Thread: The Organization of a Toy & Model Work Area

G'Day Pete,
I too had a look through Bret's workshop on the website link.
Wow, he has a large, top work area, well organized with a great selection of machinery.
I even signed his "guestbook" with a compliment of his woodshop.
I have the back of my small garage, originally only a good size for a mini, but dug out 4m x 3m of sandstone under the house to make a work area.
I've managed to use the area pretty well but it's a consistant juggle moving machinery to use other machinery with "dust" the constant issue.
I'd love to have a good size shed with a well set out workshop, but I'm better off than some.
Cheers, Crowie

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Crowie and Star,

Thanks on the kind words for my workshop. I have to stay organized it is my OCD my grandfather handed down to me. I too suffer from the disease of not being able to throw scraps away especially hardwoods as they cost premium and when making toys you always need something small. I have several areas I store leftovers depending on size and length. I try to keep all my hardwoods together and then plywood, mdf and pine together. I keep most of my toy parts in drawers under my workbench. I have attached some pics. Star I threw in a couple of pics of my modeling stuff as well.

thanks,
Bret
http://public.fotki.com/bj383ss/

Again Bret, WOW,
So well organized and neat, a top presentation indeed.
What is the area of your shop, looks big.
Could you please tell me who is your supplier for the "pre-packaged" wheels, etc, thanks.
I recently found Woodworking Parts Toy Making Supply - WoodWorkingParts.com;
prior to that I purchased some from Rockler, though cheaper they have a small range.
Also please, could you show me a photo of the toy making book you mentioned on the other post,
so I can search for the correct one on Amazon, thank you.
Anyways, thanks heaps for sharing your shop, modelling and woodwork, much appreciated.
Cheers, Crowie...
PS - Did you see the "guestbook" note on your website??

Crowie,

That is a great workshop. Thank you for taking the time to put the photo's up. I have a 7.5 mtr x 6 mtr shed Approx 5.x5 mtrs is dedicated for wood work in practice but in reality it has to share space with the ride on mower and other things the kids bring home because Dad has a bigger shed than their Unit.

It is a constant battle to protect your turf.

Pete

Bret.

Thanks for sharing your offcut photos and how you organize the spare parts.

By the way. Where is Leander TX in comparison to Dallas - Fort Worth. My daughter works for the Big Kangaroo as a Flight Attendant and the Airline has just included Dallas - Fort Worth onto their flight schedule.

Pete

Crowie,

My shop is only 19ft by 17ft. Not as big as I would like but still Im happy with it. When we build our new house in a few years I hope to build a dedicated woodshop.

My parts supplier is here.Wooden Toy Wheels & Other Unfinished Wood Wheels. They are only a few hours away from me so I usually get my parts in 2 days. And the more you buy the price per piece goes down.

You found the right book. I only paid $4 for it. It is not all scale models. It has 10 scale models and then outdoor toys and toddler toys like rocking horses, pull alongs, and go cart.
Here are the scale models it has
David Brown Tractor
David Brown Trailer
Traction Engine
Dennis Fire Engine
Leylan Lorry
Hyster fork lift truck
Mack Superliner
Mack Log trailer
Volvo Dump Truck
Volvo Jakob.

I built my Mack truck half scale of his. His completed is like 3 ft long. The Volvo Dump truck is massive. All of the wheels he uses are 4" I guess they come out to about 1/10 scale. It is definatley worth buying in my opinion. I attached some pics of the models.

He has a previous book as well called Blizzards Wonderful wooden toys. It has scale models as well. A 1902 Scania Truck, 1982 Scania truck and trailer, 2 Land Rovers, and a 1907 Rolls Royce. His name is Richard Blizzard and he is from the UK so all the measurements in the book are metric.

Star,
Leander is 30 miles north of Austin, though you cant really tell when you have left Austin and come into Leander. We are about 3.5 hrs from DFW. I hear you on fighting for space my oldest son has a 4x4 ride on jeep that is the size of a smart car that I have to keep in the garage sometimes. I kicked my mower to the backyard and just put a cover over it.

later,
Bret

Wow! you guys are so neat and tidy, After seeing those pics I am not even game to show a picture of my set up on here.

Ditto Munruben, although due to space i'm getting a bit ocd about my new start too.

And Crowie, mate, there's P plates on your bandsaw? Is that a statement or did you have a suspension of your bandsaw liscence? i'm still giggling. i think i have about as much space at the end of the garage as crowie does but i have considerably less in it.

Neal.

G'Day Neal,
I'm glad I've put a smile on your face.
The "P" plate is an old magnetic one and holding a sign on the cover;
"Measure Twice, Cut Once", so maybe the "P" plate is appropriate.
On the other comment, all I can say is that "crow" has a lot of "bower" bird in its blood.
Cheers, Crowie.

PS - the old magnetic "L" plates are on the books & tools cabinet.

you / it did mate, , smiling with you though i promise. i'm off work for a few days with the flu at the moment, I was going to say i if my little space had a door it'd have an L plate on it for certain, here's a pic of my little shop.

Neal.

You lot make me sick with your clean neat and tidy workshops. I am sure I cleaned mine one time but maybe not. What happens when you drop a tool if it aint got a couple of inches of sawdust and shaving to bounce on. And you dont need them fancy soft mats to walk on.
The down side is I had a homeless bloke living in one corner didnt know he was there.
Think of all the suprizes when you find things you forgot you had or owned.
Now if I can open my shop door I am going to work.
Phil