At the moment I am using a cheap 1’x1’x1’ plastic three drawer organizer from an office supply store to organize all of my tools and materials. The only problem is that it is not nearly adequate to store ALL of my stuff, so everything gets kind of shoved in there and as a result, it hardly organizes anything. I would really like to hear some of your ideas on some good storage methods or anything that works for you guys. I was thinking somewhere along the lines of some kind of small shelving just deep enough to hold paint bottles and such, and a more effective storage unit than what I have now. Any tips on where you like to keep certain kinds of tools would also be greatly appreciated, in fact any thing you have to say regarding organization would be great. Thank you in advance
Derek,
I have have a magnetic bar designed to hold tools that is about 4ft long. It is fastened to the edge of one of the shelves above the office desk that I use for a workbench. All of by tweezers, files, scissors, pliers, photo etch tools etc are attached to it but easily removed and easily seen and within reach. Paaint is stored in one of those plastic multi-draws used for storing small items like nuts and bolts that are available in hardware stores and places like Home Depot. I also have used tackle boxes to hold and separate small items, parts and supplies like glue etc
My stuff is a little all over (my working area is downstairs in the storage room, but my storage area is in the office upstairs). I use a plastic 3-drawer set to store all of my paints when I’m not using them, then I pull them out for a build as I need them.
For my portable workbench, I saw an FSM article that suggested using a piece of plexiglass with some PVC connectors glued with PVC glue on to it like cups to hold tools and brushes. I think I made mine for about $20 and got all the pieces at Home Depot. When I built it I took some paint bottle with my to the hardware store and found pieces that they fit into to keep them from spilling. I also used a large (3 inch I think) pipe connector piece to hold the cups I use for brush cleaner.
As I generally work at the coffee table in our living room (next to the storage room) I can carry all of my tools out in one trip. The plexiglas gives me a nice surface to cut and paint on.
If you have a dedicated space, I strongly recommend a cutting matt and a cheap desk from craigslist or somewhere. That way you don’t care if it gets cut up or paint on it. And the cutting matts are great.
Groot
Jack that magnet idea is great! That would be a great way to hold all of the commonly used metal tools, so I might just have to look into that… I guess if I were to stick to the 3-drawer office organizers I would just need another one or two so I could fit all my stuff.
Thanks Groot, I guess I’m a bit luckier… I have a dedicated space for modeling, even though its just a small clearing in the storage room. I have an old, cheap wooden desk that my spray booth, compressor, and other airbrush items sit on, as well as a 4ft folding white plastic table with a large cutting mat for general modeling. I guess I’ve already got that part right [;)] That idea about having a small portable surface with some attached storage is really good, it would be nice to make one of those because I like to model while watching TV sometimes.
Thank you both for the input!
I’m lucky to have a dedicated hobby room so next to mu computer I have this 3-drawer plastic cabinet were I keep tons of supplies
My work bench is from Ikea and is great. I have some bins on the middle shelf with more supplies and tools. The metal cabinet holds another load of paints, tools and other junk
I have a closet and there is more junk stored there.
Yesterday, I found a old style office desk. it is 3ft by 5ft. with 3 drawers on each side. it was 75 dollars, but I got it for 75%off. under twenty dollars.
Nice deal, wood or metal?
Unfortunately, for me the term “workbench organization” is as much an oxymoron as jumbo shrimp and minor catastrophe. 
I have large pegboards above two of my benches. With a variety of hooks you can hang just about anything on there. Stackable plastic drawer sets take care of the paint bottles, glues, putty, etc.
Plus I have a large plastic carpenter’s toolbox that holds miscellaneous and larger tools.
metal, and it weighs a ton
I am in the same boat, Bearcat.
I think I know what the term means, but, I have no idea how to do it on my own workbench.
I have everything organized, the decals are in plastic bags, in plastic decal keepers, stored in one central location. The paints are laid out in plastic trays with the FS numbers on the top of the caps, facing me as I sit at the bench, with more plastic storage boxes full of the additional bottles of each color. Resin upgrade parts, and PE are in boxes stacked next to the boxes of aftermarket weapons. Instructions are all removed from the kits and one of each is stored in a 4 drawer file cabinet. The books used most are next to my left elbow where I sit now at the computer, with others in storage boxes, or in book cases.
I even have my knives, brushes, tweezers and other tools in one of those round carousels, stored in the spray booth. (my spray booth is homemade, it is a combined booth/work area thing, with a glass front)
Sounds great, and all neat and stuff, right?
However,the actual flat workbench surface has to be cleared off each time I want to do something on it, it seems. There is NO organization evident on that actual flat surface, the dog dish for cleaning paintbrushes is right there, next to some pens used for labeling paint cards (when I get new colors), next to tweezers, with a new knife set the SWMBO just bought (to “help me out”) And someone left the card file with the paint swapping cards sitting next to the airbrush cleaning station. (fancy industry name for “big jar with lid”)
oh well, can’t clean it up just yet,I have 5 more FSM forums to look at before I will get to the bench
Rex
I’ve done something similar, gluing magnetic strips to the inside of the lid of my modeling toolbox. That’s where my razor saw blades go, a couple of pairs of tweezers, a metal square and a file or two. Saves having to dig in the tool tray for those things.
I also use plastic storage bins, to store my figure kits. The bins came in sets of 4, with a piece of plastic strip to mount on the wall or on the back of a bench. The bins have lips at the back edge, to fit over the strip. I haven’t used that strip yet, though, and the bins sit on shelves.
For organizing odds and ends, I save plastic food containers. A couple of years ago, the Chinese take-out places all seem to have started using these flat, rectangular containers, with clear or nearly clear lids. I use them for storing various materials. The great thing is that I can see the contents, and they stack easily on my shelves.
I have plans to build shelving on my bench, though, to store all of my paints in one place. Right now, I’ve got some in some old cookie tins, some in my toolbox, and some on the bench.
Organizing is a never-ending project…
HF sells magnetic holder bars. The one I bought was 18in. $5
I have 2 workbenches. One is a former stand up garage workbench. The other is a old computer desk for when I’d rather sit.
I bought a coffee/2-end table set at a garage sale for $15. I trashed the tables and kept the glass tops. The glass edges are finished and beveled. I stuck some of those round felt pads (designed for furniture legs) on the four corners. This allows me to slide instructions, photos, charts, pictures, etc under the glass. I can also use the glass as a quick paint mixing pallet. About once a month I take it outside and use a razor blade and water hose on it.
not to sound cheep, check the habitat for humanity or salvation army for storage, desks and tools
[dto:] That is SO true for me, too, and not only in modelling…