I originally planned to set up my model space in the basement of the house I rent. It’s like modeling in a meat locker in the winter so I gave up on that idea. I’ve been working on my kitchen table which is better, but is not conducive to actually eating there and so I’m on to plan C, which is to set up shop in the third bedroom/computer room. I bought a folding table from Walmart which I’ve discovered is completely unacceptable because it’s so unsteady. It’s like modeling in an earthquake so it’s going to be returned shortly. Does anyone have anything they’d recommend? I did a quick online look. There are a lot of options but I thought I’d see what folks here use and like.
I too work in a spare bedroom. If you are handy you can build a simple table with 2x4’s and a cheap hollow core door for under $50. I also bought a desk from craigslist for $10 bucks that was from the 60s or 70s and is built like a rock. I ended up using the desk at my office but for years it was my model desk.
Ikea makes some solid table tops and desks but they will be more money.
Before I got my home,I used the folding table option,worked for me.If you can’t build anything,like me,I would look for a desk,either Staples,Ikea,or used.
I always wanted a roll top desk for modeling. That would be awesome IMO. I would look for one at garage / estate sales!
One of those put together computer desks designed for a kids room works. Often find them at the curb when kids go off to college or inexpensive at Walmart or similar store.
May I ask, was the table you bought like this Rubbermaid table?
If it is, I’m surprised, because they’re generally pretty stable. I prefer this design to the ones that fold in the middle.
As an alternative, do you have access to a table that is used primarily for something else, like the kitchen table, for example? You could get away then with using a tool box or a tackle box to store everything, including a cutting mat or even a dough mat (ie, a plastic mat for rolling out dough. It can be rolled up for storage, and is about the same material as a cutting mat), set everything up when you want to work, and strike it and stow it when you’re finished. Plus, it’d be portable, if you ever need or want to take your gear on the road.
Best regards,
Brad
I have a table like that, but it also folds in the middle so it stores in the same amount of space as a traditional card table. It is heavy as heck and very stable.
Yeah, that one’s good, too. I just prefer the style without the seam.
I have an old put together computer hutch. I like all the shelves and pigeon holes to put modeling stuff in. Just wish it had a drawer or two.
I grabbed a nice desk at my workplace along with a hutch to store my modelling stuff (paint, reference folders/books, etc…) I also grabbed a under desk keyboard tray/drawer and installed it under the desk.
Check around used office furniture stores or even your workplace. You never know what you’ll find in their storage.
Thanks for all the suggestions and input. The folding table I bought splits in half, which combined with the spindly legs, makes it unacceptable. For once, I had the foresight to make the right move and hold onto the receipt, so it’ll go back next week. IKEA is nearly a two hour ride for me so I’ll look more locally. Staples or something like that.
Any thrift or second-hand furniture stores in the area? Sometimes you get lucky and find the perfect “work table”.
I use a table exactly like the one the Baron showed you. I think I paid $40 for it at Sam’s Club. It’s great. I even have my Iwata air compressor on it and the table is plenty steady even when the compressor is running. The biggest challenge you’ll run into if you try to buy something second hand is the weight and bulkiness. Often, people are getting rid of their big heavy old furniture. Since you’re renting, you may want to think about how hard it will be to move whatever you buy. I’m speaking from experience. I’ve moved twice in the last year. Barrett
Don’t Have Room For Single Piece
Six-Foot Middle Fold COSCO I’d Bought From Walmart
BEST Table I’ve Ever Had
Used Their Card Tables For Decades, Terrible They Were Indeed!
Watch your local Craigslist for a cheap wooden table. My prior work table was a nice solid wood kitchen type table I got for free (don’t even remember where it came from now). I actually resisted upgrading because it made such a nice workbench. The table now resides in the basement where it still makes a nice work table for other kinds of projects.
I currently have a workbench made from 1/2" plywood with white coated fiberboard as the work surface. I bought a 4x8 sheet of plywood, ripped it lengthwise at 30" and built a bench the full length of the wall. I used 2x4s for the framing, 2x2s for legs and faced the edge with 1x3. It wasn’t that expensive, gives me plenty of space and is sturdy enough for my fat butt to comfortably stand on.
I added an additional section making it an L which covers part of a second wall.
As per my response:
This is the table I grabbed from work with pull out keyboard tray
The wrist pad is actually a hidden compartment perfect for hobby knives, tweezers, etc… while I’m working on my kit.
This is the desk hutch I also grabbed from my workplace:
I lucked out, in our basement was an office and it has one of those yucky green government desk with the bakelite top. I don’t know how often those come up but there may be some like them floating around if a school is being renovated?
I have one of those old hobby center type workbenches that a friend was getting rid of. It has a back made with peg board and has two small cabinets with sliding doors for storage and a small fluorescent mounted under a narrow shelf for tools and stuff. I had to change some of the bottom shelves and add some additional supports to make it more stable but it works great. It’s counter height so I just use a stool to sit and work. I also added some drop-leaf shelves to increase the work area. It’s not pretty, but it works.
My latest bench, which I like very much, is homemade. I started with two cabinets from an office supply place- those plastic drawer units with several drawers and castors on the bottom. They are frequently on sale at big office supply places, hardware store, and Walmart. I got a six drawer unit for one side, and a four drawer- with one larger drawer on bottom- for the other side. Then I made the top from two pieces of 1/2 by 2 x 4 foot particle board, with lengths of 1 x 2 between them for strength and rigidity. The result was a little too low for me, so I made to rectangles out of 1 x 4, one to go attop each cabinet, with the top then fastened to thos boxes. I also then added 1/8 inch pegboard to the back, screwed to the rear 1 x 2, to mount tools on. Love it- good top and lots of drawers.
I cover the top with contact paper. When it gets too much paint, glue and slices in it, I pull up the covering and put down another piece of contact, a five minute job.
I ended up going with a Cosco 6 foot folding table which is a huge improvement over what I bought before. This table is much heavier and sturdier. It’s a keeper.