Unclutter a cluttered workbench

[Boxheadmr]

Hi, i was hopeful for some guidance from the Garage Journal members with my bench. It is a little all over the place and i neer some help with what to do.

I was thinking of starting over again and putting peg board over the window area down to the bench and removing the shelf. Also peg board the right hand section and then move the manuals, stereo up onto a shelf on the peg board in the corner to gain back some bench space.

Would love some guidance if possible,

 

[dogdog]

...... compare your work bench to mine.... it looks very well organized.

 

[coljar]

...... compare your work bench to mine.... it looks very well organized.

I was thinking the same thing...........

 

[Jere]

Do you have any other storage areas to move non essentials to like a loft? That would be a good place to start. How often do you use the stuff in the small bins? The space where those small blue bins are could be a floor to ceiling rack of large tubs/milk crates and pack a lot of stuff away. Think if you scrap it or throw it all in one storage tub? Either way those small blue bins are a lot of wasted space
If you are a pegboard person pegboard will free up a lot of space if not it can just make everything harder to find.

 

[Boxheadmr]

I hadnt considered the bin section but what you said makes sense as i dont use it much.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

You could start by putting things away. Right now it looks more like a shelf than a bench... Of course, I'm the pot calling the kettle black on this one. My bench is always a disaster in the spring since for some reason things kinda get tossed in it all winter... I gotta break myself of that habit.

Tommy

 

[Shadowdog500]

I would not cover that window with anything. It provides lots of natural light, and is an escape route if your house catches fire (assuming that shop is in your basement)

I see some stuff that needs to be put away. Everything from the computer down to the bench grinder looks like permanent clutter unless you want to move the computer.
Could you move the nut and bolt bins off of the bench to clear it up a bit. Little things like that on a bench tends to get company for some reason.

Good luck with the fight to unclutter your bench, we all have that fight.

Chris

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

IMO Get rid of the stereo, TV and artwork, (they take up too much space). I'd get the computer off the bench as well. Add more shelves or organizers. If the books are shop related get them into a file cabinet.
Get that grinder away from the computer and any other sensitive equipment. If you want a clean workbench get it on a stand by itself. I'd put it by the left end near the vise. Try making the right end a "clean" work area.

 

[johnny ro]

I suggest a shift in basic view of bench's role may be in order. LS6T points out it looks more like a shelf than a bench. You need more storage and a clean, well lighted empty bench.

I am old enough to have taken "shop" in high school and remember instructor yelling "Clean Up!" 5 minutes before class ended. We put everything away and left a clean workspace for next class. So, dedicate ongoing 10% of time to straightening up. I believe you will work faster with the other 90% and like it more once you get there.

My workbench is just OK but must always have nothing on it except a project in action if any. All parts and tools and materials belong in dedicated storage, off the bench. Including stalled projects, must go on shelf somewhere. This limits me as I really don't have that much space.

I built floor to ceiling 2 foot deep carpeted shelving, encroaching on car spot as a compromise. Car still fits.

Another shelf solution I have used in past is the perimeter shelf, one foot down from ceiling running around the whole room. Odds and ends go up and away.

 

[johnny ro]

Part 2- my own rule of storage is it should be 70% full. More than that and you need more storage, less than that and you are not busy enough. 70% simply looks right to me.

I envy you your fun with this project.

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

My quick observation.. hang the welding helmet from a bicycle hook from the ceiling (or on the tank of the welder, and hang the dust pan / broom from the leg of your workbench. That frees up a whole peg board to fill up w/ stuff on the bench. Then, move the small parts bins to under the bench, and continue from there.

Good luck..

 

[tehach]

IMO Get rid of the stereo, TV and artwork, (they take up too much space). I'd get the computer off the bench as well. Add more shelves or organizers. If the books are shop related get them into a file cabinet.
.

That's what I would do also. Ditch the stereo, art, and speakers from the bench. Find a different place for them where they're not in working space. The tv is blocking things, get rid of it.

IMO.

 

[Chevy-SS]

Shelves is the big thing IMHO. The workbench top is kinda like garage floor space - before you know it, clutter takes hold. The key is to get things off the floor and off the benchtop. This usually means shelves.

Make some custom shelves and put them right up to the ceiling, then stack everything away.

Good luck. Clutter is a problem that every single one of us on this forum is fighting all the time, LOL.

-

 

[tipsy]

Basically agree. Bench looks like a shelf. Most of those little parts drawers should be up on a shelf or hanging on the wall. Don't cover the window! Hang up the helmet and keep the laptop somewhere else that's clean! Books magazines, stereo, all those items that are resting on the bench should be resting on shelves. I agree word for word with ls6 tommy!

 

[lilredex]

Your bench is a lot like mine, an on going project. My bench is 24" deep, so I pulled it out from the wall and added the stepped shelf (9" deep X 5" high). I added the step so the drawers on it would have a better chance of clearing any projects on the bench.






Note the HD adjustable shelves below from this well thought out Instructable.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Garage-Reno-Organization/





Some time down the road, I hope to add a tool board to the end wall, something like this well planned gem.



Edit.. One more, to organize the area around your DP.

http://vintagemachinery.org/photoindex/detail.aspx?id=8810

 

[bbrz]

You could start by putting things away. Right now it looks more like a shelf than a bench... Of course, I'm the pot calling the kettle black on this one. My bench is always a disaster in the spring since for some reason things kinda get tossed in it all winter... I gotta break myself of that habit.

Tommy

Me too!

 

[Boxheadmr]

Thankyou for all the feedback. Please keep it coming as you have inspired me to make some changes.
I have moved all the books and the stereo and put them onto a shelving unit against the other wall and i have also grabbed some movable shelves and installed into the spot where the books were. I used some pine board to make the shelves with cut to length.

I will move the metal peg board behind the grinder although i can only get two panels in there which is a shame, i was thinking of making a little corner shelf about 300mm to fill the gap and also get some more shelf space.

 

[Boxheadmr]

A little more progress now.

I might move the grinder at a latter stage as i will have to make up a base for it.
It has made a lot more room, i got the 3rd peg board panel on the side of the shelves whic i can hang long things from now which is much improved.
I have run out of hooks but will get them at another time.

The extra shelves for the stereo actually make it better as its more in the center of the garage.

Feedback welcome

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

Looking Good!!

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

The look is improving a lot.

In my opinion, stuff you rarely almost never use (like the roll of foam tape?) needs to be stored out of sight in the bins. On the pegboard should be stuff you use all the time, or nearly so. The truly frequently used tools should be at the bottom and the less often used should be nearer the top.

 

[Boxheadmr]

The look is improving a lot.

In my opinion, stuff you rarely almost never use (like the roll of foam tape?) needs to be stored out of sight in the bins. On the pegboard should be stuff you use all the time, or nearly so. The truly frequently used tools should be at the bottom and the less often used should be nearer the top.

Thats a good suggestion.

I have tried with stuff like this to stick stuff out in view as i seem to keep buying new stuff i already have.
But you are right and i might look again at the labeling of my storage containers instead.

Is there a good system to use for labeling storage containers?

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

Continuous improvement..

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

. ...Is there a good system to use for labeling storage containers?

I use a Brother P-Touch labeler because I got it from work AND because I don't have good handwriting.

If you DO have good writing, just buy a fat marking pen or even a calligraphy pen and masking tape.

 

[lilredex]

I have used this one..

http://acme.com/labelmaker/labelmak...r3=none&filter4=none&filter5=none&r=743255390

 

[johnny ro]

Quite the transformation.

I have my bench grinder mounted on a slab of plywood big enough so it wont ever tip over. Rubber feet under. It goes under the bench when not in use. Next to the belt sander and table saw, down under.

My second bench has a vice on a movable platform, same setup.

I have side by side stainless Costco rollaways. One for tools, one for parts of all sorts. I would not have the pegboard, tools are all stowed.

Consider different shelf depths as you go towards ceiling. Shallow down low, deep up high for the stuff that collects dust anyway. I see empty space towards ceiling andover some objects.

I see you thought of what goes on shelf before setting heights. My side shelves, where car gets unloaded, are built asymmetrically; same waist high surface to unload the car except lower by window and irregular below to fit various sizes of buckets and bags and cans.

The brick is pretty. Absorbs light. I like white paint and a lot of lights but would not paint that brick unless its gonna get dirty.

I have commercial carpet squares throughout the house and then on shop surfaces including bench and shelves. Parts don't run for it so much when dropped and things don't get scratched.

Think wiremold 120v outlets along bench front edge or along back.

I would lose the light and put in many screw in sockets, a row over bench and a row behind, although I dont have a feel for the total room layout. I have several rows front to back in my garage and side-shop. Others seem to prefer florescent sticks. Mine has no shadows, mostly.

 

[Boxheadmr]

I use a Brother P-Touch labeler because I got it from work AND because I don't have good handwriting.

If you DO have good writing, just buy a fat marking pen or even a calligraphy pen and masking tape.

I have a Dymo but would just labeling each container with everything in it be the best bet or is there some sort of code. I have seen something on toolboxes eg "cutting" or cut for all things that cut etc.

Was wondering if someone had done a bit of a system for storage containers.