Work Bench/Hobby Room Inspiration

Here's what I got. Finished off my basement just for MEEEEEE!!!

The desk,(built in) I highly recommend a sheet of 1/4inch glass as a main work surface. A few swipes with a razorblade and all clean!!! I framed it in, and put a couple tape tabs at the top, so it can be lifted, good for putting instructions or paint charts under.

Built in display with cabinets underneath, for hiding the stash.

fermis

Here's what I got. Finished off my basement just for MEEEEEE!!!

The desk,(built in) I highly recommend a sheet of 1/4inch glass as a main work surface. A few swipes with a razorblade and all clean!!! I framed it in, and put a couple tape tabs at the top, so it can be lifted, good for putting instructions or paint charts under.

Whoa...awesome room.  Just added the glass surface idea to my list....

Here's my man cave, or the War Room as my girlfriend calls it:

to both fermis and curiousG

Ditto...where did you guys get those great display cases?

My display cases came from Ikea (just like 90% of the furniture in my house - they suit my budget):

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10011055

They also sell the lights that mount in the top. Pretty inexpensive. I did make one modifiction - the shelf spacing as made is too great from top to bottom. Wastes a lot of room for items the size of my models. I went to a local welder with the uprights and had him put more horizontal rods in the uprights (~$20), then repainted them. Get some window glass cut at the hardware store (~$30), and for less than the cost of one display case I doubled the number of shelves in all three.

CuriousG

My display cases came from Ikea (just like 90% of the furniture in my house - they suit my budget):

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10011055

 

They also sell the lights that mount in the top. Pretty inexpensive. I did make one modifiction - the shelf spacing as made is too great from top to bottom. Wastes a lot of room for items the size of my models. I went to a local welder with the uprights and had him put more horizontal rods in the uprights (~$20), then repainted them. Get some window glass cut at the hardware store (~$30), and for less than the cost of one display case I doubled the number of shelves in all three.

Excellent....case I have in my office at work was purchased at IKEA in Germany some years back...there is an IKEA just up the road from where we will be moving, so I will definitely check it out....thanks....my wife loves IKEA!!!!

CuriousG

Here's my man cave, or the War Room as my girlfriend calls it:

 

 

 

 

Is that an M1 Garand? I own one too. Very nice rifle.

CuriousG

Here's my man cave, or the War Room as my girlfriend calls it:

 

That looks more like a tribute to the late, great Gil Elvgren and his pin-ups of whom I am a big fan.

Hutch,

It's not terribly photogenic, nor is it as sorted as some of the pics previously posted...but...

Here's the view as you walk in...

Here's the wall unit on the left as you walk in - lots of storage space

And here's the stash...part 1 and part 2

And a display case I finished a while ago...


I've got a home-made spray booth that evacuates out the window...keeps the acrylic laquer stench out of the house - always a good thing.

We also had a "recipe" when we went house hunting - 2 car lock up garage, study for me, sewing room for the wife, 3 bedrooms...quiet street...we eventually found what we wanted...and it works.

Good luck!

leemitcheltree

Hutch,

It's not terribly photogenic, nor is it as sorted as some of the pics previously posted...but...

Here's the view as you walk in...

Here's the wall unit on the left as you walk in - lots of storage space

And here's the stash...part 1 and part 2

And a display case I finished a while ago...


I've got a home-made spray booth that evacuates out the window...keeps the acrylic laquer stench out of the house - always a good thing.

We also had a "recipe" when we went house hunting - 2 car lock up garage, study for me, sewing room for the wife, 3 bedrooms...quiet street...we eventually found what we wanted...and it works.

Good luck!

Holy cow....getta load of that Concord!!!  Love the setup...looks cozy and more in par like my setup.  Love the stash...glad to see I am not the only one with such a large amount of kits!!!!

Yeah ww2psycho, that is my trusty Garand. Got it  a couple years ago from the Civilian Marksmanship Program. Great people to do business with and some of the best prices around for a good M1. Have not taken it to the range yet, but I plan to. Just happy to have got one before they were all gone or out of my price range. CMP has a lot of M1 carbines now too...tempting.

And MikeV is right, hanging above my bench those are mostly (but not all) the works of Gil Elvgren, a true master of his craft! I find that when stooped over an intricate piece of PE or a finicky bit of painting it is good to look up now and then for a little "eye relief"; Gil's gals are just the ticket

Hey Hutch, here's the pics of my studio.

This left side shot shows my two display cases (with an additional two in the cardboard boxes on the wall), the spraybooth, the air compressor, my storage shelf, the workspace and a bit of the photography station.

The right side shot better shows the workspace and the photography station.  You can see the tripos leaning on the right side wall.

-Fred

Gigatron

Hey Hutch, here's the pics of my studio.

This left side shot shows my two display cases (with an additional two in the cardboard boxes on the wall), the spraybooth, the air compressor, my storage shelf, the workspace and a bit of the photography station.

 

The right side shot better shows the workspace and the photography station.  You can see the tripos leaning on the right side wall.

-Fred

 

Thanks, Fred....your room is about the size I will have to work with...good efficient use of space.  I worry about my stash storage, but not too much.   I need to upgrade my picture taking skills.  I've been eyeing some of those portable photo stations on ebay, but I like what you did...  I also will have to make new exhaust port for my paint booth.  No way my wife will permit me to cut a hole in the wall, which is my preference...have to compromise....

Hutch, for the ventilation, do what I did (but don't have a picture of).  Get a piece of MDF and cut to fit the window.  Then, get a dryer duct with gravity flaps (closes when there is no pressure behind it).  Cut a hole in the MDF, install the dryer duct, secure the vent fan to the duct via dryer hose.  It let's me paint in the winter while staying completely warm.  In the summer, I just run the hose right out the window.

The MDF and duct cost under $10 from Home Depot.  I plan on using some weather seal (or shellac) to waterproof the MDF so I don't have to worry about it in the rain. 

For photogrpahy, all you really need is the lighting.  If you find one of those booth kits on ebay with decent lighting (I prefer the daylight temp, trumpet style CFL), for a decent price, go for it.  You can make it much cheaper with clamp lights, but you need something to clamp them on to.  That's why I went with the ones with mini tripods - I can set it up almost anywhere.

-Fred

CuriousG

Yeah ww2psycho, that is my trusty Garand. Got it  a couple years ago from the Civilian Marksmanship Program. Great people to do business with and some of the best prices around for a good M1. Have not taken it to the range yet, but I plan to. Just happy to have got one before they were all gone or out of my price range. CMP has a lot of M1 carbines now too...tempting.

Awesome, I've got one too, and mine came from cmp....too (camp perry, OH)!  Actually I bought 2 of them after I came home from the sandbox, got both for $800ish, Both had good barrels and upper stocks but one had a bad lower stock (had a repair in it). The one with the repair in I was told would have been a $1400 rifle if it werent for the repair, so I decided to sell one of them. I swapped the lower stocks of the 2 of them, sold the other rifle and ended up with what I figure to be a $1400 garand! I took the cash I got from the other garand and ended up buying a mitchells mauser.

I've seen that cmp has M-1 carbines now too.....your right, so very tempting! I do want one of those.

You'll love shooting the garand, doesnt kick too bad. The mauser kicks like a mule! Becareful shooting if you use surplus ammo though, the older ammo's powder can burn pretty hot.

Gigatron

Hutch, for the ventilation, do what I did (but don't have a picture of).  Get a piece of MDF and cut to fit the window.  Then, get a dryer duct with gravity flaps (closes when there is no pressure behind it).  Cut a hole in the MDF, install the dryer duct, secure the vent fan to the duct via dryer hose.  It let's me paint in the winter while staying completely warm.  In the summer, I just run the hose right out the window.

The MDF and duct cost under $10 from Home Depot.  I plan on using some weather seal (or shellac) to waterproof the MDF so I don't have to worry about it in the rain. 

For photogrpahy, all you really need is the lighting.  If you find one of those booth kits on ebay with decent lighting (I prefer the daylight temp, trumpet style CFL), for a decent price, go for it.  You can make it much cheaper with clamp lights, but you need something to clamp them on to.  That's why I went with the ones with mini tripods - I can set it up almost anywhere.

-Fred

 

Fred,

I am tracking with you...that is what I am visualizing for the booth.  I like what I am seeing on this thread and am studying my own ergonomic style, so that it all flows with my routine.  Paint booth set up will be important...of course, by the window with a modification like you describe. 

As for the photography, thanks for the tips...I like the minit-tripod idea...I'll have to start researching on where to find them.   I could always get background material from a fabric store or Hobby Lobby.  Problem I see with the portables on ebay is that they look so small.

Looks like gigatron has the same display case I do. Here is a pic of what I was talking about in adding shelves to make better use of the vertical space:

I can also share a little innovation I came up with for photography. I was lucky to be able to build a decent sized spray booth, and it is well lit. I thought it would also double as a good photo "studio" , but you could use this trick with whatever workspace you have. Go to Lowes or HD and get the cheap roller blinds that they cut to length for you, whatever size you can accomodate, and you will have a pull-down backdrop just like the pro portrait guys use (I know, I used to be one ). I left one white, painted another blue (latex house paint and a roller). Works well I think, and out of your way when not needed. I use a little picture frame covered with aluminum foil as a reflector to throw light into the shadow areas.

CuriousG

Looks like gigatron has the same display case I do. Here is a pic of what I was talking about in adding shelves to make better use of the vertical space:

I can also share a little innovation I came up with for photography. I was lucky to be able to build a decent sized spray booth, and it is well lit. I thought it would also double as a good photo "studio" , but you could use this trick with whatever workspace you have. Go to Lowes or HD and get the cheap roller blinds that they cut to length for you, whatever size you can accomodate, and you will have a pull-down backdrop just like the pro portrait guys use (I know, I used to be one ). I left one white, painted another blue (latex house paint and a roller). Works well I think, and out of your way when not needed. I use a little picture frame covered with aluminum foil as a reflector to throw light into the shadow areas.

 

 

Awesome...great idea....I never thought about setting up an apparatus like that....all inputs are amazing me....glad I asked.

CuriousG

Looks like gigatron has the same display case I do. Here is a pic of what I was talking about in adding shelves to make better use of the vertical space:

I can also share a little innovation I came up with for photography. I was lucky to be able to build a decent sized spray booth, and it is well lit. I thought it would also double as a good photo "studio" , but you could use this trick with whatever workspace you have. Go to Lowes or HD and get the cheap roller blinds that they cut to length for you, whatever size you can accomodate, and you will have a pull-down backdrop just like the pro portrait guys use (I know, I used to be one ). I left one white, painted another blue (latex house paint and a roller). Works well I think, and out of your way when not needed. I use a little picture frame covered with aluminum foil as a reflector to throw light into the shadow areas.

 

 

Awesome...great idea....I never thought about setting up an apparatus like that....all inputs are amazing me....glad I asked.

Here is a quick photo of my bench.  It is a metal framed work bench from Sears.  It works very well for my needs the only complaint I have is that it is a little high when I'm sitting down.  Maybe eventually I'll make a little riser for my chair. 

I made the paint racks out of extra oak flooring I had lying around.

fermis OMFG! Glad your significant other understands your passion for model building. My desire is to have a space where everything doesn't have to be put away when company comes over. Currently building on the kitchen table. Once I purchase a home here a extra hobby room will be manditory, perhaps over the garage? Dare to dream...

SuppressionFire

fermis OMFG! Glad your significant other understands your passion for model building. My desire is to have a space where everything doesn't have to be put away when company comes over. Currently building on the kitchen table. Once I purchase a home here a extra hobby room will be manditory, perhaps over the garage? Dare to dream...

Kitchen table!!?? Hang in there.....

Y'all got me going with the IKEA shelf - I've been wanting to find a cabinet/display case for a while. I didn't know what I was looking for till you guys showed me!

The wife picked it up for my last night and I'm planning on adding extra shelves as recommended. Good thing for me my day job is as a body shop trainer - I'll be welding the additional shelf supports on myself. 

Off to Home Depot for some rod stock...

benzdoc

Y'all got me going with the IKEA shelf - I've been wanting to find a cabinet/display case for a while. I didn't know what I was looking for till you guys showed me!

The wife picked it up for my last night and I'm planning on adding extra shelves as recommended. Good thing for me my day job is as a body shop trainer - I'll be welding the additional shelf supports on myself. 

Off to Home Depot for some rod stock...

Just out of curiosity, what kind of welder do you use and what kind of rod stock are you picking up.  I know someone with a welder (I'm not sure if it's MIG, TIG or something else).  Maybe if I can find out from someone who's about to do the job, I can ask my friend to weld up one of my new cabinets.

-Fred

Best bet would be to MIG it. TIG will work but it's a bit harder to find people with a TIG vs MIG.
I'm picking up a couple of the IKEA cases as soon as the refund hits the account.

Fred,

I'm going to MIG weld it. TIG is the absolute best, most craftsmanlike welding that you can imagine - however it's not quite mainstream; at least in my world of auto body repair. MIG is pretty ubiquitous and offers really good reliability - I guess what I'm trying to say is that I've seen some terrible welds that seem to hold, even in subsequent collisions. Not that anyone wants terrible welds...

So, coming back to the cabinet, the IKEA side rails are, according to a rough measurement, 6mm rod stock. I'm not sure what that comes to in the fractional inch, but I picked up 3/16 diameter. The next choice was 5/16 and that seemed too big. Comparing the two, this is maybe a 1-1.5 mm smaller. However, it doesn't seem that it will matter, given the way the shelf sits on them.

The last part of the metric/standard conversion that bit me in the rear was the rod length; it's about 12.5' - and naturally Home Depot sells it in 3' or 4' lengths; there will be some extra. 

I'm going to put four additional shelves in; I saw that the other guys left the bottom space alone but the extra should come in handy. 

I'll take some pics if anyone is interested.

Again, thanks to Hutch for bringing this whole topic up! And for the great responses - y'all got me going on something I was pretty much stranded on. 

I'm definitely interested in seeing pics.  I'll find out about my friend's welding machine when I see him in a few days.

-Fred

I'm glad to see that IKEA shelf innovation caught on and was helpful. I know nothing of welding, and was more than happy to give the welding shop in town $25 to do all six uprights for me. He gets his rod stock wholesale, and I would have paid more for the rods at Home Depot than he charged for the whole project.

There are little pieces of split vinyl tubing on the crosspieces to keep the glass from rattling. You can buy that by the foot at Ace or NAPA.

If you use plate glass for the shelves, make sure to "bead" at least the front edge for safety. You can do that with a rubbing stone like is used for ceramic tile. You might even be able to do it with sandpaper on a block, but be careful.