AIEL Shop Tips
SHOP STORAGE
In any shop, you will need storage. This might
be shelves, cupboards, cable racks, drawers, tool
boards, etc. Disorganised shops often have the work
benches crowded with stuff because no suitable area
was ever created for supplies. Thus instead, they
become *storage* benches, and little work gets done.
Below are some quick storage suggestions. They are for a
medium-sized shop, so scale them as nessecary to fit your space.
THE FOLLOWING MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED
WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE AUTHOR ©
Typically, a shop needs all of the stores locations discussed here because one is usually more suitable for a given purpose than are the others. Cable Racks are covered in their own section, so we will move on to some others. Let's start right at the bench.
Aside from the tool board and under-bench shelves discussed in the Work Bench setup, you should have some side shelves and drawers available for typical things used at the bench. A shelving unit at right angles to the bench is a must for parts you might require while repairing lights and associated equipment. This might have bins of parts associated with those repairs and include things like nuts & bolts, shutters, knobs, connectors, fuses, etc.
For larger items or those needed less, a larger, stronger unit is required. A wooden structure with inner adjustable shelves fits the bill. As your shop and/or projects change, the spaces may be changed to suit. Each may be easily labelled as to type of item due to the thicker shelves used. If you have room, this type of unit should be 30 - 50 centimeters deep so that larger items and boxes may be stored without them sticking out into the work space. It's recommended that you don't store extra heavy items above head level for safety's sake.
You might also opt to go with wall mounts and shelf brackets. These too, are adjustable and are less work than constructing a stand alone unit, as described above. Costs can be lower with this type, as well, especially if rough lumber is used for the shelves. Typical brackets allow up to a 30-centimeter shelf depth. Be sure wall-mounted units are well anchored into a solid wall stud or beam, and again, don't store too heavy an item above head level.
Finally, for the big stuff, for items which you do not wish to display, or for secuity, an enclosed cupboard system is recommended. You may build & design a setup for yourself, but you can often get old kitchen cupboards from the used building supplies places. These often come with an upper and lower set of cupboards, plus a countertop and drawers. If you have a sink in your shop, you may be able to incorporate it into this cabinet setup. You can paint the cabinets to suit and label them as to contents. Sensitive supplies may secured by adding inner dividers, beefing up the hinges, and then adding a hasp & lock to the outside. Hide the keys somewhere away from the area so those whom you wish to keep the key location secret, will not observe while you are retrieving them.
For parts which take up more space than is available from the shelf bins, a parts cabinet is the next level up. These would have drawers to suit and they also generally have label holders. Make a list of the parts to go into this cabinet and then organise them by type and/or alphabetically. If this cabinet is to contain parts often used during maintenance, be sure to locate it close to the appropriate work bench.
For larger parts, a bigger cabinet is the logical next step. In this case and the one above, if you are buying nerw, try to purchase stackable cabinets so that as your shop grows, you will be able to easily add on units as needed. Some setups allow for the same sized cabinets to be stacked, but with a lower unit having fewer, and larger, drawers. Again, be sure to arrange the contents and label each drawer. Small cardboard boxes with the tops removed and turned upside down are ideal for inside-the-drawer organizing for all but the heaviest of parts.
Some shops even colour code their cabinets. Rather than paint a drawer or entire cabinet, I suggest colour coding tape. This allows for easy changes later on. Cut the tape to a standard length with scissors and apply the tape to the same location on each drawer. This makes for a trim, professional look. Be sure to clean where the tape will go, and after the tape has been applied, smooth any irregularities so it won't come loose and become dog-eared.
Organisation is the key to any shop. It allows
you to locate things quickly, render inventory
in a timely fashion, and offers a pleasant area
in which to work.
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