i have tools scattered across my small layout and a table. now as the layout is becoming more complete and will be filled with track, structures and scenery, i need to find a better way to organize my stuff. The room also has other uses.
i' was thinking of a tray, possibly with different sections that i easily put away and pull out when i need it. I have fine and large tools, glue containers, rulers and miscellaneous stuff. I'm sure some larger items will just sit on a shelf somewhere.
was hoping to see how some of you may have dealt with this
thanks
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
i picked up one of those little 4 wheel roll around carts with two shelves and a drawer from an auto parts store for about 50 bucks. it fits under the layout when not in use and holds all the tools and supplies i need to work on the layout. top tray is for small tools and supplies while larger power tools and supplies go in the bottom tray. the locking drawer is a plus./
charlie
We have several sets of the plastic drawers and they come with wheels. Some have just a few, large drawers, others several small ones and others have a mix. The wheels are often in a drawer and you might not notice them. Actually I have some of the smaller ones, without wheels, on the workbench for organization, the larger ones are around the house for non hobby uses. When I get my next layout set up, I certainly will get a couple of sets to roll things under the layout, out of the way.
Good luck,
Richard
I have a small office which includes my hobby workbench. I don't know if I'm organized. I have a small fishing tackle box that opens up 3 small trays with little compartments. I have a large fishing tackle box with 4 drawers. I have a silverware tray that holds tools and parts. I have 8 small plastic bins with parts stacked up on an auxiliary table. I have a Craftsman tool cart with 5 drawers next to the 3'x5' old dining room table I use for a work bench. I have a 2'x4' folding table that is auxiliary table. I have a couple of pencil holders to hold more stuff. I also have 4 bookshelves in the room for more stuff. Fortunately, I have a basement where most of my train stuff is.
Enjoy
Paul
You could go commercial, with either a regular roll around tool chest or a four drawer roll around tub set from Michaels.
I found what I would call a "beverage cart" at a thrift store for $15.00 a while back. Stainless steel with "four wheel steering". (might have been a medical equipment stand) I added a nine drawer Craftsman top cabinet to it and made a swing up/down leaf for a portable work bench. The bottom shelf holds the compressor, soldering station and some other heavy equipment. I changed out the push bar to a removable wood unit for holding wire spools, put a power strip on the side, and a few of the smaller plastic drawer units round out the package. Works pretty well. I think a projector cart might work as well.
It would be nice to get a set-up that rolls under the layout. Making a custom setup from wood would be pretty easy as well I should think.
And I still have tools laying everywhere.
I used an old tv stand 2x3 foot and about 4 foot high with wheels, works great when I'm doing scenery. I added a few shelves where the tv went. I use the top for my tools and soldering equipment. All the shelves pull out and added stops so they didn't hit the floor, I see them all the time along the road on trash night. Jim.
charlie9i picked up one of those little 4 wheel roll around carts with two shelves and
LION has something like that. Him builded it himself. Does not roll too good. Too much junk on the floor, too many cords to roll over. Was good idea, but needs much bigger wheels.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
I went through the same thing, started out with the one from michaels but the drawers began to sag, then we were at ikea and they have a very sturdy metal roll around storage thing that worked out great...
I'm still looking for something small for hand tools and need to get better about using the roll around one
matthew
I just bought one of those put-it-together roll around carts from Wal-mart. It has 2 shelves, and I store my tools and soldering iron on it. The ONE thing I did was replace the casters that came with it with larger ones. It rolls much easier. The other thing I did was to attach a surge protector to one side, so if I need power, I just string an extension cord over to it. The cart is low enough that it fits under the layout. I found that an inexpensive roll around office chair with fit if I lower it all the way and pull the lock pin for leaning back.
Marlon
See pictures of the Clinton-Golden Valley RR
Medina1128
Gidday, Here's what I use, was cheap enough at our equivalent of Walmart, not big enough of course, , though possibly that's a sign of my untidiness. Larger stuff sits in a cardboard box.
P.S. That looks a bit too comfortable Marlon.
Cheers, the Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
I built a long, shallow shelf under the front edge of my workbench. The space between the top of the shelf and the bottom of the workbench surface is about a 4". I got a few kitchen drawer and office drawer organizers to put on the shelf, with all my tools and stuff in them. When I need something, I just roll my chair back, reach under the workbench and pull out the appropriate "drawer."
If I wanted to get more fancy, I could mount a couple of slide-out computer keyboard trays side-by-side and screw/epoxy the drawer organizers to the tray(s). That way, I could pull out the entire "shelf" at once.
I also use one of those shallow clear plastic storage boxes with all the removable dividers to store stuff. (Something sorta kinda like this).
Also, keep an eye out at Wally World, office supply stores, and other places around back-to-school time. They usually have a lot of clever desktop organization type stuff for sale at reasonable prices during that time.
Dan Stokes
My other car is a tunnel motor
maxman Medina1128 YO!!! Take a cut off wheel in a Dremel and get rid of those screws protruding through that electrical box before you hurt yourself!
Oh, that's already been taken care of. But, thank you for your concern.
"ROAR"
Lion: check.
"Cheers, the Bear"
Bear: check.
* kevinrr looks around for tiger
Oh, my!
I don't have one system. I have woodworking tools in my garage. Once benchwork is done I rarely see them. I have specialized tools like track cutters, wiring tools, track-laying tools, in tool boxes. Paints, pastels, weathering supplies have their own tackle box. Tools for working on structures, engines, figures, cars, and other small stuff I keep on the bench in a 2 x 4 I drilled about 50 holes in.
The paints I use most often are on a two tiered lazy Susan.
Odd shaped tools, spare blades and clamps live in a small bin on the workbench.
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
SpaceMouse I don't have one system. I have woodworking tools in my garage. Once benchwork is done I rarely see them. I have specialized tools like track cutters, wiring tools, track-laying tools, in tool boxes. Paints, pastels, weathering supplies have their own tackle box. Tools for working on structures, engines, figures, cars, and other small stuff I keep on the bench in a 2 x 4 I drilled about 50 holes in. The paints I use most often are on a two tiered lazy Susan. Odd shaped tools, spare blades and clamps live in a small bin on the workbench.
Yo, Space! I keep my specialized tools in separate totes, even if it means having duplicates of some things. I have the electrical, tracklaying, and general model building tools in their own totes. The electrical and tracklaying totes are kept on the rolling cart, while the general model building tools are kept in totes that I keep on some shelves next to my workbench. Now, if I could keep my workbench clean and organized.
Medina1128Yo, Space! I keep my specialized tools in separate totes, even if it means having duplicates of some things. I have the electrical, tracklaying, and general model building tools in their own totes. The electrical and tracklaying totes are kept on the rolling cart, while the general model building tools are kept in totes that I keep on some shelves next to my workbench. Now, if I could keep my workbench clean and organized.
Yes, too many tools for one system. I have a lot of Acro-Mills bins left over from a business. I separated my tools into about 15 bins and it worked until I had to move my bench away from the shelving that held them.