Keeping the workspace neat

[jackinnj]

I will admit, I am almost the worst at keeping my workspace neat -- even when I was in the world of finance I had a very messy office -- in Kindergarten I never colored within the lines --

I picked up this hint from Fine Woodworking -- every time you go to the bench put ten things away -- thank you "Miss Mary Ann" and Romper Room -- now i can find all those electrolytics which went missing, and my torx drivers suddenly showed up.

[Cal Weldon]

Ah heck, I just leave it until all three cordless drills go missing. Then it's time to clean. It's almost like Christmas.

[FastEddy]

Cal is right on this one: Make it a "special treat" to clean, organize, disinfect about 3 times a year. Its like having an extra birthday!

[Geek]

Keeping the workspace neat

... is the sign of a sick mind

Cal's procedure about sums it up for me

[bluebeard]

My discovery after many frustrating years is that it is almost impossible to have too many bins, drawers, and shelves.

I got a couple of well made oak dressers with two rows of drawers (already beat up but solid with dovetailed joints and inexpensive at goodwill) and just marked the drawers - drills - allens - pliers - drivers - wrenches - C'clamps - etc on down. Everything just gets tossed back in at the end of day. No more fancy spray-painted pegboard silhouettes. When I need a tool, I just fish for it. Clean up is a breeze.

I then put up a whole wall of Arko type hangered red and blue plastic bins in various sizes. I used to work in a factory and got them at a good price (still probably 1000percent market up. just how much does it cost to crank these damn things through the molding machine anyway?). All of these contain nuts bolts screws springs hinges electronics nails washers rivets etc etc. I just walk the bins over to the project.

Lastly I put up wall shelves specifically for all of my cordless/corded hand tools. No wrapping up cords or buckling down lids. Just toss em into their individual spaces and grab em when i need em.

I have no idea how the hell i ever got by for so many years before these improvements. But I remember that I was almost always working amid chaos. I don't think I ever really "cleaned up" Now it's almost enjoyable to do.

[valveitude]

... is the sign of a sick mind

Damn...Geek beat me to it...when I can't find the O-scope, then I start to "tidy"

-Casey

[FastEddy]

" ... it is almost impossible to have too many bins, drawers, and shelves. ..."

Yes, I have a) two car garage, almost full from our last move of 7 years ago ... plus a good sized work bench b) a kitchen table, usually strewn with the latest circuit buard stuffing project & soldering station c) an upstairs office (bed room) with all manner of computer equipment and other mess d) a space at the office dedicated to storage of boxes of parts in transit from home to office and back and e) a small working warehouse with an area dedicated to "testing" the latest audio mix and match system ... and still need more draws, cabnets, containers, hidey holes ... happy as a size four clam in a size three shell ...

[mosin]

Hello,

I worked on a single project for two years, and I never cleaned anything up along the way. Now, I just look at the mess that I made because I don't know exactly where to start cleaning. However, if I had put ten things up each time I went to the bench, I would have messed up the flow of the project, and it would still be years from completion. I think I would rather deal with the mess. Actually, neither option is particularly appealing to me at this point.

-mosin

[SY]

Originally posted by jackinnj
I picked up this hint from Fine Woodworking -- every time you go to the bench put ten things away -- thank you "Miss Mary Ann" and Romper Room -- now i can find all those electrolytics which went missing, and my torx drivers suddenly showed up.

When I did this, I found the Lindbergh baby.

Actually, I've tried this three times since you posted and the place looks no better. I suppose I should just go with my Inner Slob and accept that my workshops will always look like disaster areas. The biggest improvement for me was keeping the cats out- no more surprise "hidden treasure" and many fewer broken tubes.


For non-Americans or those much younger than Jack or me,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romper_Room

Nancy Claster was a family friend. When my parents had her use my name with the Magic Mirror, I ran out of the room crying because I was just in my underwear and very embarrassed. I auditioned for the show, but refused to do it because I was worried that they'd put me in the TV of someone we didn't know and then I couldn't get home.

[Boettgenstone]

the genius dominates the chaos!