I decided to branch this off from Mojo's "Valium" topic.
We upholsterers are nothing, if not frugal. When I changed buildings in '98, I left over 30 years of scraps behind that my grandparents had amassed.
The building was being dozed anyway, to make way for a new County jail.
Since moving to my new location, I've made every effort NOT to let it get in the same sad shape as the old one.
Here, I "rescued" an old panty hose rack from behind a J.C. Penney store:
(https://forum.upholster.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi775.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fyy33%2Fsofadoc%2Fth_DSC00259.jpg&hash=795b64da5210df61d409cf5860052cad) (http://s775.photobucket.com/albums/yy33/sofadoc/?action=view¤t=DSC00259.jpg)
I use it to store small parts, like nuts, bolts, clips, etc.
Here is a paint and varnish rack from a nearby paint store;
(https://forum.upholster.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi775.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fyy33%2Fsofadoc%2Fth_DSC00260.jpg&hash=7e44709ef291c967ee82f54f26ef005b) (http://s775.photobucket.com/albums/yy33/sofadoc/?action=view¤t=DSC00260.jpg)
I keep my bits and sockets separated here.
This is my button station:
(https://forum.upholster.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi775.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fyy33%2Fsofadoc%2Fth_DSC00261.jpg&hash=6c47a71e47474ddfb9870f450f810dae) (http://s775.photobucket.com/albums/yy33/sofadoc/?action=view¤t=DSC00261.jpg)
I actually PAID for this one. :)
And this used to be a bread and pastry rack at a convenience store:
(https://forum.upholster.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi775.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fyy33%2Fsofadoc%2Fth_DSC00262.jpg&hash=5b16c5bbdc26883fc7c27a13552bdd27) (http://s775.photobucket.com/albums/yy33/sofadoc/?action=view¤t=DSC00262.jpg)
I keep my air and electric tools on this one.
If you're trying to get organized without spending a lot of cash, keep an eye peeled as you pass behind local retail stores.
Nice rack! :D
Wayyy too tidy ;D If my stuff was like that the Old man would be forever 'borrowing' .
I would have nothing left, I already have to hide stuff as it is. ::)
Suzi
I am very impressed by your organization, Sofa.! a man after my own heart.
My workbench is usually pretty neat. It drives me nuts to have to hunt and hunt for something I need but don't use every day. I don't have time to waste locating supplies, I need that time to correct all the other little dumb mistakes I make in a day. ::)
Grebo, all my painting tools are hung up and organized as to whether they're for oil or latex paints. My varnish brushes are clearly marked "clear only". I have no problem buying nice brushes that are correct for the application and I take care of them, cleaning them properly and storing them in their jackets (I always took care of my toys!). I came home one day to find the husband happily slapping bottom paint on the skiff with my very expensive, natural bristle, 4" varnish brush. I went ballistic and told him he was never, EVER to touch any of my brushes ever again. Ditto my scissors and my measuring tools. There have been no transgressions, since.
Organization is for people who are too lazy to get up and look for stuff.
gene
Quote from: bobbin on January 23, 2012, 12:30:49 pm
Ditto my scissors and my measuring tools. There have been no transgressions, since.
You sound like my wife Bobbin. If I so much as borrow a pencil from her desk, and leave it laying somewhere. Oh, oh. Big trouble man. Her response is how would you like it if I borrowed your staple gun and didn't return it. To which I have no reply. :-X
Quote from: kodydog on January 23, 2012, 05:50:49 pm
You sound like my wife Bobbin. If I so much as borrow a pencil from her desk, and leave it laying somewhere. Oh, oh. Big trouble man. Her response is how would you like it if I borrowed your staple gun and didn't return it.
So she's comparing a staple gun to a pencil.....typical chick!!
Sofa, I am impressed! That is. Beautiful. Love the pantyhose rack. I built a plywood scrap bin similarly tiered but with only three sections.
One question; how do you keep dust from filling up the bins? I have those bins too but they get disgustingly full of dust very quickly. I try to hold out for the tip/pull out trays as opposed to the open ones. I made friends with a retired electronics guy who gave me a few.
Quote from: Peppy on January 23, 2012, 06:48:01 pm
how do you keep dust from filling up the bins?
I don't. (keep the dust out).
I have to blast 'em with the air blower every now and then.
Bummer. I was hoping you had some magical remedy. I hate doing that. The dust gets all over and in your face and you breath it for the next three hours until it settles back in the bins.
Quote from: bobbin on January 23, 2012, 12:30:49 pm
Grebo, all my painting tools are hung up and organized as to whether they're for oil or latex paints. My varnish brushes are clearly marked "clear only". I have no problem buying nice brushes that are correct for the application and I take care of them, cleaning them properly and storing them in their jackets (I always took care of my toys!). I came home one day to find the husband happily slapping bottom paint on the skiff with my very expensive, natural bristle, 4" varnish brush. I went ballistic and told him he was never, EVER to touch any of my brushes ever again. Ditto my scissors and my measuring tools. There have been no transgressions, since.
Guess I need to get violent then ;D
I can relate to the brushes, I used to be ships painter. Always looked after them.
Suzi
Quote from: sofadoc on January 23, 2012, 06:02:08 pm
So she's comparing a staple gun to a pencil.....typical chick!!
I know. All her stuff is soooo important when I just know mine is more. :D
I just wished I had been at the right place at the right time to pick up a bunch of library card catalog drawer units. Dang.
Quote from: kodydog on January 24, 2012, 05:52:52 am
Quote from: sofadoc on January 23, 2012, 06:02:08 pm
So she's comparing a staple gun to a pencil.....typical chick!!
I know. All her stuff is soooo important when I just know mine is more. :D
George Carlin " ever notice there stuff is shit and your shit is STUFF! "
Leave it to Gene to sum it up so succinctly. lol
I used to work piece rate and that really taught me the value of being organized, neat, and efficient. That piece rate job was the first time I was ever paid what I was worth. I was willing to work hard and I was motivated to keep it up. My sloppy co-workers always griped and whined about how "you can't make any money on that machine" so (as the newest stitcher) I'd get the "losing" operations. And once I figured out how to do them quickly and efficiently the more senior stitchers would invariably ask to be assigned them.
A ball-buster I may be, but interestingly enough I always seem to have "free" time to work in the yard, paint, do other fun stuff! We all get 24 hrs. in a day, how we use the time we allot to work is up to us. Only one person on this planet gets to waste my time, and that's me! (keep your hands off my -hit!).
Speaking of efficiency, I got a letter (junk mail) today about an efficiency workshop coming up soon in my area. Only 200 bucks (yeah, I'm jumpin' all over that).
While some may love seminars and workshops, personally I'd rather blow my brains out than attend one.
But the literature had some "fun facts".
They say that the average person works on a project for 11 minutes before being distracted. And once distracted, it takes them 25 minutes before they get back to the project, if they even get back to it at all.
Also, the average worker is interrupted 7 times an hour.
I don't know if those numbers are accurate, but they certainly sound plausible. I was so distracted by reading that, I didn't get anything done the rest of the day. ;D
Frankly, working by myself.....staring at the same 4 walls all day long.....I welcome distractions. At this point in my career, I'm no longer interested in maximizing my productivity.
I think I'm going to put on a "Time-wasting workshop". If you WANT to waste your time, just come to my workshop. I promise you won't be disappointed. :D
One of the things I learned working piece rate was that you can't work "full force" all the time. It's just not possible. There is a reason "breaks" occur 2-2 1/2 hrs after beginning! And then lunch, and then another afternoon break. In my opinion, the crucial issue is to zero in on your most productive time of the day and assign those hours to the hardest part of your work. I grant you, my preferred schedule is unorthodox, but it's what works for me and keeps me happiest. Delivering good work in a timely manner is the name of the game and long-time customers understand that and pass the word.
This is why I like to start work early (6 AM). I get 2-2 1/2 hrs. that is uninterrupted and that's usually the time I plan layouts, or any other "think work" (estimates, scheduling). After that, I move into the "from the neck down" sort of work, the stuff that doesn't usually carry a high risk of expensive mistakes. I encourage customers to use e-mail and tell them plainly that I frequently don't pick up the 'phone when I'm working, waiting instead for a break to deal with the phone. Interestingly, I've found most people are very receptive to that, perhaps because I always return calls? dunno, but I'm able to return calls at a time that is convenient for the customer to receive them.
This ain't a 9 to 5 shop, by a long shot, lol. But it can crank out the work.
sofadoc, you said: "I'm no longer interested in maximizing my productivity." It sounds like you joined a union.
I recently listened to a book on tape about running a business and the number one skill needed, according to this author, was concentration. This was in regards to dealing with distractions.
Stephen Covey said:
"Effective" is when you do all the things necessary to complete a task. Let's say there are 11 steps to complete a task. Over the course of 3 hours you do 35 things. Among these 35 things are the 11 steps needed to complete the task. You are "Effective".
"Efficient" is when you only do those 11 steps necessary to complete the task.
I don't smoke, drink, or chew, or go with women who do. However, I do enjoy a fine cigar once in a great while. (No, I'm not referring to Bill Clinton here.)
A guy who has a small business down the sidewalk from me grows his own tobacco and hand rolls cigars. I enjoyed one of his very fine cigars during the work day today. It was neither efficient nor effective, had nothing to do with work, but it was enjoyable.
gene
Quote from: bobbin on January 24, 2012, 02:22:10 pm
I used to work piece rate and that really taught me the value of being organized, neat, and efficient. That piece rate job was the first time I was ever paid what I was worth. I was willing to work hard and I was motivated to keep it up.
My first real job was working for a grocery store stocking shelves. I always thought that was hard work until I went to work in a furniture factory. I never worked piece rate like you Bobbin but the pay per hour companies would always threaten us with it if we didn't keep production up. We would keep a daily piece log and this would determine if you deserved a raise. Like you said, we were always looking for ways to stream line productivity. Even if it only saved seconds per piece, in the grand scheme of things it meant more furniture out the door per week.