Well, the layout rebuild has gotten to the point that I have too much mess! The layout got a a through cleaning last night and now is the repositry for everything on the floor. I just took a break to clear the dust from my lungs, and will get back to the organizing/dusting/sweeping.
I bought scads of plastic roll out carts, and storage containers. I have been labeling all of these and organizing stuff like ‘scenery’, ‘track tools’, ‘airbrush/paint supplies’, and ‘electrical’. Everything else is moving out of the layout area for good. I suspect it will be the end of the week before I really get down to some serious model railroading again, but at least I will be able to ‘find’ stuff! I took this break from the actual construction as my supplier of #18 wire still has not delivered the 1000’ of RED/BLACK wire for the DCC BUS. Once the cleanup is finished, I will get all of the feeders(#22) dropped, as I am waiting to start the BUS wiring.
That seems to be my battle in this great hobby, getting things put in a proper place. I have yet to figure out a good way to store my paint, and still have acess to it, without going threw each bottle for that one color I need. I bought some rool around drawers at ShopKo one day, it was on clearance for like $5.00 for a 5 drawer unit with wheels. Have yet to see them again.
How do others organize their collection of tools and supplies?
I store all my tools in a cheap roll away tool box like the mechanics use. As for paint, I have an old metal linen closet that belonged to my folks. The small parts and such are stored in round aluminum containers with clear plastic lids. They come in either a cardboard or aluminum box and are quite handy. I bought them from Lee Valley tools. That place is a gold mine for modellers and woodworkers.
Check out their website.
BB
This is an area I need help in. Right now I have a box for paints, a jar for paint brushes and some plastic containers for, "gluing stuff"and “wiring stuff”. The hand tools tools go on a metal shelf that’s time is numbered. I need a better way. Any ideas are appreciated.
I suck at cleaning up. I build until I can’t find a tool or stumble over something. Then I take a day off from building and clean up. Ironically I myself just spent the last two days cleaning up the layout and the room. How much more nicer it is now. Won’t be long though and it will be back to normal.
Terry