In need of some advice

Since I'm currently building on the kitchen table, I don't have any advice--but welcome to the Forums!

Hi Chris ;

 This is Tanker - Builder . For many years my Missus and I traveled .To satisfy my needs for a work area we did this . I bought a top tool box ( four drawers and a top compartment )  , then I went to Camping World . They used to have a folding table that had a metal rack on the end for your grill . The Toolbox goes there .That way you have the whole tabletop for a work area .

 Take a trip to your local Flea market and see if you can find an old stereo stack with a tempered glass door . Remove this door and it's hardware and lay it on the table - top . take a piece of white paper Cloth or cardboard or even a sink cutout or short counter - top leftover section in white .

   Put this on the table and then place the glass on top . If you want you can get those little clear non - skid dots and put them on the underside of the glass .  Put them in a pattern that supports where you will work . That way the glass won't break .

 For a cutting Surface  , Go to any kitchen supply place and get a stainless cookie sheet .The ones without any edge , get a small one . Do NOT cut on the glass surface .Or get a large " Self - Healing " cutting mat at the sewing department in Wal Mart or Hobby Lobby .

 There , with a portable Ott Light you have a work area that can be folded out of the way if you have guests . Put it in the garage . Now when you want to use it . Find an out of the way corner near an outlet for the light . Set up the table and put the tool - box in place .

 There you have it . A portable work area that folds away . As for painting with an airbrush , Well  , I guess like me you will have to paint late in the day when the temp is more humane 

Look for an old folding card table at a peddler's mall. There are also camper's tables used to hold a coleman stove that are collapsable. I use one of those big sewing mats with the one inch grids to work off of. Then I'll set the mat in the basement and fold up the table.

I second the closet idea or a desk that you can fold closed like an old school writing desk or similar. Do you have a basement?

Hi Chris! Welcome to the Forums! Glad to have you with us.

I understand your problem. Been there and done that.

I do think I may have a solution for you. The magic words are "may have". I saw an article somewhere that showed a model builder who had set up a work area in an unused closet in his house. He put a piece of plywood in at table height and mounted small shelves and pegboard on the three sides above the bench top to hold all his supplies. All he had to do was slide a chair up, open the door and get to work. He did some great building in there too. This is all taking into account that you don't have toooo much stuff to fit in there like the rest of us do. 

This should tide you over until one of the teens goes off to college and you take over his room like I did. I worked in a damp, cold/hot basement until the first son went off to college. It was a 10 x 12 room. We have just finished moving into a new home and I am now the proud owner of a 12 x 18 loft that I am setting up as my hobby room. I'm taking pics of the room as the work proceeds and hope to post them soon as I can.

Hope that the closet idea helps. Good luck.

Jim