Organization Tips for Small Studio Spaces
Setting up a workshop isn’t always a thing of beauty at first, and sometimes we need to make do with the space we are given. My small workshop has prompted me to come up with alternative ways to store my tools while allowing myself room to work.
Below you will find several organizational methods that I use in my shop along with clickable links where you can find similar styles of hardware. This post is not sponsored by any of the retailers in the suggested links.
Some of these ideas require pegboard, and I cannot stress enough the importance of setting at least one of these up in your shop. There are so many different ways to attach tools that keep them at arm’s reach while you solder and shape your work.
I’ll start off with one of my most used tools- a solder organizer. I work primarily with sheet solder that I cut small pallions from, and every type needs to be separated by material and flow/melt point. Each of my different solders is stored in a small hexagonal jar which attaches to a magnetic strip on my pegboard. It is worth noting that while these are usually sold in bulk, I have found endless uses for them including storing flux, ochre, and precious metal dust. Stickers on the bottoms of the jars help me easily identify them since the lids attach magnetically. There are many different types of magnetic strips that you can purchase, but I opted for one that I could attach with screws and secure on the back of my pegboard similar to this.
Jeweler’s saw blades also need to be separated by type. I used a multitool pegboard holder to secure a set of tubes I had leftover from an oil and vinegar sampler, but you should be able to readily find test tubes to fit. I would caution against using glass as I have and suggest plastic in this instance for safety reasons. What will be important here is to purchase test tubes with a lip at the top so that you can keep them from falling straight down. Make sure to measure your pegboard holder first and select the right diameter of test tubes to match.
The fume hood in my shop is mounted in a suspension from the ceiling and makes the perfect space for a couple quick-grab tools. I use flux in many forms and prefer spray bottles when I need to cover large areas (with proper safety precautions!). To keep these within reach, I purchased a set of small spray bottles and secured them to the side of my fume hood with U-shaped hardware.
Above, I attached brass cup hooks to hold saws I infrequently use like the pair of coping saws in the image. If you have a spot closer to your bench pin, this would be a great option for your jeweler’s saw.
Below I have filled various test tubes with small gemstone rough that I use in my designs. These could also be used to hold solder, scrap, findings, and various other small pieces. I was lucky enough to find an antique test tube rack, but there are modern recreations of this piece to purchase as well.
On the left side of my fume hood are a pair of attachments to hold my flex shaft motor and handpiece. I do not have a direct link for the piece I am using in the picture, but I believe a Command strip broom holder would be perfect for this purpose. The flex shaft is very tightly held by an alligator clamp. While you can find similar hardware, I think a sturdy screw-in hook would be much more secure.
Finally, I have screwed a piece of wood to a plastic drawer unit for quick access to my favorite files. Pilot holes were drilled from the top just deep enough to secure the tang ends. This holder would need to be modified for files attached to handles, but for some reason I prefer to go without. Maybe I’ll find handles that change my mind one day.
That’s it for now! If any of these ideas helped you or if you have any questions, please feel free to drop them in the comments below. Let me know if you enjoyed this post and feel free to share it. I may be inclined to make a part-two.
- Kaley