Work Area, Material Storage and Organization

[slodat]

I'm interested in any photos, information, tips and/or tricks on how you organize your upholstery work space and store your materials and supplies.

[Therapy]

Ive been working on mine someone hear told me about the
pingpong table it works nice   Mike

http://s275.photobucket.com/albums/jj300/dadhuff/Sewing%20New/

[Mike8560]

Sorry no pix but I store my roll on a big spool at the end of my table and roll off what I need to work with. Under my table I store rolls of fabric o. The walls o have pegboard to store tool a d webbing and such.

Good to see you around therapy I was thinking of you the other day looki g at a boat like yours. I ended up selling my 32 when I moved I could t keep it

[bobbin]

Casters! two non locking and two locking.  The ability to roll my benches around allows me to reconfigure them to suit the job I'm working on.  Sometimes I need to support long fabric runs (drapery work) other times I don't.  All my machines are raised to be at the same height as the benches (36").  These benches are very adaptable for my particular needs.  I designed them, the husband cut the lumber, I applied the finish, and we assembled them together.  (Quality "family time"). 
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These benches now have shelves on the bottom that support several clear Sterilite plastic boxes (in varying sizes) with lids.  I have sorted through all my accumulated fabric, notions, supplies, and labelled the boxes so I may instantly know what's inside them.  Keeps the dust and grime to a minimum by minimizing surfaces to accumulate it.  I presently work in a filthy place and it really bothers me.  So, I've worked really hard to outfit my own shop so that it can be cleaned relatively painlessly (just about 1 hr. to do a really good job). 

I have two more of those rolling benches now.  Both have a 24" drop leaf that is supported by folding legs.  Each of the benches has the following "padding" option in case I want a padded work surface and not a slick melamine one:
1.)  3 pcs. of 1/2" thick Homasote cut 24"w x 96"l.  These pcs. are stowed on a shelf below the one that supports the clear storage containers.
2.)  1/4" polyester deck padding joined and fitted in the corners to fit down over the Homasote and the melamine bench top
3.)  cotton duck covers to fit over snugly over the padded Homasote surface.  I custom fitted them myself and used snaps to secure them on the underside of the benches.  I can remove them quickly and they are easily laundered when it becomes necessary. 

I try to use vertical space, too.  I have a thread rack that holds the many cones of thread for my overlock machine and would like to add another for the larger cones of thread I'm beginning to amass for slipcover work.   I've added a 16' long ceiling mounted track to allow me to use my gravity feed iron the entire length of my two padded work tables if I need to.  Extension cords are up and out of the way but are easily accessible if I want them.  I plan to add rigid piping for "air" from the compressor on the ground floor of the barn with a variety of connection points along it.  This was my brother's suggestion (auto body work, esp. painting).  I'm just gettin' wise to the wonder of compressed air... it's a beautiful thing!

I have a rolling cart that is next to my machine.  On it I keep bobbins, threads on small spools in thread storage boxes, an assortment of frequently used tools, and my fabric weights (made those, too).  I simply roll the cart to whichever  machine I'll be using.  Waste baskets next to every machine.  It's just as easy to put the trimmings in the waste basket as it is to drop it on the floor and pick it up later (or not!).  I plan to add another rolling cart for my other tools:  foam saw, hot knife, electric stapler, staples, pins, shears, etc..  Wheels are very good invention.  And to that end, I want to add casters to my machines to make moving them around easier.  Presently they're on "slides" with carpet to make the slide more easily, but they're still really heavy and fussy to move around. 

I haven't updated/downloaded the pictures still in my camera in many months now, so I don't have a picture of the new cutting tables/benches and their covers.  Maybe I'll get around to doing that today/tomorrow?

I urge you to look very carefully at accumulated scrap and odd bits of things and think carefully about how realistic it is to keep it all... will you really use it? I am all about saving things and "using it up" but if you don't know where it is and can't put your hands on it quickly/easily you won't use it, ever.  Also, if you don't use it in a year's time, throw it out!  I have tossed a ton of stuff I've been holding onto for years now.  I've donated it, given it away to friends, etc. (there are tax benefits to donating things).  And it was hard for me to do that, too.  But I kept reminding myself that storing things that never get used is a waste of space... and, being too "attached" to to scrap means that you don't own your stuff... it owns you!

[slodat]

I'm just curious how people lay out their work areas and store materials and supplies. I have a 24x33 shop that is a rather convertible space depending upon what I am doing. There's an additional 12' on one side that has all of my fabrication tools - welding, cutting, mill, lathe, sand blaster, band saws, etc.

This photo shows my work area for upholstery. I can fit two cars in front of it.

I am going to finish the pegboard on the far wall "soon". The pegboard is very good for the upholstery tools.

Last weekend I added a couple of shelves to one end of my cutting table to help with material storage.
BEFORE:


AFTER:


I put all of my thread and other small items in the plastic drawers on the wall. It keeps things clean and easy to find.

I made a shelf that hangs from the ceiling to hold my sheet goods up and out of the way. I'll snap a photo today.

[bobbin]

Basically, Slodat, I work tirelessly to put the lion's share of my "-hit" on wheels.  Makes rearranging it pretty easy. 

[206RB]

This is not for the timid, or faint of heart.
Neat freaks beware!
This is what happens when you don't ever throw anything away for 30 years!
(I've tried to tell the Boss how much this method discourages productivity, but it falls on deaf ears).

[Peppy]

Ahhhhhh!!!!!!! Drive me nuts! I work with 2 guys, given a clean table it'll look like this in ten minutes.

Thats why I try to stay away from them., and keep all my tools close by.

helps on the long docks too.

[206RB]

Ive been working on mine someone hear told me about the
pingpong table it works nice   Mike

http://s275.photobucket.com/albums/jj300/dadhuff/Sewing%20New/

We tried the ping pong table thing, might be OK for shorter than people 5'9 or under, but it's he(double hockey sticks) on the people taller than that. Unless you offer full medical including chiropractic? I think OSHA has a minimum work table height standard.

[ragtacker]

Hey, looks a lot like my shop! ;D ;D  I have two 4 x 8 sheets of plywood on braced 2 x 4 legs butted up against each other.  gives me an 8 x 8 surface for cutting.  Upholstery supply roll goods (decking, burlap, muslin, etc.) are mounted on closet rods attached to one wall and a couple of vertical 2 x 4's.  machines are in front of South-facing windows, and the thread is on shelves set between the 2 x 6 studs.  Bobbins, needles, etc. are in a rolling cart that lives between the 2 machines.  I do mainly furniture, which sits on sawhorses in the middle of the room.  Tools are in a mechanic's rolling tool cart against one wall.  Once in awhile, I can even see the floor! ;D
Jan

[206RB]

Hey, looks a lot like my shop! ;D ;D  I have two 4 x 8 sheets of plywood on braced 2 x 4 legs butted up against each other.  gives me an 8 x 8 surface for cutting.  Upholstery supply roll goods (decking, burlap, muslin, etc.) are mounted on closet rods attached to one wall and a couple of vertical 2 x 4's.  machines are in front of South-facing windows, and the thread is on shelves set between the 2 x 6 studs.  Bobbins, needles, etc. are in a rolling cart that lives between the 2 machines.  I do mainly furniture, which sits on sawhorses in the middle of the room.  Tools are in a mechanic's rolling tool cart against one wall.  Once in awhile, I can even see the floor! ;D
Jan

Right on, Ragtacker! Post those pics! Lets see more upholstery hell!
I thought I was the only one!

[kodydog]

This is not for the timid, or faint of heart.
Neat freaks beware!

I used to work for a guy like that. My workbench was right next to the door so it made a perfect catch all for half eaten sandwiches, sodas, etc. Don't know if I'm a neat freak but I can't stand working on a messy cutting table. Took me about a year to get my little part of the shop straightened up.

As for my little organize tip. My UPS driver used to throw packages over my fence and leave them there. Many times I'd be out making delivery's or didn't hear his horn. So I built a wood box, off the ground, with a door on the front. Made it big enough to hold large packages and rolls of fabric. Now when he comes (3 or 4 times a week) I don't have to stop working to greet him and he can pop the package in the box and keep rolling on down the road.

[slodat]

Why are the images showing up so small?

[sofadoc]

Why are the images showing up so small?

Have you read the "Picture Posting Primer" sticky? It tells how to make 'em big when you click on 'em.

[Mojo]

OK. My offer to all you great people. You pay my air fare and hotel expenses and I will come and clean and organize your shops for free. :)

I have a very bad case of OCD. Everything...........and I mean everything has to be in its exact spot. No clutter and no leaving crap laying around. :)

I just had to run and grab a valium after looking at your shop 206rb. :) Obviously you have been a very busy stitcher because I have never seen so much fabric. You could start your own store. :)

I am still decorating my shop. Yes, I know, decorating an upholstery shop sounds nuts, but I love working in a pleasant atmosphere. So I am slowly but surely adding a few antiques I have had stored and will soon be putting up other odd and ends. :)

Latest pic's - http://s181.photobucket.com/albums/x200/throgmartin/Up%20Shop/

Chris