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Hello.

I'm looking to organise my hobby desk a little better and am on the lookout for some possible storage solutions. I need a range of drawers, shelves, paint racks etc but am coming up a little short of companies offering solutions. Yes, I know that I could build something myself, or cobble together bits from all over the place, but I don't want to make it myself and to keep the wife happy (shared study between the two of us), I'd like it to look "professional". http://www.hobbyzone.pl/en/ are obviously excellent and I will almost certainly look to buy from them, but can anyone suggest any alternatives that I am unaware of?

Thanks.

Nail polish trays are popular for paint organization. I know I once saw a modular set of lone, narrow shelves/drawers, for for the life of me forget the name. Someone was using them in a blog here, hopefully they will stop by.

Edit: It was Briancj, here is the post with the links, pic is a few up from that.

If you have a wall and are willing to put up some peg board, that keeps tools and such neat.

If you search a bit here, there have been a number of threads on how people have their desks/spaces set up. Or just look in the background of people’s WIP pics in blogs. If you see something you like, most people will be willing to point you to where they got it.

Not that I’m much help there. Besides a nice workbench, I’m a mess.

Thanks for the suggestions. I like the art supply drawers that were in the thread too. I will certainly do some research down those lines.

The backdrop to many of my WIPs is the really useful box organizer rack thingy. I love the clippy lids for the really useful boxes.

I have the hobbyzone set. Its nice, assembly required.

What I needed most: paint storage
What I needed the least, papertowel dispenser
What I am still working on: organizing the drawers.

Over all they are GREAT. In fact it is more that I have yet to decide, still, as to what I want where how and WHY.

Like most hobbyists I've spent decades with plastic drawer carts and tons of little storage boxes all scattered hither tither and yon.

Anyways, had em since christmas and am still sorting out usage. It's a case of having more organizing potential than I ever had before and being stymied on the being asked to be so.. organized.. when I am used to being a total chaotic mess.

 Flinty wrote:
The backdrop to many of my WIPs is the really useful box organizer rack thingy. I love the clippy lids for the really useful boxes.

Ah, yes. I had forgotten about the fact they did those smaller boxes. I will definitely invest in some of those for organising my bits a bit better! Nice construction work, by the way.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

meatybtz wrote:
I have the hobbyzone set. Its nice, assembly required.

What I needed most: paint storage
What I needed the least, papertowel dispenser
What I am still working on: organizing the drawers.

Over all they are GREAT. In fact it is more that I have yet to decide, still, as to what I want where how and WHY.

Like most hobbyists I've spent decades with plastic drawer carts and tons of little storage boxes all scattered hither tither and yon.

Anyways, had em since christmas and am still sorting out usage. It's a case of having more organizing potential than I ever had before and being stymied on the being asked to be so.. organized.. when I am used to being a total chaotic mess.

Thanks for the quick review and it is very pleasing to hear that they are working well for you. I was interested to read your comment on the papertowel dispenser! I had thought about getting one but was in two minds, so I will take your word on it and not purchase that in favour of more drawers and shelves for the edges of the units. I will probably end up with a top level of paints, brushes and tools and then a layer below with a variety of different drawers, with the possibility of adding a further layer of drawers at a later date should the need arise - yay for modular systems! Did you buy one of their 'showcase' units? I can see the point of having a dedicated place for work in progress so that you can work on multiple projects at the same time without having them clutter the place up. If you did, which size did you get and any thoughts on your choice of size?

Cheers.

I find hardware stores to be good places to find organizers, since mechanics deal with the same tool and small parts challenges as your average hobbyist. Plus they tend to be much cheaper than hobby-specialized gear.

Personally I love these portable Stanley organizers for my bits. They stack well in the closet, move out to the workspace when I need them, and you can pop out the bins you need. Once you're done with a sprue, clip off all the extra bits and sort them away for later.

 InyokaMadoda wrote:

 Flinty wrote:
The backdrop to many of my WIPs is the really useful box organizer rack thingy. I love the clippy lids for the really useful boxes.

Ah, yes. I had forgotten about the fact they did those smaller boxes. I will definitely invest in some of those for organising my bits a bit better! Nice construction work, by the way.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

meatybtz wrote:
I have the hobbyzone set. Its nice, assembly required.

What I needed most: paint storage
What I needed the least, papertowel dispenser
What I am still working on: organizing the drawers.

Over all they are GREAT. In fact it is more that I have yet to decide, still, as to what I want where how and WHY.

Like most hobbyists I've spent decades with plastic drawer carts and tons of little storage boxes all scattered hither tither and yon.

Anyways, had em since christmas and am still sorting out usage. It's a case of having more organizing potential than I ever had before and being stymied on the being asked to be so.. organized.. when I am used to being a total chaotic mess.

Thanks for the quick review and it is very pleasing to hear that they are working well for you. I was interested to read your comment on the papertowel dispenser! I had thought about getting one but was in two minds, so I will take your word on it and not purchase that in favour of more drawers and shelves for the edges of the units. I will probably end up with a top level of paints, brushes and tools and then a layer below with a variety of different drawers, with the possibility of adding a further layer of drawers at a later date should the need arise - yay for modular systems! Did you buy one of their 'showcase' units? I can see the point of having a dedicated place for work in progress so that you can work on multiple projects at the same time without having them clutter the place up. If you did, which size did you get and any thoughts on your choice of size?

Cheers.

No problem. I love the fact they are modular as well.

On Tool Storage: This is a tough one. I like the tool organizer. I don't like the tool organizer. Both are true. The core is, tools that fit in the various tool organization options=great. The problem is tools that don't fit. I've got those too. So it kind of breaks the "organization" to need to move some tools here and other tools into a drawer out of sight. That's something to consider. I have lots of various forms of hemostats and tweezers of all sizes. I've got sculpting tools that also run the gamut from tiny to huge. My drill bits.. hrm. Plenty of brush storage though. More than I have brushes.

That's kind of the problem with any "premade" it will fit most but not all. How you handle the "not" portion determines how useful the system ends up being. I still find myself wishing for a modular drawer component for my styrene sheets and tubes, etc.

I didn't get any of the showcase systems because I made my own "project trays" some time back. Made of wood and felt. The felt won't pool washes nor stick paint and wreck things if you have to put them down while wet for the most part. Plus the trays are somewhat sizeable and allow me to keep squads and batches together. Surprisingly they store well enough when not in use in the modular system so, there is that.

I'd take pictures but it is a chaotic mess and an embarrassment at the moment. Even the Warp Shuns my desk, too chaotic.

Juggling a 10 month old and a 4 year old as well as work has kept me from being on top of things.

I have some paint racks at my local store but would love a GW pot sized fol out toolbox storage thing. Like a sewing /tackle box that folds out.

Watching this space. Good thread.

 Argive wrote:
I have some paint racks at my local store but would love a GW pot sized fol out toolbox storage thing. Like a sewing /tackle box that folds out.

Watching this space. Good thread.

Got something like that, but smaller from of all places, Walmart.

meatybtz wrote:

No problem. I love the fact they are modular as well.

On Tool Storage: This is a tough one. I like the tool organizer. I don't like the tool organizer. Both are true. The core is, tools that fit in the various tool organization options=great. The problem is tools that don't fit. I've got those too. So it kind of breaks the "organization" to need to move some tools here and other tools into a drawer out of sight. That's something to consider. I have lots of various forms of hemostats and tweezers of all sizes. I've got sculpting tools that also run the gamut from tiny to huge. My drill bits.. hrm. Plenty of brush storage though. More than I have brushes.

That's kind of the problem with any "premade" it will fit most but not all. How you handle the "not" portion determines how useful the system ends up being. I still find myself wishing for a modular drawer component for my styrene sheets and tubes, etc.

I didn't get any of the showcase systems because I made my own "project trays" some time back. Made of wood and felt. The felt won't pool washes nor stick paint and wreck things if you have to put them down while wet for the most part. Plus the trays are somewhat sizeable and allow me to keep squads and batches together. Surprisingly they store well enough when not in use in the modular system so, there is that.

I'd take pictures but it is a chaotic mess and an embarrassment at the moment. Even the Warp Shuns my desk, too chaotic.

Juggling a 10 month old and a 4 year old as well as work has kept me from being on top of things.

Juggling kids and hobby? I hear you! I have a 4 year old and a 7 year old. It doesn’t get easier....

I’d love to see a photo of the trays and how they fit the modular if you can bear it?

Tool organisation - that’s a very interesting point. Thanks. I will have to give that more thought. Maybe one of the free standing brush units and something else for tools, maybe just drawer space... Not sure. More thinking needed.

Thanks for sharing. It is very helpful!

Formerly Wu wrote:I find hardware stores to be good places to find organizers, since mechanics deal with the same tool and small parts challenges as your average hobbyist. Plus they tend to be much cheaper than hobby-specialized gear.

Personally I love these portable Stanley organizers for my bits. They stack well in the closet, move out to the workspace when I need them, and you can pop out the bins you need. Once you're done with a sprue, clip off all the extra bits and sort them away for later.

That’s a fair shout on those took cases from hardware stores. Might pursue those for bits boxes. Much cheaper than other systems of hobby boxes. Thank you.

Argive wrote:I have some paint racks at my local store but would love a GW pot sized fol out toolbox storage thing. Like a sewing /tackle box that folds out.

Watching this space. Good thread.

I’m glad the thread is helpful to others too! A foldout thing would be good. I saw something like that once - I’ll have a hunt and see what I can find an get back to you... cheers.


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Found one - not quite as you’ve described and not cheap, but scroll down to the three drawer storage cube.

http://www.sphereproducts.co.uk/#!/Paint-Racks/c/16219818/offset=0&sort=normal

Thanks for the link. I have one of the the MDF racks.
They are deceptively bulky sadly so it doeant really fit on my desk(which is also a pc desk with tower and monitor) :(

I think something like this would be good for paint storage.. I founds some contenders by looking on amazon/interwebs for folding tackle/sewing/craft boxes/. But its not possible to tell if the dimensions would be right for paint pots :(

If anyone has tips on something along those lines for citadel pots please link us

I've got something very like the lower one. The upper trays are too small for GW pots but might take dropper bottles sideways. You can fit double stacked GW pots in the bottom the thing though.