New Storage and a Quick Mini-Project

Since I have limited space where I live, having an accessible workspace for building models on a more regular basis has become quite a challenge. For the past several years I would work on a model one month during the summer when the family was visiting relatives out of state, then I started working on them fairly regularly the past year. The most recent setup was a cardboard box under a TV tray that stayed in the corner by the table along with some tool boxes, which didn't exactly match the decor of our domicile. We are also going to be getting some kittens in the next couple of weeks, so my wife was thinking of ways to get the stuff organized, off the floor and looking a little more respectable.

She found a bookshelf at Ikea that fit the bill for the immediate need. After Thing One and Two assembled their first piece of Ikea furniture, there were just a couple of modifications needed:

1. I needed an extra shelf because the way I organized it,
2. My paint shelf needed some kind of mini-shelving so I could see the paints in the rear.

Here is the construction of the mini-shelf. I used some Poplar boards that I picked up at Home Depot, 1.5" wide and 3" wide, as well as some 3/8" dowel.

Here is the bookshelf in its location. It fits the space pretty well and I'm able to have the most used tools at arms reach. "First order of retrieve-ability", I hate moving stuff to get to the stuff I need. I've also found that I keep things more organized and clean up goes a lot faster.

Here was the issue, I wasn't able to see the paints in the rows passed the front.

Tools were pretty basic. I love opportunities where I can use my combination square. Thanks Crazy Cat Lady for letting me borrow the hacksaw!

This is what will turn out to be the top shelf. I had to locate the holes for the bottom...

  ...and line up the holes that would go into the lower shelf.

I cut the dowels to length and marked the bottom of the bottom shelf for the feet. During test assembly I found that all my dowels were 5/8" too long. Don't know how I managed to be that off, but at least I was consistent!

The boards are only 1/2" thick so I was careful not to drill straight through.

Some wood glue and wet paper towel for cleanup.

A test run for the real thing!

The shelf in place is a near perfect fit.

Now I can see all the paints and saved some room overall!

Thing Two said: "Wow! That's great Dada!"

The only thing is, I still have more paint! I suppose I don't need to put all of it out, only the stuff I use most often. Which if you want to get down to it, it's Flat Black, Semi-gloss Black, Aircraft Interior Black and Flat White. If only I had a chop saw and drill press, this shelf would have been near perfect. Hack-sawing a straight line on 3/8" dowel is not as easy as you may think and it takes about 36 pulls to get all the way thru.

The only other item that is still rolling around in my head is to install LED strip lighting to help illuminate the somewhat dark shelf interiors. I'm on the fence for a couple of reasons; I don't want to drill any holes if this unit is re-purposed in the future, and I don't have a lip to hide the LED strip. That's a battle for another day!

Thanks for looking in!