Altoid candy boxes for storing all sorts of small things. I have
about 12 that are labeled on the edge and set into a wooden tray
with their edge up.
I save just about any plastic food container. They are great for
holding multiple piece projects such as concho belts, link bracelets
and measured amounts of silver ready to go into the melt furnace.
I agree with Elaine. We should clear away all the stuff we do not
uses. However I just know when I clear something away that I haven’t
used in 10 years it will be need the next day and I will not
remember where it is.
Office supply stores supply all sorts of plastic cabinets from small
to large. They can provide ways for clearing up clutter.
The idea of using baggies or multiple pocket file folders for
storing silver wire is a great idea.
I hang all sort of things on nails on the walls of my jewelers
bench.
Where things go is not as important as replacing things to their
storage spot when finished using them. A very difficult task to
say the least.
I just remembered at the community college where I took cold
forging, they used peg board on the wall for hanging up tools.
Obviously with such an array of tools, there were many configurations
of the “pegs”. They outlined each tool with a magic market and then
took the tools off and labeled the peg board spot where they went.
Surely made putting things away a lot easier.
I too use the Altoid containers, Sucret containers (I constantly ask
my friends to save these things for me). and the film containers for
small things like jump rings and a favorite of mine is the disposable
plastic containers for food storage that are so cheap. I buy them by
the dozen. They are perfect for grouping things for a project and
stack up so well. Kay
Not sure if anyone has mentioned it in this thread, but my new and
favorite way to store small parts is in round, stackable (you twist
them together), clear “craft organizers” that you can buy from any
craft or bead store. I prefer the wider containers - 2 3/4" diameter
by about 1" high. I hold all of my little parts in them - from pin
stems, to connectors, to Sparkie components, to jump rings… At a
glance I can tell if I need to reorder anything. I love them! The
only trick is to make enough shelf space to set them up (I plan on
looking for an old spice rack). Lori Bugaj One-Eyed Collie Jewelry Design
I use the ‘tin’ containers the some AOL cd’s are mailed in (that
pretty much do nothing but clutter up my entry way) for storing just
about anything - pieces of ss sheet, wire, stones. I label them with
a sharpie. They are really handy!
I use 3/4 to 1 inch thick square or rectangular pieces of styrofoam.
(Salvaged packing material) I screwed it into the wall behind my
bench and I can plug my sep. disks, wheels, brushes, files, etc into
it. It’s all in front of me when I’m working and easily disposable
when the holes wear out and I need to replace it. I try to be
somewhat carefull with the holes, although I must say, the pice
that’s up there now is about 1 1/2 years old.
I concur with another Orchid member - can’t remember who but for
years I have used a large expanding file for sheet and wire - Most
of these files have 30 or more sections and are constructed of
sturdy material. Because there are some openings at the bottom,
between the sections, I store the sheet or wire in plastic zip-lock
bags within the compartments. I mark the gauge or other info (fine,
ss, 18k, 14k, etc) on both the tab and the bag to avoid confusion
because in my haste I sometimes end up with several bags of similar
looking metal on my bench at any one time. Sheridan Reed
Here’s an idea for those pesky slim piercing saw blades: Take a
package of ordinary cheap bic pens; use the clear ones. Remove the
tip/ink holder. Insert a given size of saw blades into the now empty
ink pen body and replace cap. Mark the size with permanant marker on
the outside of the pen where you can see it. Repeat for all the
other sizes you stock. For those of you who are further bound by
neatness, make a stand for the holders. Drill several holes about
5/16" diameter in a smal piece of wood and insert the pen/blade
holders into the wood vertically. This wasn’t my original idea, but
it works wonderfully, keeps blades separate, minimizes space needed,
and seems, in my experience, to help prevent rusted blades.
I like those grated Parmesan cheese containers for storing tools or
miscellaneous items. They’re transparent, after you peel off the
label, and have a top, with its shake-and-pour options, which can
be left on. I also use any transparent plastic dish (like the
ones that deli food comes in) to keep my pliers close at hand
(since the wall is not) and coffee cans of various sizes in
which to keep hammers, mallets, etc. I cut off the upper half
of the large plastic milk and orange juice containers and use the
lower half for rinse containers – very cheap and portable!
Judy Bjorkman
An alternative to a spice rack is an old soda bottle crate (wood),
set up on the wall or sitting on one end. It has great cubbies for
those small containers.
The suggestion about using emptied Bic pens as storage containers
reminded me a lot of one of my favorite storage solutions from Lee
Valley Tools (www.leevalley.com). Their “Shop Storage Tubes” come in
seven sizes from 3/8" up to 1-3/8" dia., average about US$0.25 each,
and are made of a very flexible (read “virtually unbreakable”)
material that can really take a beating.
I’ve bought hundreds of these things over the years. I use these for
everything from saw blades to files, jump rings to sleeves to protect
my Foredom handpieces when I’m not using them. One trick I like it to
pull the bottom out of one tube and tape two of them together
lengthwise with a couple wraps of clear packing tape in order to get a
tube twice as long. Surprising durable!
Another good Lee Valley storage solution is their “Watchmaker’s
Cases”, again in a wide variety of sizes. I especially like the ones
that come in the aluminum organizer boxes. Makes for very compact
storage of small items. I even use them for my gems and stones
collection. Odd to have thousands of dollars of stones stored in $5
boxes but it works for me.
Both of these are found in the “Woodworking” section under
“Storage”. The “Item Search” button on the left is a faster way to
get there.
(usual disclaimer from one very satisfied customer).
My favorite container for small bits, as well as measured amounts up
to 5 oz. of casting grain, is the plastic film canister. The extra
value of this item, in humid areas, is that it’s waterproof !! You
can hide a key outdoors in one and it won’t rust. You can see
through them well enough to identify contents at a glance. Use the
black ones for other certain things and label the tops. Hang around
dark-rooms begging, if you’ve gone completely digital.
One of the best tool storage ideas I have found is storage of saw
blades in a plastic fold pouch which once held small files. East to
view, east to reach, and easy to pack when I am on the road.
HI everyone I will be sending along a picture soon of my studio. I
have a whole wall that we put pegboard over the paneling (in case we
move) and I have put all my silver wire, solder, bezel, etc. into
large Ziploc baggies. I label each with size, type, etc. in black
felt and hang them on the wall. Next I have an old kids desk that my
polishing machine sits on and on drawer holds buffs, etc.,; one
drawer holds extra polishes; one drawer just nicely fits 6" x 12"
sheets of metal, each of which are in reinforced plastic Ziploc bags
and labeled to keep everything as pristine as possible. My stones
are in small Ziploc bags, labeled and priced (retail in case a
customer takes a look see) and sorted into square rubber maid
containers the size of a cake pan. These can be neatly stacked in a
cupboard under my soldering bench.
Karen Bahr “the Rocklady” (@Rocklady)
K.I.S. Creations
May your gems always sparkle.
I organize findings and stuff with glass topped metal watchmakers
cases. Usually you can pick them up on Ebay for 4-5 dollars. I also
found some at Micheals but not as cheap or sturdy. you can get them
with different numbers of tins and different sizes. they are also
called gem jars. look for the ones with the aluminum case. I guess
these are used for storing mainsprings and gears and such.
Worm bags; yes organizers for fishing worms and bait. I have two
and I love them. They fit right into my safe and are so easy to use.
It is a fabric bag that zips and has a handle. Inside it is setup
like a notebook with rings and clear zip lock bags on very sturdy
tabs. You can open the 0 rings to remove a single bag if need be.
They come in a number of styles and sizes. I use them for gold and
silver findings and high-end beads, things that are better off in the
safe. Check out http://www.taklelogic.com
Embroidery floss note books. This is a hard cover with two very
large 0 rings and clear zip lock bags with holes for the 0 rings.
This is a perfect size for stones and also fits in my safe. I bought
mine from Wal-Mart in the craft section of the store.
I am an organization junkie and I love this thread.
1) Worm bags; yes organizers for fishing worms and bait. <<
I use these-- two-sided ones with 3 to 6 zippered compartments on
each side-- for storing and transporting finished jewelry. I got
them cheap from American Science and Surplus. They fit in a fabric
tackle “box” bought at Sportmart, which came with several 1 1/2 inch
deep plastic boxes with lots of adjustable compartments for things
that could get crushed in the worm-proof flat zippered things. Works
out great for me, and isn’t instantly identifiable (or at least so I
imagine) as “where the good stuff is”.
If you don’t know American Science etc, you should check it out-- a
true treasure hunt of great stuff: http://www.sciplus.com/. Among
many other things, that is where I got the blower for my $30 exhaust
system. Have fun!
I’m in total agreement w/ Cathy about the binder/tackle bags
available from various fishing supply houses are awesome. The clear
plastic bags come in different sizes, ziplock and come w/ holes
punched for binder rings. You still have to be somewhat careful.
The bags are fairly sturdy but a sharp pointy object will place a
hole in them. Joel