Work area: Organized or chaos

There is a distinct difference between my layout area and my workarea!    The layout is 'usually' free of debris, but ahhhhh, the work area is diffenitely CHAOS CENTRAL!   Russ

Organized projects are so much easier and enjoyable.

just call me Captain Chaos nuff said

Mine swings back and forth like a pendulum.  I clean up the workshop after each project.  Put every tool away, etc., and the materials and screws back in their right place and container.    Then as I work on a project it becomes chaos gradually, with a tool put down here, clamp there, etc. , solder gun plugged it here -- or, no, I need a drill, so put the solder gun over there and . . .   Sometimes it gets so bad I suspend work and "re-initialize" the workshop, putting everything back in order, but usually i complete the project and then clean up again. I have been known to go to hardware store and buy another [whatever] because I can't find it, rather than take a day to clean up the workshop . . . although not for some years now. ''

Been that way for fifty years or more . . . and probably not gonna change at my age 

Lee,

Now, I don't feel so guilty. Except for the fact that it drives me bonkers! Some days I just want to rake it all into a garbage can.   

A virtue of not having a dedicated work place (because that "work place" must also do double-duty as a "common area") is that it is perpetually neat for the other purposes for which it is used--not a problem for a bachelor.

Mine is chaotic during a project but meticulous after completion.

-Pete

the work area is definitely organized chaos!!

Good morning, I like organization !!!!!

When I was a kid my mom use to make us put everything we were playing with away before we moved on to something else.

Did that practice stay with me as a grew older, possibly.

If I am working on something everything is put away.

Painting items are cleaned up and stored.

I hate to route for something that I know I have but can't find.

Because I have a lot packed into a relatively small area, I try to keep my work shop as neat as possible. It often gets messy while I am in the middle of a project, but it always gets cleaned up at the end.

I'm inspired by Einstein's desk. If it was good enough for this great man, it's good enough for me. Besides, I would not be able to work at aneat workspace....

I clean up my workbench from time to time.  My real problem is the floor underneath the layout. Fortunately, I get to pick the photo angles. 

It depends on the point of view, my wife asks how can I find anything, cleaned up one area from tools, saws, squares, clamps, etc. to steel storage rack, doing more bench work and forgot about tools on the rack, easier to find the tools in the disorganized (cahos) area,if this makes sense!!!! 

With the exception of the layout, I keep everything organized.

My entire work area is chaos. Between model train projects, model car projects....a supplies 'staged' in the room.......

Here is a picture of my work space. It can use a little cleaning up.

Alan Graziano

To be honest, my workshop is a disaster area.  It looks like a bomb went off in it.  I always blame it on the time of year because I'm in a rush to get things done in the winter but then when I'm finished making stuff for the Choo Choo Barn I never take the time to clean up.  My wife LOVES to tell visitors how much of a mess my workshop is.  I do try to clean up every now and then but it can be very overwhelming.  I think I'll start cleaning tonight......OH NO, we're having our card club for dinner and pinochle tonight.  DARN!  Looks like I'll have to postpone my cleaning project for another day!

such a nice disaster it looks like you have everything anyone could need in there

When I don't have a reasonably clean shop and workbench, I don't want to start doing anything.  To me having a dirty, messy shop is a real productivity killer.  When I'm working on the layout, I always have the vacuum cleaner handy to keep things under control.  I have the floor vacuum and a smaller portable both available to stay on top of things.

When I used to be at work, I had to have a clean desk when I went home at night.  There was nothing worse than coming to work in the morning and seeing a mess to greet you.  I once worked for a boss that I respected very much that insisted on having a clean desk at night.  IF it couldn't be organized or cleaned right, I would at least put everything in a drawer to get it off the desk top

Art

Choo Choo Tom: Fantastic!

We are super organized and neither and neither one of us like to work in clutter. Works for us and are projects GET DONE in a timely fashion.

That's only one side!  The other sides are just as bad.  My collection of 10,000 45 RPM records is on the opposite side.  I'll take some more photos so you can all see what NOT to do to a workshop.  This is underneath an oversized two-car garage.  I have hot/cold water, Dish Network, stereo with turntable, tape decks, 200 CD changer, refrigerator; all the comforts of home.  (Bathroom is outside)  Plus, more junk than you can imagine.   I AM going to clean up and throw out soon.  It's getting to the point that I don't even want to go in anymore LOL!

Alan - Very nice and what I would expect from you.  Your work shows your pride and professionalism.

Art