How do you organize your hobby equipment?

What it this term "organize" that you use?  My workbench and I are unfamiliar with it.

So, when it's all tidy, it's mostly organized in a white cabinet/shelf/drawer thing in the garage. I leave some stuff on the modeling table usually, too (in an organized, tidy sort of way). And it looks decent. And then I pull out my next project...and I work.....and suddenly, it's all a trainwreck on the table, and around the table, and even the white cabinet/shelf/drawer thing isn't so tidy anymore....and everything's a mess! That's about the state of my modeling space right now, but what can you do?....sigh.  

missileman2000

Organize? Is that even possible!

 

Kind of with you there, Don. I try to organize but inflow keeps maximizing my space.  I have a rolling storage rack like what crafters use (plastic drawers) and each drawer is full. Then I have a separate bench with stuff piled on top.

I just finished a project and true to form-- I always reset my bench. It is nice and clean now and I reorganized my paints and such too. That said-- my rolling storage is just not cutting it. I need something better. Maybe I need to clear one of my metal racks from items collecting dust and start storing things on that.  

Latest configuration of my bench-a hutch back added to provide additional storage:

I use Chinese takeout containers and Sterlite shoebox containers to store supplies and some figure kits, in the hutch back.

And my current paint and tool storage.  This Craftsman toolbox, with a lift-out tray:

This is my original traveling paint and tool box:

To hold brushes that I need immediate access to, this old glass dental tool tray:

and so I can pick up the brushes I'm using at the time more easily, I made this brush stand out of Aves A&B:

and I picked up this canvas brush and tool caddy, for the traveling kit:

Those things all fit my requirement to be able to take tools and supplies on the road, to shows, club meetings, and meet-ups.

On the bench, I have a wooden block with holes drilled in it, and a ceramic toothbrush caddy, to hold the rest of my stash of brushes.

As far as storage goes, I want to get the rest of my grey army into more Sterlite containers, and then I can clean up more space on the bench itself.

Best regards,

Brad

Aha!

    First I found the space. Then I put in the table. After that the Stackable boxes (or trays) With a colored sticker dot for indicators. One in Blue for hard tools, Cutters and such. One Green for Pencils and Waterlining tools. One Red for Pliars and so on.

 Then a Corian Cutout for a countertop stove from forty years ago. Tempered glass on top.(dual Purpose there) When Kitting, I put the instruction page or step under the glass. The Corian is hard enough to hammer on. (When that is Needed). It gets lastly a Lazy Susan(two) for paints being used on the project. plus the glue, then My brush Rack. A small plastic file cabinet Just sized for Glue bottles in which resides various thicknesses and colors of Sprue Glue. Regular Glues are in a small fire resistant box, away from the table, usually in the Garage except when I need a bottle for working. I usually keep four in reserve!

 Yes! the Sprue Glue takes longer to set if put on thick, BUT, it works so much better than Hobby Putty! Lastly, a small piece of LEXAN set vertically on a base. I put the Pliars and Tweezers on it ( Pliars & Cutters, Handle down, Tweezers -Tip down.) With all this I then have the required one square foot of working area that inevitably results when I am in the middle of a project-Six foot long!

        Paint Thinners and Retarders and Compressor, Spray Booth and such in the Garage where they belong. Broken down till needed. Small inconvienience, But, the airbrushes are the gamut from four years ago to over fifty years ago. Plus their small parts and repair parts cabinets! Oh! Forgot to say ,That lasts about a week. Then I clean up in six months and do it again.

Organize? Is that even possible!

Pawel

I PILE it...

OK, I have an old empty peanut can for storing dry brushes (somebody told me they shouldn't point bristles up while wet).

Another can for pencils and other inksticks.

A drawer for storing less frequently used tools and cleaning up from time to time...

I have a lot of potential for organizing still left!

Good luck with your builds and have a nice day

Paweł

 

I purchased the Husky rollaway online. It was listed for $129.00 According to the Home Depot webiste, that amount was for only the BOTTOM unit. The woman at the store sent me out with both the BOTTOM and the TOP tool box. They had the units assembled and stacked in the store already. I seemed to have gotten the $89.00 TOP box at no extra charge. What a deal! I found out in the end I needed that top box anyway. The woman gave me both the keys to the top box and bottom box. She presented me with both a  bottom and top unit. I did present the store a copy of the receipt printout. It goes to show that these big-box stores are mismanaged and it turns out their booboo was in my favor. I had originally thought that the bottom unit only would have been roomy enough for all my model stuff but I found out no way when I got home. I had gotten the smaller Craftsman BOTTOM and TOP units at for only $129 four years ago at Ace Hardware. I now have all my automobile tools in the new HUSKY rollaway which is actually 4" wider than my Crafstman unit. There is just enough room in my Cratsman BOTTOM and TOP for hobby stuff. Had I only gotten a Husky bottom, I would have been considerably short on space. 

I PILE it...

OK, I have an old empty peanut can for storing dry brushes (somebody told me they shouldn't point bristles up while wet).

Another can for pencils and other inksticks.

A drawer for storing less frequently used tools and cleaning up from time to time...

I have a lot of potential for organizing still left!

Good luck with your builds and have a nice day

Paweł