How is your "workbench" setup?

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36 replies

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

How is your "workbench" setup?

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 6, 2002 7:57 PM

Kind of curious how people have their work areas setup at home. I'm sure it ranges from the elaborate, permanent workshops to the paints in a shoebox. Blush [:I]

Myself, I don't have the luxury of having a permanent area of the house to work in. Small house and a bunch of kids makes it not practical at the moment. Most of my stuff is in boxes which I have to bring out to the kitchen when I want to do stuff. Am I alone in this or are there others who can relate? Shy [8)]

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, December 7, 2002 10:05 AM

There is a desk in the bedroom where I could build but end up in the living room with the TV. If the SPEED channel has NASCAR on, I play a tape of some of their other programming....
You hear that, SPONSORS?

Defintiely need a place to paint. Right now, I spray in the garage and rush everything inside to my "drying drawer".

Some of the work areas I've seen at armorama are unbeleiveable. Makes me jealous.[:0]

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, December 7, 2002 10:50 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Razor Shines

Some of the work areas I've seen at armorama are unbeleiveable. Makes me jealous.[:0]

I'll have to go back and take a look now. Smile [:)]

I knew someone who lived in a small apartment and was thinking about converting his bedroom closet into his work area. It was one of those closets that would take up a good length of the wall, with folding doors and all. The idea was it could be somewhat permanent, but yet could be closed up when he wasn't using it.

It sounded like a great idea. Unfortuneately I haven't seen him for years and I don't know what ever came of the idea.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, December 7, 2002 12:08 PM

I suppose I'm pretty lucky. My modeling set up is in one of the bedrooms. I've got building and finishing areas with shelves for kits reference books and mags as well as in progress and completed models. My computer is in there as well along with some keep fit equipment. I have turned the downstairs toilet into my spray booth. Just need to get one of my daughters to leave home then I will be able to purpose build a new modeling and computer room, it will include a spray booth, to save me the trip down stairs. Wink [;)]

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, December 8, 2002 12:28 PM

Workbench??? I wish. My hobby lives out of Rubbermaid containers. I have a 2 by 4 sheet of cardboard I put down on the kitchen table, where I do trimming and glueing. I paint in my shed or outdoors if the air is right and the wind is still. I've had ruined paint jobs on a Corsair and a 67 Fastback. Got overzealous and took them out to the shed to paint. Too cold to paint the plane and too humid to paint the Mustang. I do alot of painting by hand now, which I despise. I do it anyway, just so I can get to my favorite part. Building!

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, December 8, 2002 11:48 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Holdfast

... Just need to get one of my daughters to leave home then I will be able to purpose build a new modeling and computer room, it will include a spray booth, to save me the trip down stairs.

That could be an option for me in about, oh...12 years. Wink [;)]

Until then it looks like I'll be using boxes until I move into a bigger house.

Poking around on the site I did come across this article which is relavent to the topic.
Build a hideaway workbench

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 9, 2002 4:01 AM

Being in the Army I move around so nothing is ever permanent. I have an extra bed room in my house that is all mine! I have a good size desk to work on and shelves for my models and books. For air brushing I have a little folding table. I just close the door, open the window and put on a mask. Its nothing special but I like it. Now when I retire.........
Happy Modeling,
Pat

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 13, 2002 10:52 AM

Great topic. I liked it when finescale ran the pictures of peoples' workshops in scale talk a few issues back. I've started turning the spare bedroom of my new townhouse into the modeling room. At last! After 15 years of trying to work in a cramped corner of a basement, with most of my kits, parts and supplies stashed wherever I could find room for them all over the house. I've got a good-sized walk-in(ish) closet to store all my unbuilt kits (more than 10, fewer than 100--I think Wink [;)]

), plenty of light, and no musty basement-y smell for a change.

The down-side is that the utility sink for cleaning brushes, etc., is down on the first floor, and I still don't have a decent place to use the airbrush I need to get Sad [:(]

The basement has no ventilation to the outside and up here in the Great North the garage is too cold from now until, oh, May or so. One of those hobby spray booths would be great but I'm kinda strapped for $$$ right now.

One thing I'm thinking about: aside fromt he bed and a nightstand, I don't have much furniture in the master bedroom. It's a nice big room, maybe I should use IT for the workshop and sleep in the small bedroom?.......

quote:
Originally posted by Bayonet Recon

I knew someone who lived in a small apartment and was thinking about converting his bedroom closet into his work area. It was one of those closets that would take up a good length of the wall, with folding doors and all. The idea was it could be somewhat permanent, but yet could be closed up when he wasn't using it.

I did something similar once. I turned one side of a full-wall closet into the "electronix bay" for my entire "working" audio-TV set up. Even the TV was in there. Close the doors, and all the clutter was concealed. I reckon I spent a cumulative total of several years of my life in that closet...... Shy [8)]

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ipms40049

Member since
December 2002
From: BOONEVILLE, MISSISSIPPI

Posted by ipms40049 on Saturday, December 14, 2002 1:19 PM

Hey!!! Check out my work bench set-up I think youll find pretty cool, its on my homepage: http://wings92.tripod.com
You might enjoy seeing what I have there. Past it on too.

Patrick

Pat Hensley Booneville, Ms "Thank you for being here and playing nice"...please do not drag sand outside the box ! CURRENT BUILD(s) Revell 1/72 U Boat VII C Tamiya Willys Jeep - for 2010 Nats Bronco's Staghound -for 2010 Nats Dragons M16 Multi gun carriage - for the 2020 Nats. LOL

ILuv3ggs

Member since
December 2002
From: Brisbane, Australia

Posted by ILuv3ggs on Tuesday, December 17, 2002 4:25 AM

I am a young modeler, so I don't really have a 'workbench' setup. We recently bought a new dishwasher, so i took the box from that. I took of one of the sides off the box, and used that to build my models on. The rest of it is folded into an L shape, and leant against a wall, with the flaps folded up to protect the floor from overspray.

This is handy, because the cardboard is thick, and soaks up all the paint spills i usually make Shy [8)]

and can be folded away and put under my bed. Everything is stored in either little boxes or on a wheeled 4 shelf little trolly thing-a-ma-bob.

Its nothing too flash, but it gets the job done Smile [:)]

Bish

Member since
December 2002
From: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England

Posted by Bish on Tuesday, December 17, 2002 7:31 PM

Like holdfast, i'm lucky. The dinning room is all mine. I have my desk that i build on with drill, spray gun and all other essetials at hand. I have one cupboard with my troops and accesories in. Shelves for the un-uilt kits, and a bookshelve for my reference books and videos. Also have my own T.V, video, DVD and sterio.

Like paackerson i'm in the army so its had to set up anything permanent. For spraying, i turn on a fan, open the window and put on a mask. Once done, i just leave the room for a while till it clears. Everyone stays out when he compressors running.

I am a Norfolk man and i glory in being so

On the bench: Airfix 1/72nd Harrier GR.3/Fujimi 1/72nd Ju 87D-3

naplak

Member since
December 2002
From: USA

Posted by naplak on Sunday, December 22, 2002 12:16 PM

I have a page on my web site of some people's work areas...

Check these out at http://www.naplak.com/modeling/Modelers/workspaces.htm

And my space it here... http://www.naplak.com/modeling/Modelers/neil's_page.htm

So there is a wide variety...

Send my photos of your workspace... contact me here e-mail naplak Modeling or thru my site...naplak.com/modeling

www.naplak.com/modeling ... a free site for modelers www.scalehobby.com/forum/index.php ... a nice Modeling Forum

screamingeagle

Member since
December 2002

Posted by screamingeagle on Thursday, December 26, 2002 11:31 AM

Right now this is the only photo I have. I will post another
when I get a better camera. - I love my room, it's my own little
world of peace & quiet where I can sit back & relax and concentrate only on my models........WHAT A GREAT HOBBY !
http://groups.msn.com/armorama/insidetheeaglesnest.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=2519- ralph

"Courage is not the absence of fear... it's the willingness to walk through it."

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 27, 2002 12:50 AM

Thanks everyone for your replies. This is some good stuff. Good inspiration or at least something to aspire to Wink [;)]

. In fact, I've decided that I'm going to "attempt" to reclaim part of the basement for modeling. Wish me luck!! Smile [:)]

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 2, 2003 4:20 AM

Im with Bayonet Recon on this one. Ive just got back into modelling after a break and have resurrected all my bits and pieces.I have a small pine drawer set with paints knives etc in. I used a space under the stairs but kept banging my head when I stood up!
So Ive bought a simple bench which is going up in the bedroom today! My partner doesnt mind as it will keep our twins away from prying eyes and fingers! Airbrushing will bein the garage though!

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 2, 2003 9:04 PM

I just have a corner in my small apartment. I bought a table at IKEA that has two drop-leafs on it that I can put down when not in use. I also have a storage unit that holds plastic drawers that I keep all my paints and supplies in. If you are really looking for unique and sensible ways to have a workbench and storage in a small area look into IKEA, (if you have one around) they are the best. Got hooked on them I was stationed in Germany. If you are really crammed for space and need a small work area that is easy to put away, try a wood tray table. I saw one at Wal-mart. It's not big,so only for working on smaller items.

Hope someone can use my suggestions.
Regards,
Mark

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 27, 2003 1:57 PM

Ahhhhhh, the single life! There is a very nice room in my house which is totally devoted modeling, in most houses it is called the dining room; but if I ate in there, what would I do in the living room, aside from watch t.v. I have run Sch 40 PVC into the house from my air compressor in the garage, with a pressure regulator and water seperator coming out of the wall at the back of the bench. Tract lighting above the bench which I can reach and re-aim at whatever I model I am working on. Then all of my tools and paints on the table top, most within arms reach. My bench is 8' x 3'.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 27, 2003 2:12 PM

Man I wish I had a work space like some of those pictures posted. Maybe some day. I have a fishing tackel box full of my stuff. When i model I try to find an open, well lit, well ventelated spot in my house. I live with the other 4 people in my family so that makes it hard. It seems that the best place for me to build is in our dining room. It is the most "fancy" room in the house, so I gota be carefull what I do in there. When I spray, I run on the porch, spray, and get back in in a hurry. I hand paint everything that isnt huge.

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Jim Barton

Member since
February 2003

Posted by Jim Barton on Thursday, February 27, 2003 4:58 PM

With two people living in a one-bedroom apartment plus every other horizontal surface in the house full of old glass telephone pole insulators, I simply throw a soil-amendment advertising poster face down on my "coffee table" (a piece of plywood sitting on upside-down large flower pots) and call it my "workbench." The tools are kept in a nice tackle box that simply sits on one end of the plywood when I'm not using it (it's handy but the cat can't get at the tools) but to get to the end table drawer where the paint is, I have to stumble around the stereo while trying not to step on any records (yes, I still play vinyl LP's) I might have waiting to be put on the turntable, then pull out the box of paint (trying not to spill them all over the floor), stumble back and place the paint box on the workbench, and by then, the cat takes over my chair, so I have to move her out of the way. It certainly adds to the fun of modeling! Jim

"Whaddya mean 'Who's flying the plane?!' Nobody's flying the plane!"

murph

Member since
January 2003
From: West of the rock and east of the hard place!

Posted by murph on Friday, February 28, 2003 11:32 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by Jim Barton

With two people living in a one-bedroom apartment plus every other horizontal surface in the house full of old glass telephone pole insulators, I simply throw a soil-amendment advertising poster face down on my "coffee table" (a piece of plywood sitting on upside-down large flower pots) and call it my "workbench." The tools are kept in a nice tackle box that simply sits on one end of the plywood when I'm not using it (it's handy but the cat can't get at the tools) but to get to the end table drawer where the paint is, I have to stumble around the stereo while trying not to step on any records (yes, I still play vinyl LP's) I might have waiting to be put on the turntable, then pull out the box of paint (trying not to spill them all over the floor), stumble back and place the paint box on the workbench, and by then, the cat takes over my chair, so I have to move her out of the way. It certainly adds to the fun of modeling! Jim

Jim...watching this production must be worth the price of admission alone! Wink [;)]

I can relate to that when I was still living at home, however, it was a 80 lb Irish Setter that managed to make a shambles of everything.

Now I'm quite fortunate...one of our four bedrooms is my model / guitar / junk / storage rooms. I have an old computer desk with an upper and lower cabinet for storage, a top shelf for completed smaller models (an Ottawa Police Service '96 Crown Vic, a '65 Corvette, an F-86 Sabre, a McDonnell-Douglas Banshee and a couple of dinky toys), a middle shelf for "stuff" the main work area that has a 12" high slot below the upper storage cabinet where I keep paints, brushes, files, yada, yada, yada...On the left of this desk I have a small round table that I place the model box and contents on while working. I must say the missus has certainly allowed me alot of latitude with this area. Boy, am I lucky.

Retired and living the dream!

Aleksander

Member since
January 2003
From: Poland

Posted by Aleksander on Saturday, March 1, 2003 3:38 AM

Hmmm - I think, in Eastern Europe (where I live) we are mostly in use to live in flats, not houses - so it mean's that if you are a "normal family" member, you don't have a special place to situate your "workbench". As about my experience - I have a flat wooden box about 100/40/10 cm with opening "flap" over it - when I start my job, I place it on two chairs and open the flap - the stand for an airbrush is screwed to the left side of it, and I have my instruments in fisherman box just under the chair. I'm glad because I don't have to go to the kitchen (it's very small) or even to the bathroom, and I can watch TV during my job. Nevertheless, I don't feel comfortable, and for the close (I hope) future I plan to make my "worbench" in the cupboard - after opening doors you will have a bench with light, ventilation and the whole stuff in the reach of your hand ! I'm looking forward to this day ! Happy modeling ! Aleksander

berny13

Member since
February 2003
From: Panama City, Florida, Hurricane Alley

Posted by berny13 on Saturday, March 1, 2003 9:04 AM

I have a three bedroom house. One spare bedroom, master play room and the third I converted into a model room. In it I have my gun safe, stereo set up, TV and three book shelves with all my reference books. I got an old metal desk from AF salvage that I use for building. In the corner is my paint booth vented to the outside plus an exhaust fan mounted into the wall to provide more air flow to the outside. On the door is a sign that says "Restricted area". No one enters the room, without the risk of suffering the scorn of an old man.

Berny

Phormer Phantom Phixer

On the bench

TF-102A Delta Dagger, 32nd FIS, 54-1370, 1/48 scale. Monogram Pro Modeler with C&H conversion.

Revell F-4E Phantom II 33rd TFW, 58th TFS, 69-260, 1/32 scale.

Tamiya F-4D Phantom II, 13th TFS, 66-8711, 1/32 scale. F-4 Phantom Group Build.

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 18, 2003 3:48 PM

Go to www. naplak.com/modeling. Click on the site that allows you to take a look at some of the modelers work bench (including mine). You will see everything from the top to the bottom of work areas.

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Woody

Member since
December 2002
From: Third rock from the sun.

Posted by Woody on Monday, April 14, 2003 7:43 PM

I haven't gotten around to setting up a work area. I have a plastic tool box for my tools, a tray for paints and supplies, a flexi-shaft Dremel, a Badger compressor, and a small wooden box with my airbrushes. I just bring out the container that has the item I need and work on the dinning room table. I have a basement and several more unused bedrooms, not to mention an addition on the back of the house that used to be a baseball card shop! I don't have any excuse for not setting up a hobby area, but for lack of time. I do have drawings for my dream work bench and a complete woodshop(another of my time consuming hobbies), so maybe in a few months I will have a hobby area.

" I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way." --John Paul Jones

coldwar68

Member since
February 2003
From: Zanesville, OH USA

Posted by coldwar68 on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 9:40 AM

I have a small area that I have built in my basement that is to be my modelbuilding room and gun room. My wife is ready to get my gun safe moved out of our bedroom. She finds it very nice that I do not have all of my modeling equipment setting around on the kitchen table. Although, when we have company over she shuts the door to our computer room and the basement...she thinks it looks like we had the new "MOAB" bomb dropped in those rooms, I was thinking more along the line of a grenade Big Smile [:D]

!

Jerry

I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it. -Jack Handy

Keyworth

Member since
January 2003
From: NE Georgia

Posted by Keyworth on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 10:39 PM

I'm lucky enough to have a basement with a dedicated work area in it. I have an old cafeteria-style table with my homemade spray booth attached to the back and vented out of a window. I have a couple of shelving units that have my unbuilt kits and hobby supplies. My airbrush compressor is under the table, and my Dremel tool is on one side. Not a bad setup. I started out with two cardboard boxes and a card table. - Ed :)

"There's no problem that can't be solved with a suitable application of high explosives"

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 17, 2003 12:32 PM

Started out on the floor in front of the TV. Graduated from the floor to the Kitchen table. Moved from that house to a house with my own shop. Moved again and had another shop in the basement. The one in the basement gets chilly in the winter so I made a portable work bench. Can be put on any table, (usually Kitchen). If I had to move I can just pick up the whole bench (lays flat).

Mic

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renarts

Member since
April 2003
From: Sunny Florida

Posted by renarts on Thursday, April 17, 2003 7:06 PM

Mine is in the room I use as an office and studio. Rubbermaid or some company makes these great plastic rollaround cabinets with nice drawers that I keep my tools and paints in. The work surface is a table I built with casters so I can move it around as well. Everything else has compartments, i.e. each working project is in a rubbermaid tub or drawer. I am building a rack for my paints that will be moved to the side of the roll around cabinet where they'll be displayed and easily accessed. My airbrush station has an exhaust fan and is near my drawing board. The piece goes on a lazy susan on a stand at about chest level where I can rotate it and it is at a comfortable height that works well.

I have in the past built "craft centers" or small offices in pantry cabinets, bedroom closets etc. that would work well for hobby applications. Check out some of the wood working mags or books for ideas. This allows you to "close up " the whole thing and keep it hidden when not working.

Mike

Mike "Imagination is the dye that colors our lives" Marcus Aurellius A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!"

Jim Barton

Member since
February 2003

Posted by Jim Barton on Wednesday, July 2, 2003 2:05 PM

Thought I'd kick this thread back to the top. With some of the creative ideas listed here, I'm sure some of our newest members might also have some input.

"Whaddya mean 'Who's flying the plane?!' Nobody's flying the plane!"

dubix88

Member since
March 2003
From: Maine,USA

Posted by dubix88 on Wednesday, July 2, 2003 4:31 PM

HEY,
Dont feel bad anybody. I have one of those rollable tool boxes. I still have a few shoeboxes and rubbermaid containers. Before that i had a fishing box. Great workbenches huh?

Randy

THATS MY VOTE "If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there is a man on base." -Dave Barry In the words of the great Larry the Cable Guy, "GIT-R-DONE!!!"

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How is your "workbench" setup?