes things bloom so quickly. I try to keep my tools treated with WD40, but I perhaps don't do it regularly enough.

[ccobra]

Great idea for the brass. I'll have to look into something like that.

[HomeRacingWorld]

Looks like a surgical ward compared to the Skunkworks. You have it nice and tidy, well done.

I really like your brass organization. No...I envy it. I have tried to do that and it gets so fast and furious down hear sometimes that I am lucky to have it organized by "square" and "round".. :)

[Ember]

The PVC idea was really going to be used for paints, but it didn't work. At the moment it works fine for the short brass stock. Still need something for the longer stuff. Thinking of long sections of pipe slung under the track table.

[TuscoTodd]

WOW! That is great from an organizational standpoint! (I need to look applying some of those ideas - like the PVC brass holders to my work area!)
For the brads - If you can find someone that is offering VCI impregnated plastic / paper and line a small container with it - it will keep things nice and corrosion free. An example of the product I am talking about is here: http://www.vappro.com/products/vappro-v ... -products/
I have used the VCI impregnated plastic stretch film to keep things stored in my bank barn clean and rust free for years at a time - so I can attest to the fact that it does work well if you make a closed container with the material inside. :)
I am not sure if they have that product over there - but if not, I did see that there are sellers on eBay that list it that "ship world wide" - but would think that a local source would be less expensive.
Happy hunting and thanks for the organization tips! :D

[Ember]

Thanks guys. Todd, thanks for the info. I'm now on the hunt for local sources.

I just want to make it clear that the problem is only because the swelling caused by corrosion means that the brads won't fit in the holes on the plate. :)

[dr fabio]

You can not fight entropy Embs. Its futile, just give in and move on. :lol:

[Florida_Slotter]

Wow, you're all neat and organized.

After I spend a day cleaning up, mine is a mess after working for about an hour. Something about S.C.A.D.D. that has you working on multiple projects at one time.

[Ember]

Ummm.... The photos don't show the rest of the desk. :)

John the figure paints are all in tubes in one of the tubs in the bottom shelf of that cupboard. There's another tub with Tamiya paints in it. But the Tamiya pots and the cheap waterbased acrylic bottles will fit in the other racks I have on order.

[Ember]

I have scored one of them too. I don't find it very practical at the moment, probably because it is full of the wrong things. It kind of came full of tools that I'll never use. I should go through and dispose of some, but they were my dad's so it makes it a little difficult. And somethings, like hand drills, are just plain awkward to store.

[dreinecke]

Ok, I thought my OCD was bad - I guess not LOL! Seriously, that is a great idea. I've got all my plastic stock in the bags jammed into a large mug. I've been trying to figure out what to do to separate and organize them better...I think you just nailed it!

[Ember]

You're going to make me show a photo of the disaster area that the desk is normally, aren't you?

I had them all jammed into a holder that I had made out of cardboard tubes, but it was chock full of tools and brushes, etc. And every time I reached for something my sleeve got caught or I knocked something over. Definitely not an OCD candidate. I almost wish I were, things would be much easier to find.

[Ember]

Speaking of "easier to find." I installed a cheap battery powered LED light beneath the desk. I figure it will help me find bits that get dropped. I was using a torch (flashlight) but this strip light seems a better solution.

[Reslotted]

Far too organised for my liking Lynne, something that neat and tidy can only be a sign of a disturbed mindset.

Seriously tho' that is way better than the cardboard boxes stacked on each other that I have. They're not even nice evenly matched boxes, they are all the postie battered ones that my cars and parts come in.

(BTW do we need to call you 99 now ?)