What does your workshop look like?

[JDgreen227]

There are obviously members here on TBN whose shops are always cluttered and disorganized, and members whose shops are always perfectly sorted out and organized (most likely the members who don't do much)....:laughing:

I fall between the two extremes, because at any given time I have at least 5 to 10 little projects going on and my workbench tops are piled with tools, parts, hardware, manuals, etc. and as the days go by I become really lax about putting things back where they should be. About every 3 weeks I take several hours to sort out the clutter and restock everything where it belongs, and vow to myself "From now on, I will put stuff BACK when I am done, and I will also FINISH one thing before I begin another. Yeah, right.

How about you guys? Always messy, always organized, or in between?

 

[JB4310]

I'm pretty neat and organized, that's what everyone tells me when they see my work shop or truck. Most people agree it's an attribute and definitely helps when running a business. But it could also be a little OCD too :confused2:
Like everything else, there has to be a balance.

If you enjoy your hobby or work you will probably keep things more organized, not always though, like you mentioned having several projects going on at once.

If it's just a job you don't really like, there's more of a chance your work area will show it.

JB

 

[forgeblast]

Mess atm. The barn goes through stages. Like today for example we are supposed to hook up the sub panel, and the lights. So there is wire and tools out.
While waiting for my buddy and his dad, I framed a wall for our other shed, cut some top bars for my bee's and sharpened up a few carving tools. I also had staples to put away from working on the fence, and had to winterized some spray tools.
Its much cleaner then it was this morning but what I find is that with my little one being 3, I get things done in spurts. So there is more out which means more mess.
Once I get the garden shed done, all my hand/garden tools will be there along with all my bee equipment, and my pesticides which will leave the barn as a workshop only instead of storage and workshop.
It comes down to space, and storage, I find I need more of both.

 

[brin]

I miss my old shop....When we lived on the farm I had a 24' x24' shop with a wood stove, insulated with electric and water 3 long work benches , walls had peg board, I had a window AC unit for the summer...then we sold the house on the farm and the buildings but kept all the land except we sold 6 ac. with the house...then we built our new house 5 miles away next to our son on acreage we also owned...but now my shop is down in our basement...It is just not the same...I don't enjoy working down there near as much as when I was outside in my old shop...More info than you needed but I am just venting..

I keep my shop in a constant stage of disorganization...what can I say...every once in awhile my Mrs. will harass me into cleaning it and it looks great until the next series of projects and I go back to organized Chaos....LOL

 

[GGB]

You guys with messy shops make me feel much better about mine-yeah, it's usually a disaster area that looks like the tornado just left!

But it's MY mess!!!

 

[JB4310]

Once I get the garden shed done, all my hand/garden tools will be there along with all my bee equipment, and my pesticides which will leave the barn as a workshop only instead of storage and workshop.
It comes down to space, and storage, I find I need more of both.

Shelves, racks, file cabinets etc. That's the critical piece of the puzzle to organization.

I'm a an absolute shelf nut, before you put anything in your shop, put as many shelves/ racks/ cabinets as you can. that way there will be nothing on the floor or work benches.

My neighbor had a shop twice as big as mine, but you couldn't even walk thru it, everything was on the floor.

I bought a bunch of store warehouse racking from service merchandise when they were closing, not the real HD stuff but still heavy enough for my needs.
3 feet deep and 8 foot wide, floor to ceiling. I've got it in my garage, shop, shed, attic storage container and basement.

JB

 

[brin]

Shelves, racks, file cabinets etc. That's the critical piece of the puzzle to organization.

I'm a an absolute shelf nut, before you put anything in your shop, put as many shelves/ racks/ cabinets as you can. that way there will be nothing on the floor or work benches.

My neighbor had a shop twice as big as mine, but you couldn't even walk thru it, everything was on the floor.

I bought a bunch of store warehouse racking from service merchandise when they were closing, not the real HD stuff but still heavy enough for my needs.
3 feet deep and 8 foot wide, floor to ceiling. I've got it in my garage, shop, shed, attic storage container and basement.

JB

Show Off ! I bought some similar shelves from Sam's Club..you are exactly right , shelves create free space and does Peg Board on the walls ...both of which I am a big fan of....you are well organized it looks like..Nice !

 

[MF 1532]

I am a clean , neat , organized .... it's nice to be able to find what you are looking for , but it's probably a little crazy :confused2:

 

[JDgreen227]

I am a clean , neat , organized .... it's nice to be able to find what you are looking for , but it's probably a little crazy :confused2:

OP here....they say an organized person is simply too lazy to look for things...:laughing: and believe me if I know I have something I absolutely HATE to search for it.

 

[JDgreen227]

This is my primary garage workshop...it should always be this neat but I am too lazy most times to keep it this way. Shelves and files, yes, very important. The big rolling workbench the snowblower sits atop was made from a 3'X6" office table....the 4 wheeled yard cart holds practically anything else I need for carpentry and home repair tasks. The roller bench gets used outside in the better weather, and between that and the yard cart I don't have to run in to fetch tools very often.

 

[easygo]

Here is one of my "shop" a couple of years ago. I clearly need some shelves...

 

[forgeblast]

I like that rolling table, I may do that I have a table that is kind of in the way put rollers with lockers on it i can still use it but move it when I am done.

I finally got power to my barn today, I will be throwing in the lights this week...Its amazing I will be able to run more then one tool, and have lights at the same time.

I actually did a lot today made 4 hive boxes with topbars and 1/2 bars on the side for my warre bee hives, framed out a wall, played with the kiddo, and I was able to get some work in on my solar air heater. Almost done, I changed the design so I need to get some insulated flex duct. full write up will follow once its in and tweeked.

 

[slowzuki]

My shop is currently a disaster, 32x40 with a mezzanine, full to the brim. Near 100 projects on the go right now, new baby in the home, work is busy too. I have been fighting to stay ahead but its hopeless right now.

I have racks up, they're full. I have more racking to go up, but it needs a place to go, so right now they are just taking up space too. I've moved a lot of stuff out onto pallets out back but its not enough.

Biggest culprit is building materials. Lifts of lumber, pallets of plywood, bags and bags of insulation etc. Using them up in some of the 100 or so projects.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Shelves, racks, file cabinets etc. That's the critical piece of the puzzle to organization.

I'm a an absolute shelf nut, before you put anything in your shop, put as many shelves/ racks/ cabinets as you can. that way there will be nothing on the floor or work benches.

My neighbor had a shop twice as big as mine, but you couldn't even walk thru it, everything was on the floor.

I bought a bunch of store warehouse racking from service merchandise when they were closing, not the real HD stuff but still heavy enough for my needs.
3 feet deep and 8 foot wide, floor to ceiling. I've got it in my garage, shop, shed, attic storage container and basement.

JB

:laughing: Mower deck on the shelf...

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Our shop is a 12'x24' section of the garage. I try to keep it clean, but after a project my dad dumps all his tools and materials on the 16' long bench.

I have to go and clean up after him. If I don't, the pile on top of it will reach over 2' high. Then I can't work on any of my projects. :confused2:

 

[grsthegreat]

My shop has totally gotten out of hand. I used to keep it all organized, but those days are long gone.

I have decided to completely empty the entire thing next summer and insulate the walls and ceiling. Then start all over and re-organize it and toss out alot of junk. Ive just had it.

I'm spending more and more time out there in the winter, and without the insulation its costing too much to heat it. So ill kill two birds with a single stone as it were.

Well thats the idea at any rate.

 

[cschulz]

Here is mine. Gets out of hand in the summer months when Im trying to get projects done. But all and all I try to keep it clean and organized. 30'x40' at 10'walls

Chris

 

[300UGUY]

Here is mine. Gets out of hand in the summer months when Im trying to get projects done. But all and all I try to keep it clean and organized. 30'x40' at 10'walls

Chris

Nice "happy place". Like the GM thing, too.

 

[JDgreen227]

I am fortunate to live about 7 miles from a large local university that has what is termed a "Surplus Store" and two days a week the doors are open to the public, one can buy tables, files, shelving, and a huge assortment of everything else the university has no further use for, an attachment shows the workbench tops I got from their discards pile (free stuff) and used for my garden shed. The shed at one time was the milk house for the farm I live on, it was open to the elements with no windows or door. I installed a door, plexiglass windows, then built stud walls on the "L" shape shown. Behind the wall to the right is about 8 full cords of firewood!!!

 

[forgeblast]

I love seeing all the pictures of the plastic 4-5 gallon containers. I use them all the time to prep for a project. In a pinch you can turn them over for a step ladder too.