MatasKershys Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 I will be starting my first model kit very soon, but first I need to clean up a spare room in my basement and make it cosy and suitable for working with model kits. Maybe anyone wants to share their own workbench setups? And give me some tips and ideas on what to do and what to make? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOBLNG Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 Welcome Matas. Any flat surface will work. The number one thing for me is LOTS of light! Number two is shelves and drawers to keep paints and supplies in. This is a desk from Ikea that I have modified slightly. I also use magnetic hooks on the refrigerator beside me for hanging items on. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatasKershys Posted January 2, 2021 Author Share Posted January 2, 2021 1 hour ago, NOBLNG said: Welcome Matas. Any flat surface will work. The number one thing for me is LOTS of light! Number two is shelves and drawers to keep paints and supplies in. This is a desk from Ikea that I have modified slightly. I also use magnetic hooks on the refrigerator beside me for hanging items on. There is a pretty big desk in basement with 4 drawers on each side that I am going to use, I was thinking about making shelves, but dont want them to be collecting dust and pouring them on my working area and painted parts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Straightliner59 Posted January 4, 2021 Share Posted January 4, 2021 On 1/2/2021 at 6:55 AM, MatasKershys said: I was thinking about making shelves, but dont want them to be collecting dust and pouring them on my working area and painted parts The advantages of shelves far outweigh their disadvantages. They create space. You'll soon find you need all of that you can get! ? Here's my setup. It's taken me many years to put my shop together. It's small, but everything is easy to access, based on frequency of use. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCRWDRVR Posted January 4, 2021 Share Posted January 4, 2021 As you build the space you need will never seem big enough, I got back to building about 2 years ago and set this work area up then in my basement I continue to rearrange stuff to improve it, this half of my basement is storage other than my work area. Behind where I sit is my stash and paint booth.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misterNNL Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 Great thread. Our work benches are our come zones where everything is basically at arms length and the music is just loud enough to drown out the constant negative news coming over the TV. One year we actually had a full size modeling work bench loaded like those shown here as the object of a contest at one of our Toledo NNL shows. The bench was very carefully curated to be circa 1962. There was one item on that bench that was not correct for that era and the object of this was to correctly identify that item to win a prize. There were hundreds of parts to look through including kit parts, tools,etc. It was a lot of fun and got a lot of attention. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Geiger Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 Older photo of my workbench, not much has changed, except it’s messier! Bench is actually a hollow core door wrapped in brown paper, sitting on top of two old nightstands. The actual work area is an old board, partly covered with thick glass. The board is important to protect the bench, as I can drill into it and spill things on it. I also have a few holes drilled in it to hold pieces for sanding and such. The glass was originally the lens on a full size Xerox copier. Perfectly flat for precision work, and I clean it with a razor blade occasionally. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOBLNG Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 1 hour ago, Tom Geiger said: The glass was originally the lens on a full size Xerox copier. Perfectly flat for precision work, and I clean it with a razor blade occasionally. The glass is absolutely great for certain tasks. I have four 12”x12” pieces of 3/16 thick glass with polished edges that I use. I can’t recall where I got them? As for my bench...I should have put a piece of plywood down on it. I have drilled through my cutting mat a number of times already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hedotwo Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 2 hours ago, misterNNL said: Great thread. Our work benches are our come zones where everything is basically at arms length and the music is just loud enough to drown out the constant negative news coming over the TV. My retirement cave. Love the comment about drowning out the negative news..... I have all I need at arms length. I'd say that lighting is probably my most important concern. I spend alot of time here so lighting makes a big difference on my 68 year old eyes. My computer is the second most important tool... love looking up reference stuff for my builds and listening to music ? I have three Ikea rolling drawers that I love and have full of my tools, plastic stock, etc. Matter of fact, the tables are Ikea as well. I built the wooden shelving that I have my paints on. I use plastic shoebox sized containers from Target to hold my projects. Cheap and work great. This cave didn't happen overnight, but it's been worth it 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deuces ll Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 That's^^^^^what I like!... ?? Lots of elbow room...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Geiger Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 A funny story.. when I was moved from NJ to PA for a job, the company sent a realtor in to evaluate my house.. came from a high end realty company. In her report she referred to my model room as “the room full of junk and debris “! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deuces ll Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 They never seen my house.....?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopherMcGinnis Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 Let's see some other work benches. I'm about to set up a room for building. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camaro lover Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 This topic is a big help for me. I’m getting ready to convert my 8 x 10 walk in closet into my new hobby room. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Straightliner59 Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 2 hours ago, Camaro lover said: This topic is a big help for me. I’m getting ready to convert my 8 x 10 walk in closet into my new hobby room. That's about what my shop is (actually, 7'x9'). I built a bunch of wood shelves that sit on my benches. I have a paint booth, a Dremel workstation, a combo disc/belt sander, and a Sherline 4000 lathe and a 5400 mill. And, my stash, too! It all fits, and I love it, because almost everything's within easy reach. It remains a work in progress, as I keep discovering little refinements in the organization of it. If you have any questions, I might be able to help, as I have some experience with putting 10 pounds of stuff in a five pound bag! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Chernosky Posted March 8 Share Posted March 8 A dedicated workspace is absolutely essential if you are going to persue this hobby. So you are on the right track here. Check out this thread from a few months ago on this site. It will be very helpful to you. Lots of great set-ups. https://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/181794-bench-dicipline/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keef Posted March 9 Share Posted March 9 Here’s my workbench and my storage unit. Workbench is 8ft long and 42 inches deep as well as 42 inches high. Storage shelf is from Home Depot and is 4 feet wide and 6 feet tall and 2 feet deep. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mothersworry Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 MY LIL' SHOP OF HORRORS... 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keef Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 8 hours ago, Mothersworry said: MY LIL' SHOP OF HORRORS... Oh the humanity 🙄😂🤣😂🤣 VERY nice workspace by the way! 👍🏻 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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