Clean work bench

My workbench is 24" by 24". If I want work use it I have to clear it off because it is the only place to work. It may not always be clean, but it always gets cleared before the next project. This forces me to put then "stuff" away instead of pushing, piling, or ignoring it on a different workbench.

My "solution" is definitely in the radical category. Once a year, in October, I completely reorganize my barn. I actually throw some stuff away, and put all those tools, parts and "where did this come froms" that have been piling up for a year into a semblence of order and stack them high in one corner of the barn one-ninth of the floor space.

Everything on wheels goes outside, or into one of my smaller buildings. Then I hose and scrub the whole thing from top to bottom, working expecially hard on those thick grease deposits on the concrete floor. When I'm done, we bring in about forty straw bales for seating, decorate the whole barn for Halloween and invite forty families with young kids over for a party.

Everybody has a great time, the workbench gets cleaned up, and I spend the next year trying to figure out where I put everything.

: My "solution" is definitely in the radical category. Once a year, in October, I completely reorganize my barn. I actually throw some stuff away, and put all those tools, parts and "where did this come froms" that have been piling up for a year into a semblence of order and stack them high in one corner of the barn one-ninth of the floor space.

: Everything on wheels goes outside, or into one of my smaller buildings. Then I hose and scrub the whole thing from top to bottom, working expecially hard on those thick grease deposits on the concrete floor. When I'm done, we bring in about forty straw bales for seating, decorate the whole barn for Halloween and invite forty families with young kids over for a party.

: Everybody has a great time, the workbench gets cleaned up, and I spend the next year trying to figure out where I put everything.

Sounds like what we do to the shop at work, Doug. However,we get the fun of doing it much more than once a year. Whats really fun though,
is having a guy around the shop who's too neat.
Like, picking up the tools before your done with
them!

Well, the idea comes from something seen at the local UPS place. There is this conveyor belt that goes across the flat surface (bench) and periodically carries stuff into the nether regions (junk pit) of the building. Should work at home or barn...

: Well, the idea comes from something seen at the local UPS place. There is this conveyor belt that goes across the flat surface (bench) and periodically carries stuff into the nether regions (junk pit) of the building. Should work at home or barn...

Mike: - I found the outlet end of that conveyor thingy you spoke of, you see, I have this barn . . . (-:

When you finish this work bench will you send me the plans ? I'll pay you for it !
The only problem is, my check book is somewhere "in" my work bench !! (-:

later, dave

: : I have decided to build a new work bench this summer. It will have an electric powered top connected to a timer and mounted over a pit which can be emptied by a tractor loader from the outside. Every 24 hours the top will flip all the way over and dump all that junk into the pit.
: : I figure thats the only way I will ever see a clean bench top. I have several benches, most of which I have not seen the top of for years. Some even have "side boards".
: : Does anybody else have any ideas (with doing something radical like cleaning it daily) ?

: When you finish this work bench will you send me the plans ? I'll pay you for it !
: The only problem is, my check book is somewhere "in" my work bench !! (-:

: later, dave

: : : I have decided to build a new work bench this summer. It will have an electric powered top connected to a timer and mounted over a pit which can be emptied by a tractor loader from the outside. Every 24 hours the top will flip all the way over and dump all that junk into the pit.
: : : I figure thats the only way I will ever see a clean bench top. I have several benches, most of which I have not seen the top of for years. Some even have "side boards".
: : : Does anybody else have any ideas (with doing something radical like cleaning it daily) ?

: : When you finish this work bench will you send me the plans ? I'll pay you for it !
: : The only problem is, my check book is somewhere "in" my work bench !! (-:

: : later, dave

You want to hear something really sad ? A large part of my 36 X 50 shop is pegboard, I have a mobile double tool board system, I have all sorts of small parts cabinets and wall bins, I have a shelf unit on casters that holds around 20 large tool boxes of special purpose tools, I have a large loft with boxes of supplies on shelves but I would probably have to move something to work on a bicycle. I haven't figured out yet who keeps messing the place up but I suspect elves.
Good to hear from you.

: : : I have decided to build a new work bench this summer. It will have an electric powered top connected to a timer and mounted over a pit which can be emptied by a tractor loader from the outside. Every 24 hours the top will flip all the way over and dump all that junk into the pit.
: : I figure thats the only way I will ever see a clean bench top. I have several benches, most of which I have not seen the top of for years. Some even have "side boards".
: : Does anybody else have any ideas (with doing something radical like cleaning it daily) ?

: When you finish this work bench will you send me the plans ? I'll pay you for it !
: The only problem is, my check book is somewhere "in" my work bench !! (-:

: later, dave

: : : : : I have decided to build a new work bench this summer. It will have an electric powered top connected to a timer and mounted over a pit which can be emptied by a tractor loader from the outside. Every 24 hours the top will flip all the way over and dump all that junk into the pit.
: : : I figure thats the only way I will ever see a clean bench top. I have several benches, most of which I have not seen the top of for years. Some even have "side boards".
: : : Does anybody else have any ideas (with doing something radical like cleaning it daily) ?

: : When you finish this work bench will you send me the plans ? I'll pay you for it !
: : The only problem is, my check book is somewhere "in" my work bench !! (-: The plan is to build a bench top that is only 6" wide. That way, nothing of any great size will accumulate. I do like the pit idea, though. Teflon coating the bench top might accelarate the cleaning process. Hmmmm, Carl in VT. (Where we don't have those problems-- we have to keep the maple benchtops clear in order to get the taps in to get maple sap in order to make syrup.)
: : later, dave

: : : : : I have decided to build a new work bench this summer. It will have an electric powered top connected to a timer and mounted over a pit which can be emptied by a tractor loader from the outside. Every 24 hours the top will flip all the way over and dump all that junk into the pit.
: : : I figure thats the only way I will ever see a clean bench top. I have several benches, most of which I have not seen the top of for years. Some even have "side boards".
: : : Does anybody else have any ideas (with doing something radical like cleaning it daily) ?

: : When you finish this work bench will you send me the plans ? I'll pay you for it !
: : The only problem is, my check book is somewhere "in" my work bench !! (-: The plan is to build a bench top that is only 6" wide. That way, nothing of any great size will accumulate. I do like the pit idea, though. Teflon coating the bench top might accelarate the cleaning process. Hmmmm, Carl in VT. (Where we don't have those problems-- we have to keep the maple benchtops clear in order to get the taps in to get maple sap in order to make syrup.)
: : later, dave