What's In Your Workshop? - A NARCON 2010 Talk

[GuyNoir]

I've volunteered to do a talk for NARCON 2010 entitled "What's In Your Workshop?" that will discuss tips and hints for workshop organization, storage and tools.

I've had workshops in lots of different places (don't ask my college roommates what that was like!), and have a lot of ideas and suggestions, but it never hurts to collect tips and hints from others.

Who out here has good ideas they've used in their own workshops that they can share in my talk next March? I'll be sure you get credit (if you can translate your handle into a real name for me!)

Thanks in advance!

[CPMcGraw]

Since I consider a computer and a printer as valid (and necessary) workshop tools, I'll throw these two into the mix.:

I create fin alignment templates using Corel Draw, and I print multiple copies of them onto #110 cardstock. These are cut out with a sharp #11 knife, and the fin openings are sized to just fit the fins and body tube. It's a relatively cheap way to get the fins correctly positioned. Even though the cardstock is thin, using more than one typically gets the job done.

A second thing I do is print fin outlines onto full-sheet self-adhesive label stock (left-and-right copies). Makes it easier to fill the sheet and have fewer pieces of waste. I can then apply these directly to the balsa before cutting them out, and use the fin outlines to accurately get the final shape (along with a steel ruler).

[Intruder]

This (http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXHFG0&P=ML) is a must have tool.

[GuyNoir]

This (http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXHFG0&P=ML) is a must have tool.

Can you describe how you use this when you build? Thanks!

[mperdue]

I second the need for a computer on or near the workbench.

I also like to have 2 or 3 Dremel's on hand preloaded with the attachments I'll need for whatever I'm working on.

Self-healing cutting mats are great to have too.

And, of course, a variety of hobby knives with comfortable handles.

If you're building a permanent work area, be sure to include LOTS of storage.

Mario

[shrox]

I second the need for a computer on or near the workbench...

Didn't someone just post about their computer dying because they had it in their shop? Actually, just cleaning it regularly and providing anti static protection is fine, I want a computer and printer in our Area 51 too!

[tbzep]

Didn't someone just post about their computer dying because they had it in their shop? Actually, just cleaning it regularly and providing anti static protection is fine, I want a computer and printer in our Area 51 too!

Yep. Over on TRF. I think his situation was the exception rather than the norm...or maybe due to something other than dust and it just died coincidentally when he was sanding. I've sanded near my computers for 15 years. The only failures I've had were due to puking capacitors on motherboards and cheap power supplies with wild voltages. They were spontaneous reboot type failures, not DOA's. My buddy turned tons of graphite nozzles, sanded and painted rockets, etc. for years in his shop with a computer running. I've worked on other people's computers that were literally caked up with dust. They had lots of heat related problems, but I only worked on a handful that were DOA's, and they were due to lightning strikes.

[snuggles]

I have Direct TV in my workshop along with a DVD player.
I watch my Spacecraft Films DVDs while working on my rockets.
The problem I have in my shop is my bench just gets cluttered with "stuff that I'm gonna need someday",bits of paper,old CRs, hunks of BTs, you know what I mean...
I found a remedy for this.....
I remove tools, spray cans and stuff I'm working on now.
Take a large box, hold it on the edge of the table, and sweep EVERYTHING else into it.
Put the box in the corner of the shop.
If you don't look for anything in there in a month , THROW IT OUT!!!!!
I'll admit it took a little guts to do this at first. It gets easier every time I do it.
And my bench is CLEAN.
My 2 cents
Mark Thell
NAR27793 L2

[CPMcGraw]

...Self-healing cutting mats are great to have too...

Mario opens up another avenue without realizing it...

For a cheap alternative to these mats, I use disposable kitchen cutting sheets. You get a pack of, like, three, and you use them until they utterly die. Then you toss it and grab another.

[Mark II]

Not only do you need sufficient storage, you also need to develop a good system of sorting everything so that you can find it later. You also need to develop the habit of putting things away back in their proper cubbies when you are done with them. A system for dealing with clutter is one of the most important pieces of "equipment" that you can have in a workshop. No matter how large of a space you have, it will never be big enough unless you keep it organized.

The system of organization doesn't have to be overly elaborate or sophisticated; in fact, it is better if it is kept simple. It has to be easy enough for you to follow it consistently. Clutter in the workshop is one of the biggest productivity killers you can have. You can't get much done if you have to spend 30 minutes searching for that part that you know you bought, which must be around here somewhere.

My own decluttering effort is still very much a work in progress; I am by no means done with it. But I do know where all of my rocket parts and kits are, and I can find any item from that group in a jiffy. (It doesn't mean that they are efficiently stored, though. Still have to work on that.) I also still have a way to go for other things like launch supplies and, oddly enough, my finished rockets too, though.

MarkII

[GregGleason]

Things I have used in the last month:

Plunge router with circle template (cutting bulkheads)
Dremel, for cutting and as a mini-lathe
Drill press - usually something I am making needs a hole in it
Hobby knife - 1001 uses
Hobby saw - cutting tubes
Chop saw - cutting bigger tubes
Band saw - general/gross cutting
Scissors - small cutting
Olfa circular cutter - cutting fabric for layups
CAD program - layout / design
MS Excel - calculations, dimensions
MS Word - logging things I have done, so I don't repeat mistakes
Digital scale with "zero out" button - to weigh epoxy
Sandpaper - 80 grit to 2000
Polishing tools
WD40 - for wet sanding
Dowel assortment - sanding mandrel
Wash bottles - Distilled H20, alcohol, acetone
Paper towels - (prefer Bounty Select-a-Size) On a vertical stick for easy storage/tearing
Paper or clear Mylar - to make templates to true up tube ends
Pins/pencils/Sharpies - marking
Ruler assortment
Square
Tape - I lots of 3M Blue Painters tape, and some masking
Wax paper - drop cloth duty or gross masking area

Greg

[AFlyingMonkey]

OK I live in a townhouse in Overland Park, KS, so making rockets in my office can be ummmm difficult when trying to protect the carpet from adhesives, aka CA and Epoxy. I ALWAYS have a plastic roller mat under my workbench to protect my carpet AND i've always got a fan going to get the fumes spread out over the house. I only work on gluing when the wife is gone. It makes progress slow I know.

Other things I keep around.:

3 types of CA, thin, medium, thick. all have different uses, esp THIN.

Squares,

compasses,

protractors,

pencils and pens,

self healing mat,

hobby knives,

mini hand drill,

dremel,

rubber bands,

cotton ribbon for hinges

perfectly flat assembly board ( I use this when putting together boost glider wings or joining pieces of balsa, it fits nicely in my lap so I can get close to my work.)

grid paper, 1/4 inch spacing for drawing sketches when an idea hits.

Pencil sharpener

a compressed air tank full of air for dusting and air brushing

level shelves for holding balsa sheets.

A mini Fridge for water and soda, but NO DRINKABLE ALCOHOL, does not mix well with super glue :chuckle: :eek: and the fridge also keeps my insulin in good condition (yes I'm a type 1 diabetic)

boxes full of building materials

3 computers, one as my server, another for general computing and time wasting (aka drying time) and another for music (250 gigs of MP3s)

Network multi-function printer, including a slide scanner (great for scanning old slides from rocketry friends for reference material)

plastic lids and cups for epoxy mixing (reusable after letting the epoxy dry, bend the lid and the dried stuff pops right off)

dowel rods for all different uses

a potter's edge for helping spread epoxy over larger surfaces (bt60 and bt80)

sandpaper 15 different grits for what ever needs to be worked on...honey do's :chuckle:

small ziploc bags for mixing small amounts of epoxy (mix it into the corner of the bag, then snip the corner and its an instant applicator, also cuts down on the fumes a bit)

and my iphone for calling other rocketry friends in case i run into problems

if i think of anything else when i'm not at work I'll list it.

[jamjammer53150]

I have had the same work room for probally 10 yrs , however i was gitting to an overflow point , mostly model kits . What i did is to some lath , and some 1 inch drywall screws and started putting them to the joist above my head . granted they dont hold much weight but ill bet i have 80-90 kits upthere .cleared out enough room i could by more !!

[sandman]

What's in my workshop?

A freakin' mess! :mad:

[mycrofte]

You guys left out the paper towel/masking tape combo - used immediately after using the Exacto knife...

[sandman]

You guys left out the paper towel/masking tape combo - used immediately after using the Exacto knife...

That's my First Aid kit.

[soopirV]

Several people mentioned Storage/organization; more specifically, I have found the little plastic drawers from Target et al to be very useful. The brand I have is "Steralite" (Sp? Working from memory here), and have two of the three-drawer units (these are the small ones- maybe 8" wide x 10" tall x 10" deep). I labeled each drawer with the physical rocket part (nose, lug, engine...etc) and inside are the associated loose materials affiliated with that area. Example- in "Nose" box are: BNC, PNC, screw eyes, shock cord, shroud lines etc. In "Engine" box: hooks, centering rings, engine tubes, stop blocks.

This works for me because I don't do a TON of building, and by keeping the storage bin name vague, I have some wiggle room...it would irk me to have a 50 bin parts cabinet with 2/3 of the drawers empty because I don't happen to have any LL125 or BT2050 rings on hand, although the idea of having that level of organization AND spare part inventory is appealing!!

ADDED: Sorry, everything is so focused on "in the shop" (maybe and probably by design), but I can't neglect my FAVORITE organizational tool, even though it lives in my closet, not my shop. I wish I could provide a model name/number, but at Lowe's several years ago I picked up a multi-compartment tray organizer from "Work Force" that I use to store and organize my engines and accessories. I'm sure there are other suitable cases out there, but this is one I happened to have from another hobby that fits 12 A-C engines per compartment, stored on end. I got a little crazy with the Dymo label-maker, but I can see at a glance what the majority of my rockets need, and it keeps me organized on the flight line. When my sons and I feel like launching it's a simple matter of sending them to the garage to chose the birds while I nip to my closet to retreive the hidden motor box.
Why hidden?

If they knew where it was they'd try to launch without me!

[Gus]

Bunny,

I thought these two photos might help. The first is of a storage rack which sits just to the right of my building table. I find the little Sterilite boxes often on sale for 99 cents, as well as the next size up, very helpful for organizing my build supplies.

A description of what's on the rack.

Top row left to right: Vinyl and Nitrile gloves, a box of assorted large tape, a Dremel tool kit, a cardboard box with 18" tubes of BT-5 to BT-80 sizes, a sterilite box with old kit plans.

Next row with 8 large Sterilite boxes (L to R): box of super glue liquid and gel bought on deep discount at Dollar Tree, under that a box of various adhesives (epoxy, epoxy clay, expanding foam, etc.), next to that two boxes of sport rocket nosecones (balsa and plastic), next on top is a box of small pieces of balsa block and sheet, under that is a box of all kinds of sticks (various size popsicle sticks, skewers, etc.), next is a box of unmade sport parachutes and streamers, and under that is a box of recovery items for midpower (parachutes, kevlar cord, etc)

Next rack holds smaller sterilite boxes. These are just dirt cheap and are great for keeping small items organized.

From L to R, top to bottom: open top box with rulers, straight edges, Estes tube alignment jig, and plugged in Dremel and Black and Decker Mouse sander (I use those two so often I found it easier just to leave them plugged in all the time. Below that is a box of launch lugs in all sizes.

Next column top to bottom: larger size centering rings (cardboard and plywood), smaller size centering rings, various tapes (mylar for competition and others).

Next column top to bottom: box of pens an pencils (colored sharpies, etc.), shock cords and kevlar string in various sizes, motor retention items (engine hooks and mid & high power retainers (aeropack, etc).

Next column: short pieces of various tube sizes and engine mount supplies, box of various size sport rocket baffles, box of sport rocket tube couplers.

Next column: box of competition rocketry fins, box of small competition nosecones, box of larger (egglofter) competition nosecons.

Last column: box of noseweight bee-bees and bottles of white glue, box of small rocket adhesives (plastic cement, rubber cement, Ambroid Pro-Weld) and various decal adhesives and preparatives.

I have a similar rack with Sterilite boxes I use for flying supplies (motors, altimeters, parachutes, etc.).

I also keep one of the small Sterilite boxes open topped on my build desk for my most often used supplies (sanding blocks, pencils, X-acto, scissors, 1/4 sheet sandpapers in a baggie, glues).

Finally, second picture shows large box of 34" body and coupler tubes as well as dowels and thin gauge wire. I store long sheets of balse upright in a box next to that.

Hope this helps. Have a great talk,

Steve

[GuyNoir]

I find the little Sterilite boxes often on sale for 99 cents, as well as the next size up, very helpful for organizing my build supplies.

I first saw these being used back in the early 90's by that quiet Michigan-der, Roger Wilfong, and shameless stole the idea immediately for my workshop. Like you, I look around for them on sale, checking each time I go into both Hobby Lobby and our local building supplies store (Menards). You can see what's in 'em, they have lids to keep dust and dirt out, and they stack beautifully.

Definitely on the list of stuff to talk about under "Storage".

[mycrofte]

Unfortunately, we no longer have a Hobby Lobby. After I took her to a doctor appointment, I was going to spend an hour of my wait there. I found an empty parking lot followed by an empty building...

[soopirV]

My GOD man! Those pics you posted of your workshop fall into the category of "hobby porn" (in a good way!). Not only do you have a plethora of supplies, but so neatly organized?? What I wouldn't give to have 10 minutes and a pillow-case to go "shopping" in there...:chuckle:

You, sir, have set the bar high...very high indeed. BRAVO!!

Oh, and Guy- LOVE the Prarie Home references (supporting NPR is one reason I can't quite afford to support NAR...now if only we could combine them further...their initials are already 2/3 the same!)

[GuyNoir]

Oh, and Guy- LOVE the Prarie Home references (supporting NPR is one reason I can't quite afford to support NAR...now if only we could combine them further...their initials are already 2/3 the same!)

Not many rocketeers get the NPR references, but I find Guy to be a very amusing character. I mean, you gotta love a monologue that goes:

"She was tall and long-legged and her blonde hair hung down sort of like what Beethoven had in mind when he wrote the Moonlight sonata. She wore a knit sweater and jeans so tight it looked as if she'd been poured into them and forgot to say When. When she moved, she seemed to undulate under her clothes in ways that took a man's mind off the state of the economy."

Oh, and by the way, the NAR needs support a lot more than NPR. There are a heck of a lot more radio listeners out there than rocketeers. . . :(

[ghrocketman]

Rule number one: If it is hobby related and there is even a miniscule chance of use in the future, it gets saved INDEFINITELY, period with no input to this AXIOM wanted, warranted, or accepted from the wife, girlfriend, fiancee, or whatever.

Rule number two: Organize via the PILE method; a pile for everything and everything in its pile. Amazingly I can ALWAYS find what I am looking for in my shop as long as some bin-organization minded busybody stays away from my bench.

Neat bins are not nearly HAPHAZARD enough to satisfy my sense/need for RANDOMNESS.

The only hobby items I store neatly in bins are my Rocket Engines, Cases, and reloads.

When in doubt, NEVER throw it out !

Ya never know when a USED cardboard liner from a burned reload may come in handy.

[Bazookadale]

Rule number one: If it is hobby related and there is even a miniscule chance of use in the future, it gets saved INDEFINITELY, period with no input to this AXIOM wanted, warranted, or accepted from the wife, girlfriend, fiancee, or whatever.

Rule number two: Organize via the PILE method; a pile for everything and everything in its pile. Amazingly I can ALWAYS find what I am looking for in my shop as long as some bin-organization minded busybody stays away from my bench.

Neat bins are not nearly HAPHAZARD enough to satisfy my sense/need for RANDOMNESS.

The only hobby items I store neatly in bins are my Rocket Engines, Cases, and reloads.

When in doubt, NEVER throw it out !

Ya never know when a USED cardboard liner from a burned reload may come in handy.

Are you my long lost twin?

[mycrofte]

I was thinking the same thing! I've used the "pile" method of storage for years. I still have stuff in boxes at my brothers basement from 10 years ago. And he lives 4 hours from me now...

As often as I think badly about some of the posts here, I can't help but coming back. I'm home...

:D

[SteveA]

I'm pretty sure I didn't see it...but.. an airbrush and compressor. Can't live without mine.

I like the large stackable bins with the sliding drawers. You can store several hundred 1/2 oz jars of paint and other doo-dads in them. The little stackable bins are great too for all your small tools and fiddly bits.

[MarkB.]

How about :

1) Two or three rocket cradles. The G.H. Stein version from Handbook of Model Rocketry.

2) How about a well-thumbed copy of Handbook of Model Rocketry near the worktable?

3) Sanding sticks -in three different grits (From the beauty supply place they cost half of what they do at the hobby shop). Just send the wife/girlfriend/significant other/mistress. You could even go with her. For such display of sensitivity, you might get to do the other thing you do better than any man on the planet (the first being build rockets, of course).

4) Gallon-size ziplock to store decals.

5) Quick-Grip squeezy clamps.

[Solomoriah]

Storage: Long Semroc boxes, in the closet; roughly divided up into balsa, tubes, and other stuff. Another couple of boxes hold bagged unfinished rockets. Rockets too far along to bag line a couple of shelves.

Tools: In a $10.00 Craftsman toolbox (it was on sale, it's the nicer one with the metal rod hinge), I have the usual variety of tools. Hobby knives, #11 blades, scissors, expended engine casings, pencil, ruler, various and sundry junk, and some syringes (I got them to push epoxy into an already-assembled engine mount for my New Centurion).

Workbench: The dining room table, with an old tablecloth, and newspaper on top of that. I have one of those self-healing cutting mats which I use to protect the table from my knives.

Painting Area: In my garage I have an old, abandoned baker's rack which is piled up with cans of spray paint; I insert the butt ends of my paint sticks into the rack to hold rockets while they dry. No winter painting is possible, as I don't have a booth per se.

Assembled rockets are stored on shelves in my office.

What is this "workshop" of which you speak? :D