Wrench stand - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

stevehertz · 30th Jun 2021, 7:21 pm

Bought quite a few years ago, my Workzone Hex and Torx wrench set came in an fold-open plastic case. Initially I fixed this to the wall of my workshop so that the wrenches could easily be identified and accessible for use. However, they were a tight, interference fit in the plastic case and not at all easy to remove or even put back. The result being that I tended not to put them back and they ended up all over the place and as is always the case, hard to locate whenever I needed them.

Time to make a holder/stand.

The base is just a simple slab of pine with holes drilled in it, and the handle is made from a piece of ash. The upright is a length of chrome plated brass tubing that I bought ages ago from a DIY store. I drilled holes in the ends of the brass tubing so that the Araldite used to glue it in place could get a good 'through' purchase on it. I've applied about six coats of Wilko quick dry gloss varnish, rubbing down between coats and finished of with very fine wire wool for a matt finish. It was a nice little project to undertake and I now have all my wrenches in one place and easy to get at.

Cruisin Marine · 30th Jun 2021, 8:20 pm

I wish I could be that organised- it will never happen though!
Nice job.

30th Jun 2021, 9:07 pm

I just leave tools around the workshop (my memory still works so I know where they where) and it is a mess. It is, for me, the messy mode or hire someone to clean and organise daily, well I can dream...

Wendymott · 1st Jul 2021, 10:27 am

My workshops are like Steve's.. a place for everything and everything in its place...As the metal bashing room is next to the Electroniky bit.. I vac the bench and floor if I have been making mess... every night... Ooooopps my halo needs polishing LOL. Nothing worse.. to me.. than seeing ally swarf on the kitchen carpet...

stevehertz · 1st Jul 2021, 10:54 am

Actually, if I'm giving the impression that my workshop is a case of tidiness personified, I'm afraid it's not (yet). It is constantly in a state of trying to achieve that, and I am getting there.. slowly...

At the rate I'm going I think I will have achieved true workshop tidiness and organisation when I'm about to pop my clogs. Oh well, at least the people getting rid of my stuff will have an easier job!

avocollector · 3rd Jul 2021, 2:27 pm

Tidiness?? - like second nature to me

G0HZU_JMR · 3rd Jul 2021, 3:54 pm

My bench is usually untidy but I am always looking at new ways to avoid clutter and mess.

When it comes to tool storage I try and go for the most compact solution possible and I try to avoid storing tools on the main bench as I see tools as 'clutter' unless they are not in immediate use. This means I have to try and put the tools away when I've finished with them and each tool or set of tools has an efficient storage box either in a drawer or a cupboard.

The only exception are my 'favourites' and these are the hand tools I use the most and this includes cutters, pliers, scissors, desolder pump and various screwdrivers. These tools live in a 1" deep (non-stick coated) baking tray that lives on a pullout keyboard tray under a desk. I can either move the whole baking tray to the bench or just take the tools I need from it for a given task. I find that I rarely need to move the whole tray to the bench.
Apart from soldering irons, the only hand tools that tend to stay on my workbench (nearly) all the time are SMD tweezers, a scalpel and a classic 'helping hands' that lives by one of the soldering irons. Everything else gets put away out of sight when not in use. This also means no visible tool racks, no unsightly wall storage and no component storage bins are allowed anywhere in the main workroom. This keeps it less cluttered as long as I keep putting everything back in its place once finished with. That's the really difficult bit and I do sometimes have to spend a while tidying up to reclaim the space.

stevehertz · 3rd Jul 2021, 7:56 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by G0HZU_JMR

This also means no visible tool racks, no unsightly wall storage and no component storage bins are allowed anywhere in the main workroom.

Hmm. Each to their own. I like to have everything at, or near to hand. So my workshop contains all that I need to undertake the work that I do there, that's tools and components. Far from being unsightly, I view my wall mounted and neatly labeled component storage to be an illustration of tidiness and efficiency. I can't work in a sterile, 'bare' work environment, I need my tools and components at hand. I had enough of that previously when my workshop was outside of the house, but my components were in the house, so every time I needed a component I had to traipse off to the house etc etc.

stevehertz · 14th Jul 2021, 1:17 pm

Two weeks down the line and I can report that my wrenches are much more easily located now. My wrench stand works!

30th Jun 2021, 7:21 pm	#1
stevehertz Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Rugeley, Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 8,832	Wrench stand Bought quite a few years ago, my Workzone Hex and Torx wrench set came in an fold-open plastic case. Initially I fixed this to the wall of my workshop so that the wrenches could easily be identified and accessible for use. However, they were a tight, interference fit in the plastic case and not at all easy to remove or even put back. The result being that I tended not to put them back and they ended up all over the place and as is always the case, hard to locate whenever I needed them. Time to make a holder/stand. The base is just a simple slab of pine with holes drilled in it, and the handle is made from a piece of ash. The upright is a length of chrome plated brass tubing that I bought ages ago from a DIY store. I drilled holes in the ends of the brass tubing so that the Araldite used to glue it in place could get a good 'through' purchase on it. I've applied about six coats of Wilko quick dry gloss varnish, rubbing down between coats and finished of with very fine wire wool for a matt finish. It was a nice little project to undertake and I now have all my wrenches in one place and easy to get at. Attached Thumbnails __________________ A digital radio is the latest thing, but a vintage wireless is forever..

30th Jun 2021, 8:20 pm	#2
Cruisin Marine Octode Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 1,002	Re: Wrench stand I wish I could be that organised- it will never happen though! Nice job.

30th Jun 2021, 9:07 pm	#3
Guest Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Wrench stand I just leave tools around the workshop (my memory still works so I know where they where) and it is a mess. It is, for me, the messy mode or hire someone to clean and organise daily, well I can dream...

1st Jul 2021, 10:27 am	#4
Wendymott Octode Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 1,795	Re: Wrench stand My workshops are like Steve's.. a place for everything and everything in its place...As the metal bashing room is next to the Electroniky bit.. I vac the bench and floor if I have been making mess... every night... Ooooopps my halo needs polishing LOL. Nothing worse.. to me.. than seeing ally swarf on the kitchen carpet... __________________ Should get out more. Regards Wendy G8BZY

1st Jul 2021, 10:54 am	#5
stevehertz Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Rugeley, Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 8,832	Re: Wrench stand Actually, if I'm giving the impression that my workshop is a case of tidiness personified, I'm afraid it's not (yet). It is constantly in a state of trying to achieve that, and I am getting there.. slowly... At the rate I'm going I think I will have achieved true workshop tidiness and organisation when I'm about to pop my clogs. Oh well, at least the people getting rid of my stuff will have an easier job! __________________ A digital radio is the latest thing, but a vintage wireless is forever..

3rd Jul 2021, 2:27 pm	#6
avocollector Heptode Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Wellington, New Zealand. Posts: 653	Re: Wrench stand Tidiness?? - like second nature to me Attached Thumbnails

3rd Jul 2021, 3:54 pm	#7
G0HZU_JMR Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK. Posts: 3,077	Re: Wrench stand My bench is usually untidy but I am always looking at new ways to avoid clutter and mess. When it comes to tool storage I try and go for the most compact solution possible and I try to avoid storing tools on the main bench as I see tools as 'clutter' unless they are not in immediate use. This means I have to try and put the tools away when I've finished with them and each tool or set of tools has an efficient storage box either in a drawer or a cupboard. The only exception are my 'favourites' and these are the hand tools I use the most and this includes cutters, pliers, scissors, desolder pump and various screwdrivers. These tools live in a 1" deep (non-stick coated) baking tray that lives on a pullout keyboard tray under a desk. I can either move the whole baking tray to the bench or just take the tools I need from it for a given task. I find that I rarely need to move the whole tray to the bench. Apart from soldering irons, the only hand tools that tend to stay on my workbench (nearly) all the time are SMD tweezers, a scalpel and a classic 'helping hands' that lives by one of the soldering irons. Everything else gets put away out of sight when not in use. This also means no visible tool racks, no unsightly wall storage and no component storage bins are allowed anywhere in the main workroom. This keeps it less cluttered as long as I keep putting everything back in its place once finished with. That's the really difficult bit and I do sometimes have to spend a while tidying up to reclaim the space. __________________ Regards, Jeremy G0HZU

14th Jul 2021, 1:17 pm	#9
stevehertz Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Rugeley, Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 8,832	Re: Wrench stand Two weeks down the line and I can report that my wrenches are much more easily located now. My wrench stand works! __________________ A digital radio is the latest thing, but a vintage wireless is forever..