Strangebrew Workshop

[strangebrew]

I was so impressed by Harry's video tour of his state of the art work area, that I thought I'd do the same in photos............

First up is my belt sander equivalent & drill-drill press. These prove to very versatile items.

I use a corded Dremel & a handy tool holder...... bartered for a couple resin bodies to the famous Tom Baker.
My paint booth consists of a couple well used cardboard boxes perched atop a stolen milk crate I installed on my front porch floor.

I have a Marty Stanley inspired cheese board that most of us use. I use 3/64 brass rod off-fall for pins & K&S aluminum tubing for axle setups.
I do have a Razor tire truer mounted on a couple more stolen milk crates...I might, add this turns out to be a necessity for a good running car.
.....................Just spend more time on the fronts than I do

I have ample storage for my paint & various resins - glues - liquids etc.....
I also have a cataloged assortment of styrene & brass handy.

I never throw anything away, so I have some additional storage space somewhere above my bench.
I found this box of drawers in a dumpster somewhere, so there are some small parts & tools stored here on my desk (which used to belong to a Grandson by the way).

These tools, etc. won't fit in the drawers.....................
The only soldering utensils I have are my grandfather's Weller gun & a small Benzomatic I bought at a swap meet somewhere.

Gotta' store projects, molds & just stuff in general somewhere..................Did I mention I don't throw anything away..
(Bought the short shelf for $5 at a yard sale & the tall one comes from my AT&T shop after they threw it out)

Hope you enjoyed the tour of the Fabulous Strangebrew Workshop..................I couldn't be upstaged by Harry now could I????
.................The End: Brew

[MnFordGuy]

Thanks Brew. Great tour of your "works".

I always wanted to see where all your great cars and chassis builds come from.

[ccobra]

So that is Strangebrew's Laboratory where all things come to life. Nice...

[Bill from NH]

Gee, I didn't see one Pringle can in the place. Those used to be my 'go-to' containers for storing lengths of K&S materials. i still have one of mine down cellar left over from the 70's. Did you ever try making tips for your Weller gun from 12 or 14 ga. electrical wire? i was always told, an organized desk is the sign of an idle mind. Thanks for your shop tour.

[REL13]

WOW. That's a lot cleaner than mine. REL13

[mattb]

I might put some pics up here. It just so happens it is fairly clean and straightened up right now, Not like usual!!!

[HomeRacingWorld]

This is a pretty guarded secret exposed! He wont even let me come see it...I'm not worth yet

[slothead]

My 'workspace' has some similarities to Strangbrew's, especially regarding storage methods for all sorts of stuff. When my tools aren't strewn all over the table they are kept in the clear half of a case a slot car came in. We also have similar taste in drill press apparatus, though I do have a legit one I bought about 10 years ago that's still in the box. My paints are kept in a few cardboard boxes in the back room of the house next to the cat liter box.

So what accounts for Strange's amazing productivity as a builder and my reliance on basically lightly tuned RTR cars? Three things primarily account for this.

1) an overstuffed rocker-recliner that is perfect for long power naps. Most of my work time is spent in that chair.

2) a large flat screen TV directly in front of the world's most comfortable chair (see #1).

3) a 32" flat screen monitor next to #1 and a lap table I built so I can use a wireless keyboard and mouse to work on the laptop from afar. From this setup I make numerous HRW posts daily, maintain a large slot car log of thoughts and activities, and process workbooks full of slot car data.

On a good day I'll add another page or two to the log, create another spreadsheet, get in a few 2-hour long naps, watch a couple of games or sci-fi movies on the big TV, and spend a few minutes looking over lovingly at my tracks, cars, and projects.

[Rastas]

Thinks I'll have to clean up before I take potos of my work bench ! , Looks great !

[mattb]

I did it, I took pix a little while ago. I am lucky, as we have no kids at home and I have an extra bedroom in the basement that has become my slot/toy room. I also have a basement garage which is my usual workshop.

Pic 1 Closet that I keep many parts in, mostly boxed and mostly vintage 1/24 stuff. Brass and plastic is stored in the drawers and a couple mailing tubes nailed to the left side wall. Some NOS bodies and a kit or two on the top shelf. Bottom 4 drawers are 1/24 vintage tires and wheels, plus there are several boxes of tires and parts. There are boxes with each of the resin bodies I have made and the trim for various resin bodies.

Work bench is next to the closet. Tools and glues, etc, a fresh cardboard surface thanks to the PO which gives them away free.

Pic 2 Right side of work bench. Picked up this kitchen cabinet out of somebody's trash and built shelves for the top and then stained it. Paint at the top. A few bodies and lots of vintage chassis. Decals in the folders at left, many small trim and hardware parts in the drawers. Lower shelves, gears and new tires in those bait containers you get at Walmart that have lots of compartments. One for Protrack tires and one for urethane tires from Bruno (slotcar tyres) in France.

Pic 3 Actual work bench. Lot of those magnetic tool holders from Harbor Freight that are free with coupons every now and then. Pens, colored markers, Testor bottle paint, sandpaper, all that stuff we use a lot.


BELOW

Pic 1 Right side, chassis, bodies, small parts, decals and paint.

Pic 2 Utility room where I do resin and paint work, Home made paint booth made from $13 worth of Walmart stuff. Paper goes down before I do any mold and casting.

[mattb]

Here are pix from out in the garage.

Pic 1 Main workbench. Stainless table from a store I closed down when I was still working. I do all soldering there. I have the Hakko on a timer plug, I never leave it on and burn up any soldering irons any more , plus an old desk lamp on the same timer so I can see! Porcelain block from SCC. Butane for big brass.

Pic 2 This wood bench is next and has bench grinder and big hardware for when I work on full size cars. All the supplies I use for mailing my ebay sales, which I do weekly, mostly vintage slot stuff. The old vac former toy I hook my shop vac to for little windshields and interiors.

Pic 3 is work bench at the end wall, Drill press and bead blast cabinet is to the left, then I have one of those old Dremel belt sanders compliments of my long gone father in law who bought it in the 60's when he was a slotter. Replaced on/off switch twice in the last 30 years! Dremel attachments and one of those HF tubing cutters. Shelf above is a test track and a small Bangood lathe ($19 with free shipping) only good for tires. Both are hooked at a 12 vdc variable power supply. It came from a train show with a drill press and one of those little table saws. Fortunate to buy it cheap and sell the optional tools on ebay for more than I paid for it all.

I feel fortunate to have a nice dedicated place to do hobby work. Most of my buddies know it and I do lots of repairs on small work for my friends. I don't build full size cars anymore so I can leave all the hobby tools out full time. I'm still not great at any of it, but I can do decent on most work. Of course I build cars for the guys I race with.

[noddaz]

Looks great MattB. But please, move your lacquer thinner farther away from your torch. Just because.

Scott