There was a time when a good knottless stick and a barlow pocket knife was all you needed to whittle out a dog or deer..

the current Views of my carving area is cluttered & cramped, if i lay down a knife it usualy slips out of sight, it may get lost for a good while sometime in the half finished projects materials irrelivent tools and general junk that gets collected day to day in the life of a tinkerer...
even cleaning up at the end of the day dosent make much of a difference. after the carving starts.., Work surfaces get covered with dremels, bits, chip knives, sanding blocks, strips steel wool, chips, stock, pull saws, string, rouge, rags, paints, brushes and other assorted junk, its only junk if its not needed at the time, {otherwise its the tool that fits the bill}.

Im a fair carpender but i run a little short in the good idea department.. Ive built 4 or 5 workstations due to the modifications of adding a place to store the new tools, and still have them still axcessable.

The thought behind this NEW subject is a final origination of tools materials and products..

s from other folks on how to orginize tools and such can be learned from suggestions and photos,, of others ideas,,

Im working on a plan for a new carving station, with fold out wings under and over the desk for storage and pegboards, as my area is tight & cramped thinking of taking over a closet, so i can close the door to hide the mess...

suggestions welcome

[Nancy_G]

Thomp - I have space, plenty of space (except I can't find space for a much needed table saw). You can see my current set up in the 'No Place Like Home' Album on on WebShots site.
BUT I have no organizational skills and I'm always in a mess and losing things. So -- the last couple of weeks I've been trying to fix that. I've been making boxes from 1/4' plywood and filling them with pieces of glued-in PVC pipe so when I drop in a tool or brush or piece of dowel it stands up-right instead of falling sideways and disappearing from sight.

Husband has helped make small shelved boxes to set on work surface to hold burner, Ryobi, paints, etc. My final project will be a BIG tool rack made from PVC so I stop losing tools in the mess. When its all finished I show photos. It ain't pretty but I think it will work.

Ain't got nothing to show. Keep the tools I use in my pocket and a small plastic 'Plano' tackle box. My favorite spot to carve is in my golf cart parked under a tree on the golf course. Alternate place is at my computer 'desk' (solid core door on top of two file cabinets). Throw the keboard on top of the monitor and whittle away. Get tired ... the carving gets put aside, the keyboard comes down, and here I am.

p.s. I do some larger stuff out in the garage or outside, but only when the weather is nice and I get 'inspired' (wife throws me out cause I'm gettin' in her hair).

My carving station is the kitchen table; my wife allows me about 1/3 of the table. Although I am required to clear the table for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner
(if I wish to eat).

I also have two rolling cabinets that hold most of my misc. carving stuff. Â*I rarely use most of it, but I know where it is if I should ever need it.

I carve mostly inside
1 room in the hose is known as my office
In it is the computer equipment and my carving stuff
Have a long desk that goes all the length of the wall
with the computer stuff on 1 end and my carving stuff on the other.
I have my Dremel and Welcher tools set up inside too. I do not use the sanding disc on either tool inside. If I ant to use either tool for sanding, then i unplug them and go out on the porch or the the shop out back.
All sawing is done out in the shop. Since I do mostly sticks, I stain or polly them out in the shop where I can hang them up.
I do paint the small carvings inside. I have a small desktop 3 drawer plastic container with mose of my knives and tools in the drawers, and other plastic containers with my other stuff in them on a corner of the desk. I also have a 44 drawer unit on the desk containg a lot of leather working tools and stuff and different sise stick tips and the wooden balls I buy at Hobby lobby to use as stick toppers. I have a big plastic tub under the desk that i use to catch most of the shavings. I have a small swivel vise that will attach to desk by suction if i need it. I have a bigger vise out in the shop and a shaving horse that I need to go get put back together.
The shop is not air conditioned and it is just too hot out there in the summer here in Texas. Winters here are mild compared to the rest of the country but still a little too cool for me to out in the shop.

I do not know how many tools you have or how much room you have. I like those little 3 drawer desktop plastic containers. They are available at Wal Mart. They also have the bigger taller ones that go onthe floor with wheels. Little woman has a couple of those in the Living room with her Plastic Mesh and thread and craft stuff in them. They are inexpensive and do the job.

[Thomp]

Originally Posted by plain_ol_ed

p.s. I do some larger stuff out in the garage or outside, but only when the weather is nice and I get 'inspired' (wife throws me out cause I'm gettin' in her hair).

Yep the good ole ways, I agree it is a lot simpler to get inspired by a broom handle.

I posted reply to the old message board, sorry if that is a problem, its kinda long, so i didnt post there too..

gonna get use to these new toys one day..

thanks.

[Paul_Guraedy]

I have taken over our "sun porch" for my carving room. The windows run along the east and south sides, which is nice in the winter, less so in the summer. I had been using a woodworking bench as my carving station. But, replaced it with an old desk on which I have my power carving set-up.

I am now using two of the folding type tables (set at 90 degrees to one another) that are normally used for equipment up to 90 lbs. Bought one at Lowes and one at Sears. The height of the tables can be adjusted to suit your needs. One of the tables is used to hold my carving tools or painting implements, while the other is used for work.

I prefer this set-up over a permanent station for several reasons. I can move the tables around the room to take advantage of lighting/heating/cooling conditions. With the limited space, I get out the tools I need and put up the ones I am no longer using. It does require more trips to get things I need but this is a good trade-off. It is easy to clamp my vises to these tables. My relief carving board can be used on any of the sides of the table for easier carving. Best of all, I fold up one of the tables and take it with me when RVing. My tools are kept in boxes that are easily packed for the road.

We are in the process of building a new house here on the ranch. After completion, I intend to take over one of the old buildings and renovate it as a carving studio. But, I believe I will keep the folding tables as my basic carving area.

[Mitchell]

My OFFICIAL carving station is in my basement. I have a large area (25x30) with limited storage space. I do have a small work bench with a vise and a recently built table which is secured to the wall. I am in need of shelves and cabinet space. I do my rough out carving, or any carving with my power tools. I also apply all finishes in this room. I MAY do some painting upstairs if my wife lets me. My sharpening tools are on the work bench along with a bench press. Nearby is the bandsaw.

There is a filter ventillation unit to help keep the dust down. I also have my wood stored here. There is a TV for "noise". This way I can carve and listen to any thing that I can pretend to be interested in.....mostly sports - football, golf, or basketball. I can't "watch" but I will glance up if something sounds interesting.

In addition to that room, I have another area that I keep my books and finished carvings. It's also in the basement, but in a separate room. It is 25x12. I also keep my painting supplies there, but am in process of moving them over to the "secured table" on the other side. I have a metal cabinet to store them there.

That being said, I do most of my carving (timewise) upstairs in the living room. My wife lets me . Actually, I just do detailing and small pieces there. I have a portable tool box and my shavings (most) are caught in a pillow case the I keep in my lap. It is held open with a large cross stitching hoop.

[Thomp]

Paul and mitchell both brought up some ideas i will employ. mitchells hooped pillow case for chip catcher is a better idea than just letting them fly, as my wife stays on me constantly bout the little flakes being tracked to and from the coffee pot..

pauls ajustable tables have their merrit as well, when using different tools like a scroll saw all day it gets tiring if its too high or too low, which effects the project,

i have started using a 2 shelve portable service cart $24.00 purchace, to store my bench tools on, my small 12 inch scroll saw, water wheel grinder, and power hone, a 1 x30 inch belt sander, dremels bits and ect..

on the base of each tool i have attached a 3/4" plywood base the wigth of the cart, allowing quick change out of the tool, they are supported by and clamped to the handles of the cart, and dont effect the actual cart 4" deep top shelve, the cart has one drawer which will fill up with junk really fast which any drawer or flat surface will.. keep it locked.

I solved the plad paint 1-1/2 x 3" container storage problem..
i went to michaels here localy a hobbie/crafts store they were in the mid session of replacing their plad paint display case, and was good enough to donate the old section of display case to my cause.. its a little big for my needs but with a little work i am sure it can be cut down..

some stores will give you the displays if you ask, and those of you needing displays/stands or storage area might just ask the store managers if they have any left over.. most stores are glad to get rid of them instead of paying to have them hauled off. or they want $5.00 - $10.00 for them..

But nothing will replace the actual floor space needed to set up a good bench and room to work in, its safer not to be crowded,
i still have plans to increase my outside shop a little to gain enough room to have all my tools setup on a proper bench, but, bargins and free materials will fill any shop beyond capasity if you dont watch out.
i didnt, and now im having a rough time departing from the old habits...of keep it another 6 months .........