Work benches- never finished

Multi-dimensional workbenches are the ultimate. Mine is an early model prototype, the kind where things disappear into another dimension, but can't be retrieved. Unfortunately I have no control over what things go, and what stays!

Well, my wife forced me to go to IKEA and she actually picked  out a multi-level computer desk, nice comfy chair, two glass display cabinets and a matching metal drawer set and moved me from the small closet I was in to the spare guest room in the house. That's my mother in law's  and the wife's early father's day gift to me. 

My model bench actually began it's life as an IKEA baby changing table.  It had nice little "cubbies" meant for storing diapers and wipes.  I currently store frequently used items here, especially those that would otherwise clutter my desktop(I have enough problem with that).  As many IKEA items are available ala carte, I used a larger top than normal.  The top and cubbies rest upon base cabinets to form an inverted "U".  One base is equipped with drawers, the other a door.  Framed peg boards courtesy of my father-in-law hold many frequently used tools and supplies.  Above them are some sturdy molded plastic shelves with built in flourescent lights.  Small organizer cabinets such as those which are designed to hold screws and hardware rest atop of the shelves.  My father-in-law also donated a large framed pegboard on which I hang all of my Evergreen and Plastruct strips, and shapes.  They are organized by size and shape(No OCD here-LOL)...  My biggest challenge is keeping the desktop clear.  I seem to work on more than one project at a time, either waiting for a series of parts to dry, finishing up a project etc.  I seem to run out of space to set things down...  Don't know if that will ever change.  I like to think of it as part of the creative process...  For 14 years, this system has worked well for me.  Just recently did some clean-up and reorganization.  Added new storage shelving, as well as some of those plastic shelves/bins that Don had mentioned in the beginning of this thread.  It is neat to see what others are using for their build areas.  As I have learned though, it doesn't have to be fancy - just build something...

I don't think there's ever a time when you can say, "Well, that workbench is finished and I'll never need to do anything with it again!"

I'm always tweaking mine.

Maybe if I stopped spending so much time rebuilding my workbench I would have a lot more finished models to my credit. Latest rebuild was about 2 years ago.

Jim

That is just about the lifetime of my benches between tweaks.  My model bench is the one I spend the most time at, so that is the one I tweak most frequently. I have a couple of others (electronics and power tool benches).

Like the other thread in the paint forum, I'd like a nice paint rack, but it would have to be so big it would take too much space from the tools and supplies racks. I have the tools on the back, supplies on a board on the left side. I have recently made a rack on a panel on the right side just for my airbrush jars, and there is a wire hanger for the airbrush on that panel. I could get a few jars of paint on it, I guess.  Maybe I should have a paint rack there just for the colors I need on my current project.

There is a spray can rack along the top of the back.  Since I use rattle cans at my spray booth there is no real reason I should keep rattle cans there. I guess that is fertile ground for replanning

A picture is worth a thousand words, this is it!

I have greatly enjoyed reading about ya'lls work but would enjoy the pictures to garner ideas!!!

I enjoy pictures of other modelers work stations almost as much as those of their models.

As long as I've been modeling, I've been tweaking my work area cause it just seems natural.  In two or three months I get to do the ultimate tweak  - going to have to create a new work area - I'm finally retiring (wife has been retired for 3 years) and we are preparing to move into the house that I grew up in.

That house is somewhat larger (2 story w/full basement vs single story w/3/4 basement - foot print size is about the same) and we've come to an agreement - She gets 1/2 the second story for her crafts (other half will be a guest bedroom/play area for when the grand kids visit) and I get 3/4 of the basement (she gets the NE corner where the freezer and the washer/dryer are located - hey, it was her idea, what can I say?)

So now, when we go over to clean up the place (amazing how much stuff a person (my mother to be exact) can pick up/collect in 89 years), I try to get a couple of hrs with a pad of paper, a pencil and a tape measure sketching out what I want and where it's going be.  Will try to get some pics taken as I progress.

No matter how much space you have, you'll manage to fill it...

As long as I've been modeling, I've been tweaking my work area cause it just seems natural.  In two or three months I get to do the ultimate tweak  - going to have to create a new work area - I'm finally retiring (wife has been retired for 3 years) and we are preparing to move into the house that I grew up in.

That house is somewhat larger (2 story w/full basement vs single story w/3/4 basement - foot print size is about the same) and we've come to an agreement - She gets 1/2 the second story for her crafts (other half will be a guest bedroom/play area for when the grand kids visit) and I get 3/4 of the basement (she gets the NE corner where the freezer and the washer/dryer are located - hey, it was her idea, what can I say?)

So now, when we go over to clean up the place (amazing how much stuff a person (my mother to be exact) can pick up/collect in 89 years), I try to get a couple of hrs with a pad of paper, a pencil and a tape measure sketching out what I want and where it's going be.  Will try to get some pics taken as I progress.

I am always tweaking something or other in my workspace latest addition was to build a set of 4 outlets into the top of my work bench for easy access to plug some of my tools into, I used the self closing outlets to help keep the modeling garbage out of the holes.

Better never finished then never usedR.J./

And I thought I was obsessed...

I just moved into a house with a basement (before that, apartment with no space for work area, before THAT, lived with parents and no extra space for work area), so I picked up a used metal office desk for $40 (one of those ones that are found in cubicles, not the pressed wood junk), a magnifying lens desk lamp, a small under-desk file cabinet (for drawers), a mail box organizer (basically, a box with slots for shelves to sort mail and paperwork in) for use as paint/glue storage, a pencil-pen desk holder (for brushes, emory boards, hooks/etchers, and other tools), and an office desk organizer (for literally everything else like other types of glue, sandpaper, putty, etc). I've already built 2 magnetic jigs (one at desktop level and one raised) and a temporary model stand (will be building a better one with a metal box, modellers clay, thick gauge wire, and rubber tubing for grip), and NOW looking into a painter's ventillation box with accurate lighting, HEPA air filtering, and a non-conducting power source for airflow. I may also get a low/med. watt reptile bulb and metal tanktop and construct a bakers box for curing glues and paints quicker. Add another lazy susan in that and I can rotate it for even "cooking". Huh, a cooking timer..... it never ends.

And I just looked at my desk and realized I have NO blotter on it with a strong, see-thru plastic sheet to hold my instructions and clean up spills, nor do I have a rubber skid-resistant work area on the desk (aside from my jigs) that is easy to clean up. I may also take the non-raised jig and nail it to a lazy susan for rotatability, and cut my Testors plastic drop sheet into 12"x12" squares so I can protect the magnetic sheets on the jigs from paints/glue AND still retain magnetic strength.

And, do you guys know what I've accomplished with all this?

I repaired to minimally damaged older models and two ceramic trinkets my wife had broke. Figures.

I am currently in the process of drawing up the plans to add on to my bench with another future plan when i eventually buy a house and get to move my modelling table to the basement. 

I'm working on a foreign land. And I'm staying in a 13' x 13' rented room with my girlfriend. And I used a 4' x 7' for modelling. In that size, it seems endless when I'm arranging my workbench.

http://www.junaustriamodel.blogspot.com/

 At the moment, I'm trying to figure out how to fit in my 5" Sanding disk. My desk is a computer table with a side drawer from Ikea and a shelf under the table from Ikea also. The spray booth is custom made from my design.

I'm in the process of moving right now and will so glad to be settled in. I can see myself now, sitting in the office chair in the middle of the modeling room looking at the bench, wondering just exactly how I'm going to set it up. For the first time in my life I'll have a dedicated room for my hobby, not just a corner of a room that serves some other purpose also.

HAHA your a lucky man hkshooter.  I am dreaming up the day when i get to move to.  So far my place has been on the market since June and havnt even had a phone call on it...  So lets hope and pray!!!!!

Mine actually occupies three walls now... Need to get a panoramic lense now..

Hans von Hammer

Mine actually occupies three walls now... Need to get a panoramic lense now..

HAHA That would be awsome to see some pics of it.  I just finished my blue prints for my addition on my hobby table, maybe once its done i will post some pics.

Hans von Hammer

Mine actually occupies three walls now... Need to get a panoramic lense now..

HAHA That would be awsome to see some pics of it.  I just finished my blue prints for my addition on my hobby table, maybe once its done i will post some pics.