Ideas for a Workshop

[Maker]

Empty 8g N2O cannisters make reasonable handles for small files, you can usually find them littering the gutter. Friendly coffee shop might give you some if you ask nicely, they just go in the bin otherwise.

Not as nice as wood admittedly, and a bit small but free and instant, a lot better than impaling yourself on the tang anyway.

 

[Arc Tourist]

Empty 8g N2O cannisters make reasonable handles for small files, you can usually find them littering the gutter. Friendly coffee shop might give you some if you ask nicely, they just go in the bin otherwise.
View attachment 315225
Not as nice as wood admittedly, and a bit small but free and instant, a lot better than impaling yourself on the tang anyway.

Here's my solution for handles. Golf balls are very comfortable in the hand, especially when added to a chuck key which gives you more leverage.

 

[Maker]

Worth considering reels for air, leccy and OA.

View attachment 314252

A Neutrik Powercon connector is a nice addition to a leccy reel. It lets you have really short cables on tools so they're easy to put away, but gives you the convenience of a long cable when you use it. Initially I only put it on "workshop" tools but I've started putting them on everything and just made up a long cable with the socket on the end so I can use them away from the reel/outside the workshop.



Admittedly, they're not cheap but they're very nicely made with GF reinforced plastic and torx headed screw terminals. Much less bulky then CEEform, latching so better than IEC, IP67 rated (When mated) and UV stable so perfect outside. Both male and female come in cable and panel mount type so you can put them on the back of welders and have no tail. You can even get panel mount passthrough ones too so you could have a single cable feeding a welder for example and have an outlet on the back to plug a grinder in, no fecking about with trailing sockets.

 

[8ob]

A Neutrik Powercon connector is a nice addition to a leccy reel. All my tools have nice short cables on them so they're easy to put away but I've also got a long powercon cable so I can still use them away from the reel/outside the workshop.

Another gadget I have never seen and now want Also makes them a lot less borrowable

Bob

 

[James1979]

A Neutrik Powercon connector is a nice addition to a leccy reel. It lets you have really short cables on tools so they're easy to put away, but gives you the convenience of a long cable when you use it. Initially I only put it on "workshop" tools but I've started putting them on everything and just made up a long cable with the socket on the end so I can use them away from the reel/outside the workshop.
View attachment 315386
View attachment 315387

Admittedly, they're not cheap but they're very nicely made with GF reinforced plastic and torx headed screw terminals. Much less bulky then CEEform, latching so better than IEC, IP67 rated (When mated) and UV stable so perfect outside. Both male and female come in cable and panel mount type so you can put them on the back of welders and have no tail. You can even get panel mount passthrough ones too so you could have a single cable feeding a welder for example and have an outlet on the back to plug a grinder in, no fecking about with trailing sockets.

My Castolin mig has a grinder socket. Never seen another. It’s damn useful

 

[nickk]

Did someone mention drill storage?

 

[Onoff]

Joking aside I clearly have a serious case of hoarderitis.

I solidly built this bench out of 18mm ply some years back. Double 18mm ply on top and full depth 18mm verticals and back. 2.4m long and 600mm deep. It's in effect got pigeon holes underneath, each one taking two of those folding crates.

This is in my garage. I've come to the conclusion that without masses of space I need to separate storage and working areas. On a regular basis I don't use any of this stuff.

This is AFTER a tidy up. In essence everything has its place although these tubs have assorted screws in for instance that need further sorting. I went through a phase of buying the clip on bins from Screwfix but have moved onto ice cream tubs and old, cut down oil cans.

Great but I can't work in the bench!

Work in progress!

Next I think is a rolling floor drawer for offcuts that I can hide under the front of one of the cars. Idea nicked from @Screwdriver.

 

[Onoff]

I reckon that if I can get everything sorted in "tubs", whether it be Cornish ice cream or the Screwfix ones, I can take a stab at the m2 required to keep them. Perhaps I'll dedicate the 10x8 shed to just them.

A source of cheap, metal louvre panels would be good!

 

[James1979]

A source of cheap, metal louvre panels would be good!

That’s my issue! I’ve hundreds of linbins, bought cheap from auction. They’re pence. Can’t get the panels for love nor money.

I put strips of flat bar on the wall stood off with washers which works but it’s not brilliant

 

[slim_boy_fat]

@Onoff You've got as much available work space as I have, which is why the 'project' Quorn grinder is having to go.

I love your emergency glass and bottle of ale!!

 

[Cuthy246]

A Neutrik Powercon connector is a nice addition to a leccy reel. It lets you have really short cables on tools so they're easy to put away, but gives you the convenience of a long cable when you use it. Initially I only put it on "workshop" tools but I've started putting them on everything and just made up a long cable with the socket on the end so I can use them away from the reel/outside the workshop.
View attachment 315386
View attachment 315387

Admittedly, they're not cheap but they're very nicely made with GF reinforced plastic and torx headed screw terminals. Much less bulky then CEEform, latching so better than IEC, IP67 rated (When mated) and UV stable so perfect outside. Both male and female come in cable and panel mount type so you can put them on the back of welders and have no tail. You can even get panel mount passthrough ones too so you could have a single cable feeding a welder for example and have an outlet on the back to plug a grinder in, no fecking about with trailing sockets.

An idea borrowed from Marius Hornberger? Have been meaning to do something similar for ages.

 

[Onoff]

I love your emergency glass and bottle of ale!!

That was my carrot last night to make me sift through the pile of tat on the bench once and for all. Worst of all was the box of 1/2" panel pins that had spilt at some time. Bloody hundreds of the things! There was bits of insulation where I'd stripped wires, Vero pins, broken bits of obscure plastic, the pins out if pop rivets etc. Then odd electrical connectors, old capacitors with one leg. Add a big shovel full of dust and rust.

It was a laborious task interspersed with vacuuming to clear the bench top bit by bit.

My garage is like one of those kids games where you have to move the squares around! Trouble being all my squares are filled.

 

[Arc Tourist]

........................................................... My garage is like one of those kids games where you have to move the squares around! Trouble being all my squares are filled.

View attachment 316003

That flashes back a memory, had one of those Square Game's back in the the early 1960's, lol. Know the feeling about moving machines and things to do one project, and then back and forth to do others; not enough room.

Edit: At least I can find things, although it takes a bit of time; storage consists of numbered surplus military containers and a list of what is in each box.

 

[Maker]

An idea borrowed from Marius Hornberger? Have been meaning to do something similar for ages.

Inspired by Festool, I didn't see his video untill after I'd done it.

 

[Cuthy246]

Inspired by Festool, I didn't see his video untill after I'd done it.

Think he may have pinched it from them too. Great idea really

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Know the feeling about moving machines and things to do one project, and then back and forth to do others; not enough room.

At least you have room for 2 X chairs - do you often have spectators when working?

 

[Arc Tourist]

At least you have room for 2 X chairs - do you often have spectators when working?

Only if one wants to sit on the chair upside down. Those chairs are gone, but now the garage has less room with the stuff in it than the storage facility had, but at least that expense is now history.

 

[Onoff]

Squared up a bit of buffalo board to make one of those wheely tray things for offcuts like @Screwdriver . The size will be whatever size it is as long as it'll fit under the front of a Capri. The sides will be o/of some scaffold board offcuts I have here. I'll make 4 sides and route grooves in to take the buffalo board:

Then, in a quest for more bench space...

20 years back I acquired a nice stainless sink unit. The intent was to plumb it in but it's never happened (it will). Used as a bit of a storage unit since then.

Just for now I cut a bit of flooring chipboard down to 1200x600. As it's not moisture resistant I've given it a coat of yacht varnish. More space to fill up!

Just got to decide what tat to store in the bowl that I don't need to get to in a hurry!