Building a hobby room

To the forums .

My own experience in setting up for scale modeling is the same (or at least remarkably similar) to that of setting up my machine shop.

Rule 1: Shops abhor a vacuum. No matter how much space you have in your sand box, it will be rapidly filled. To bursting.

Rule 2: No matter how sensible and convenient your (first) final set-up appears, it will be criminally inadequate within a week.

Rule 3: All that lighting will be in the wrong place just as soon as you throw the circuit breaker.

This is my ongoing experience with 1,320 sq. ft. of the house devoted solely to my whims and hobbies.

But seriously, folks, don't bolt, glue or weld anything down until you have had a chance to operate it for a while. Drawing your benches, shelves, etc., to scale within the available space will really save wasted time and effort.

Trust me.

Also what WallyM3 said.

Sketch out a layout then measure

Google this site & others for pics of their setups for inspiration & things you won't have thought of.

My current setup is always temp, as in rented accomodation,  & is a whole 15" by 20" room, minus 3 display cabs, my library & 80% of stash.

I have x1 4" table for building, 1x 3" table for a/b (currently occupied with a tv) & a large dining room table 'shared' with my 3 girls, currently covered by LEGO, an ARC c/w animals & lots of 'artwork'

DON'T use folding/temp tables for building, as they will er... fold!

Principal considerations:

Desk, Lighting, ventilation, flooring & safety.

Is your desk: big enough, solid/firmly fixed,

Is your lighting: natural, adequate, got spotlights or daylight sim bulbs, avoiding flouresent striplights where poss.

Is you work area ventilated, by window or extraction, do you need a spray cabinet with filters/extraction? Are you working with noxious/toxic paints/thinners/glues.

Flooring: laminate or vinyl is better than carpets for avoiding dust & static (& the CM who shall not be named).

Safety:

Get a good office chair if possible, money spent here isn't wasted, ditto lighting & ventilation.

Because my workspace is shared with little ones I have a lockable drawer pedestal for scalpels, sharps, files, paints, thinners glues, etc, & get into the habit of locking them away.

Ditto consider pets, if you got them, make sure they can't get to your stuff or any models with drying paint. See glass fronted lockable display cabs.

Heavier equipment: If you got lathes, presses, drill stands, etc, these need to be firmly fixed, etc, & far from your painting stand.

Finally Electricals, think about what you need in terms of lighting & outlets, put them where they will not trail over tables, work areas, walkways, or anywhere where they will be cought, twisted tangled crushed or cut...

Does my H&S hat show through here...

First, determine if you need to secure your tools,paints and kits from little curious eyes and hands. A lock on the door or a suitable arrangement to protect your stuff and little ones.

How do you plan on working...standing or sitting? Standing at a bench that is designed for sitting isn't very comfortable, but you can still sit at a bench that is at a height for standing...such as mine. I stand most of the time and when I do need to sit I have a draftsmans chair.

Taller benches also allow you to put more under them such as toolbox roll cabs for tools and such.

If you are going to sit, then look at getting a desk or create a work surface using a solid core door or section of counter top sitting on top of a couple of file cabinets (2 drawer).

Plan for plenty of surface space for building as well as shelves to hold kits, books and other items. Things I need but don't want to continually dust I keep in cabinets or drawers.

The key is to have everything within ease access...and plenty of light!

Those hard-sided paper-file boxes are usefull for dust-free storage

http://www.chinatraderonline.com/Stationery-Sets/File-Holder/Cardboard-file-box-2-5-inch%28PVC-surface%29-131458684.htm

(other Vendors are available this was the first I googled )