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Not sure if im posting in the right area. Anyway, my lady, she likes that i have a hobby, but lately shes been noticing how this hobby is like an investment, and Obsession, right? So i told her that i keep everything i buy and that i need more space to work. She thought i just needed more room so i could buy stuff. Then i went to the basement, where i keep all my old stuff, i mean i had stock piles down there from high elves to space marines. I had stuff i didnt even know about. I mean its great that i accidentally came upon them but its kind of sick that i didnt even realize they were gone. I had kroot and dwarves and fantasy orcs. I then realized it is an obsession, considering i Never played any of those armies. I proceeded to bring those upstairs and i noticed that i do need more space, even if i start to focus on one thing, I am crammed. I took a picture of just what im working with.

Well there's a couple fairly simple solutions with the stuff you don't use. You could sit down and build and paint all of that stuff. Probably the better solution, though, would be to sell it off. You can take the money you get from it and buy some more stuff for the armies you do play with, or buy something nice for your girl, that'll win you brownie points
Granesh

I was thinking of selling it. But i kind of want advice as to how i could expand my hobby area. I just have too little room but its not cutting it right now. Anyone have solutions to this.

I'm gonna second granesh's points.

Sell the extra stuff you won't/don't use and use some of the money to buy your girl something nice (to show her that your hobby isn't more important than her) and use whatever is left over to buy a better work desk. A nice sized desk from ikea really isn't that expensive and will give you a lot more room to work. Nothing I hate more than working in an uncomfortable position or without enough space to lay things out so I can work on them.

Btw, you might want to edit your original post to include what you're debate/discussion is supposed to be about. So far it just has your story but no question/etc that you want help answering.

As to other ideas for expanding your work area:

1)Get a bigger desk - first and foremost is you simply have a small work area. A nice desk shouldn't cost more than a hundred or so and should have some storage space at least.

2)Then I would buy some plastic sweater boxes(basically just big plastic bins with lids) that you can store the stuff you want to keep but aren't working on right now.

3)Some shelves for the wall would help expand your area without reducing the space inside the room (ie like buying storage shelves/etc that would go on the floor) so you get the best of both worlds.

Wait IKEA, maybe...didnt think about them. I went to colders and hobby lobby to look at some desks. I even went to walmart, but all were either too bulky, too small, or just too damn expensive.

And i do spoil the girl as is, dont worry. She knows shes spoiled.

brush_slip wrote:Wait IKEA, maybe...didnt think about them. I went to colders and hobby lobby to look at some desks. I even went to walmart, but all were either too bulky, too small, or just too damn expensive.

And i do spoil the girl as is, dont worry. She knows shes spoiled.

I got a nice desk at ikea that was glass(great for cleaning up or even mixing paints right on the desk) for about $120 and has both a large main work area and a side section with multiple shelves to put anything I want to display/put aside.

I was also thinking that selling some of your old hobby stuff and using that money to buy something for her would show her that your "obsession" isn't more important than her. That is a bit different than simply buying her stuff imo.

I second Halsfield.
Cheap table from IKEA and sell off the stuff you wont use. More money for hobby and for your girl

or install shelves on your wall to expand storage area quickly.

1. Get rid of woman.
2. Buy more models.
3. ?????
4. Profit.

get rid of models you can't, don't want to paint!

bits is one thing... dozens of old ass models you know you will probably never get to. Let go son let go!

The gesture will make your woman happy too, never knowing you will eventually just get more anyways lol

A couple of quick and cheap things you can do.

1. Get a tackle box for your gear. I have one about 2ft x 1 ft x 1ft where the top folds out into tiers of small compartments. I keep all my paint, brushes, sculpting tools, pin vice, etc... in. All the gear I need for painting and converting is in that box 95% of the time and it doesn't take up much space. It sits on the floor next to my chair when working. It will clear up most of your desk.

2. I don't see much spru in the pile you have there, but if most of your stuff is still on the spru clip it all off and put all it all in zip lock bags. It will take up 1/10th of the space it does on the spru.

Another idea for a great hobby desk is this. Your local schools.

It's coming down to the end of the school year and in most High and Middle schools, the maintenance staff gather up all the unwanted/broken desks and pile them in places throughout the school. I know this because 1) I'm a teacher and 2) I used to work maintenance.

This stuff is simply up for grabs. I've got a great set of 2 2'x4' white boards and a 4'x4' for free. Also got two painting desks and some fold-down table to put my other 8'x4' now based white board for a gaming table. This is a gold mine, but you need to hit it one to two weeks after school is over. It may not be the best brand new stuff, but it's probably a lot better then your current working space.

Evil question since you were not direct in how you want it answered.

1) You are tired of not being able to work or find things easily and stresses you over something that is supposed to be fun. How to organize?
2) The girlfriend either thinks that your hobby is "messy" and is an eyesore or thinks it is a socially deviant behavior and is unsure of it's limits (what next? drugs?). What is the best means of getting her off your back?

a) The sweater boxes are a good idea, ensure they are containers that are clear to easily find stuff.

b) Use sandwich bags or those plastic containers with all the pockets in them (used for screw hardware or fishing lures) and hack-up the bits and organize them (heads, CCW's, torso, legs, etc.).

c) Get paints also into container or some kind of shelf, I have a "lazy susan" type 2 shelf rotating surface to put them, makes it all look nice and neat.

d) Clean your stuff or at least hide it. paint dribbled on water cups and a dirty mixing tray is not respecting your tools and give the "other half" a reason to not like your hobby. (Your setup is similar to my own old way, it is the final product that matters right? Everything is there and works.). At least put away the cutting instruments, the box cutter and exacto knife is probably making her nervous.

e) Is the desk in the bedroom? I tried that, it never works out very well. In the end I carved out a working space in the basement with lots of lighting and heater/fan and stereo system. They never seem to invade your space, built-in female aversion to basements but is considered a "work space" and may be respected.

f) Make an occasional "pretty thing" for her from your skills. Did a "Legolas" miniature with a tiny diorama for her, made necklaces and (gasp) painted all kinds of tiny things on her fingernails to be the envy of women everywhere (even when I desperately wanted to paint plague marines...). This legitimizes your hobbies and skills to her, failing that compare it to scrap booking.

g) Create a small portable work tray so you can cart what you are doing around or stuff it away as needed (I have kids, this has been a huge help with getting the odd hobby bits done).

h) I hope your chair is descent and find some kind of table where there is room for your feet (you really hate yourself with that setup don't you? May I suggest the rack or the iron maiden for you to get more comfortable?)

i) Get some kind of cutting mat or something to cover the table, again it will help make it all look good.

I admit I have grown to like an organized comfortable "man nest" to work on things and had figured out much of this the hard way but managed to get the "other half's" female friends asking me to make stuff or show them how so it created all kinds of interesting ways for her to get jealous.

MAJOR advice: Never, ever, let her see you with a jeweler's visor on, greatest turn-off known to man.

Good luck!

I know i must let go.

I do keep my things organized for the most part i want more storage space for the bitz i have, and for the bitz to come. I do want to fabricate a paint shelf though. This way i can keep my space now. My basement is far too old to even offer adequate lighting. There is one socket. I have 3 daylight bulbs installed in the room already. I want to maybe also extend my desk. However then i would have to rearrange my room.

As for organizing the misfit box of goodies, i did just that and realized i have 50+imperial guardsman. tanks in bitz. 30-40 orks, Space marines and their goodies to no end. Some i may find a use for, but i doubt it. The bitz, yes they always seem to find a home. The metal minis that need a good stripping? They may never get the time.