How do you organize your work bench?

[GregG]

I am having a great deal of trouble figuring out a logical way to organize my bench.  As a result, it's incredibly cluttered, and I find myself not wanting to work on anything because everything is in such disarray.  Right now, with the exception of a few items, everything is on the top of the bench.  I have a set of three drawers, but they're large, and intended more for towels and clothes rather than multiple small tools.  If I put a lot of my tools in there, I will certainly be digging and sifting through a lot of stuff to find the one I need; something I do NOT want to do.

So I will conceivably want multiple smaller drawers rather than three large drawers.  Then that begs the question, what should go in there?  Screwdrivers are definitely something that belongs on the bench.  What about tweezers?  I have a few workhorse ones that I use every time.  Should the rarely/specialty ones go in the drawers?  Or should some of these have their own stand that sits on the bench?  What about lesser-used but still small objects, like a case knife or hand levers?  And then what about large tools that are not used as frequently, like a staking set?  In the drawers or on the bench?  And how do you organize numerous/non-specific things like crystals? 

[HectorLooi]

Organize? What's that?

My bench is "organized" by chronological stratas. If I can remember roughly when I last used a particular tool, I dig down to where the stuff in that layer corresponds to that timeline.

I hate it when someone cleans up my stuff. Then I can't find my stuff anymore.

[JohnR725]

2 hours ago, HectorLooi said:

I hate it when someone cleans up my stuff. Then I can't find my stuff anymore.

why would somebody clean up your stuff? I'm assuming that you don't have a dedicated space for watch repair and somebody else needs the space?

2 hours ago, GregG said:

everything is on the top of the bench.  I have a set of three drawers,

in watch repair you cannot have enough drawer space. Even if you think you have enough you really don't really need more and if you don't have more you'll soon run out.

Ideally if you can pull it off basically the top your bench should be clean except whatever you're working on and the tools needed to do that job and a few other things that can't go anywhere else in the rest the bench should be nice and clean. One of things that helps would be as if you would put a sheet of plastic over the top your bench when you're gone so people resisted temptation or you resist the temptation to put other stuff on the bench that worked really well for me until one day I took the plastic off and well the benches never been clean ever since on the other hand since I go work at watches in a shop and come home I'm not really motivated to clean the bench either

so in the old days when I had a clean bench thing is like the staking set would be in one corner. Demagnetizer was in the other corner along with my power supply for working on electric watches. Even though I have a holder for the screwdrivers typically what I'm using am I take him out of the holder and then use them but then I put them back in the stand. Then of course you'd have your oil cups and the Oilers. Tweezers I just can't remember anymore because in my center drawer I have a space for all the tweezers. So probably keep my number two tweezers on top of the bench because I'm using them but all the rest the tweezers or anything else is in the drawer's

then here's an interesting example of something. The rising thing to make the bench taller actually looks homemade sort of. Then we have an individual who obviously knows what he's doing and only has the items that he needs on the space in front of him. Although I'm reasonably sure he is an entire huge shop for everything else.

so an ideal perfect world lots of drawer space. Everything can go in the drawers unfortunately you don't have an infinite space of drawer space so it has to go somewhere.

 

 

 

[oldhippy]

I didn't 

Edited February 9 by oldhippy

[Neverenoughwatches]

6 hours ago, GregG said:

have a set of three drawers, but they're large, and intended more for towels and clothes rather than multiple small tools.  If I put a lot of my tools in there, I will certainly be digging and sifting through a lot of stuff to find the one I need; something I do NOT want to do.

If the drawers are to stay ,then think about layering them up. Battern up the sides of them inside, and lay sheets of stiff cardboard or plywood/mdf depending on their size, across the batterns. Making trays that you can lift out - finger holes in the sides of the trays-  will make them easy to remove. Layer your tools in the drawers according to usage, most used in the top trays.  Second hand office equipment ...steel pullout drawers make for. great storage .

I like to keep stuff on my bench down to a minimum, just the tools required to do the work plus a little extra of what I think I might need. Finding lost parts is much easier when there is no clutter, that's less important now, but it became a habit from when I started. A clear bench is also easier and quicker to wipe down, dust can be a real problem in some environments. 

If you are new to the hobby, then every new tool that you buy, you'll want to proudly display on your bench. That will soon change when it becomes overloaded . Your working style will evolve over time. So basically when you first start...everything will be out on your bench, and when you've learnt that isn't good...you'll put it all away in drawers .

[GregG]

Thanks everyone for the responses.  I still have to measure out the desk to see how much room I have on each side (that'll determine whether I have a set of drawers on each side or one large stack off to the side of the desk).  But I was thinking about this for tools https://a.co/d/bykYLmV, and something like this for small items like brass pins, mainsprings, crystals, gaskets, etc. https://a.co/d/iN19QWv.

Alternatively, for small items, I could use one of these in the drawers: https://www.cousinsuk.com/product/tray-bench-removable-divides?code=B53975.

Thoughts?

Edited February 10 by GregG
Punctuation

[tomh207]

If you have access to a 3d printer have a look at the gridfinity system for drawer organisation.

 

Tom

[RichardHarris123]

For small items, you want shallow trays, reaching onto deep trays is a pain.

[eccentric59]

For small parts and bits and pieces I use artist pastel boxes. 

 

You can find them on almost any art supply site or, depending on how much you want to contribute to Bezos' newest yacht, that South American river store.  

I have also taken a platform for a coffee maker and put a pad on top, a 3-D printed screwdriver holder on the left (I'm left-handed) and my oil cups on the right. I use the k-cup drawers for frequently used tools and oils.  It's a very nice work platform.

I'll take some pictures of the actual setup when I get home from work ... assuming I remember, which has become more of a challenge lately. 

[thor447]

I found a bargain on a small roll around tool box that was short enough to slide underneath my work bench (to my left).  While not perfect, I found these simple drawer organizers on Amazon.  I still need to rearrange a few things, but it has made these large drawers quite handy to store small tools and other items.

 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLC4SW8J/ref=dp_iou_view_item?ie=UTF8&th=1

Edited February 10 by thor447

[Neverenoughwatches]

1 hour ago, GregG said:

Thanks everyone for the responses.  I still have to measure out the desk to see how much room I have on each side (that'll determine whether I have a set of drawers on each side or one large stack off to the side of the desk).  But I was thinking about this for tools https://a.co/d/bykYLmV, and something like this for small items like brass pins, mainsprings, crystals, gaskets, etc. https://a.co/d/iN19QWv.

Alternatively, for small items, I could use one of these in the drawers: https://www.cousinsuk.com/product/tray-bench-removable-divides?code=B53975.

Thoughts?

The last draw is quite small,  only about 6 x8 inches

[AndyGSi]

2 hours ago, GregG said:

But I was thinking about this for tools https://a.co/d/bykYLmV,

I've got one of those draw units and find it useful but don't think I paid anything like that for it

Edit

Mine was less than £20 when I got it.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224856018885?var=523915254986

Edited February 10 by AndyGSi

[caseback]

I managed to find an Ikea "Sture" set of drawers.

They are perfect for watch parts and small tools. Unfortunately they were discontinued years ago but I keep watching the local sites in case another one pops up..

[JohnR725]

6 hours ago, RichardHarris123 said:

For small items, you want shallow trays, reaching onto deep trays is a pain.

With so many the tools we have in watch repair as being relatively small you really would like to have very shallow drawers otherwise the tools will all disappear. Which is why it be nice to have various types of drawers depending upon what is in the particular drawer. The same would apply to watches and watch containers if you end up stacking of them which is convenient in one big drawer it's a pain if you have to go looking for something as there can be a heck of a lot of stuff stacked up

6 hours ago, GregG said:

I still have to measure out the desk to see how much room I have on each side (that'll determine whether I have a set of drawers on each side

One of my frustrations with my bench at home is the drawers are on one side. With the other side entirely open which of course is wasted space. The biggest problem I have is my desire to sit centered at my bench and the continuous running into the edge of the drawers on the right-hand side.

In my mind when I was thinking about building a watch bench I had thought about putting drawers on both sides so that I could sit in the center. Then because the drawers would be on both sides I would reduce the width of the current drawers so I would keep bumping into something and it would give me more room in the center. Then I would make the bench much wider which I would also add additional space. I have a suspicion that original watch bench dimensions were based upon physical restrictions of going through a doorway for instance or fitting in an elevator. At least when the bench is assembled?

When I was thinking of making a bench I was thinking of each side of the drawers would basically be identical and the top with the middle drawers would be a third piece in all three pieces could be screwed or bolted together once they were in the room that there were supposed to be in. Then you would not be restricted by going through a door.

 

 

[HectorLooi]

For shallow drawers, I use several office document drawers. I have an extremely shallow one, which is good for keeping small tools in a single layer. Then I have a medium depth one, which is good for bigger tools and bottles of small parts.

The problem with having too many drawers is I can't remember where I put my stuff. I should really get a label maker and start labeling the drawers.

For stuff that I use once in a blue moon, I stash them in plastic boxes and store them away in my cupboards. To help me remember where I stashed them, I downloaded an inventory app that has a database that keeps photos of the item, the storage area and storage bin where it's located. It's really useful. But only if I remember to key in the data. 

[eccentric59]

Here's the "coffee station" as promised. It elevates it off my drafting table so i don't get any more back and neck issues, and I've attached some flexible LED lights to each side, when the overhead just isn't shining in the right spot.

 

 

Sorry about all the ancillary clutter but we are getting new carpeting in the upstairs bedrooms and the Mrs has moved all the furniture and knick-knacks into my workspace.  

[MikeEll]

On 2/9/2025 at 10:44 AM, Neverenoughwatches said:

If the drawers are to stay ,then think about layering them up. Battern up the sides of them inside, and lay sheets of stiff cardboard or plywood/mdf depending on their size, across the batterns. Making trays that you can lift out - finger holes in the sides of the trays-  will make them easy to remove. Layer your tools in the drawers according to usage, most used in the top trays.  Second hand office equipment ...steel pullout drawers make for. great storage .

I like to keep stuff on my bench down to a minimum, just the tools required to do the work plus a little extra of what I think I might need. Finding lost parts is much easier when there is no clutter, that's less important now, but it became a habit from when I started. A clear bench is also easier and quicker to wipe down, dust can be a real problem in some environments. 

If you are new to the hobby, then every new tool that you buy, you'll want to proudly display on your bench. That will soon change when it becomes overloaded . Your working style will evolve over time. So basically when you first start...everything will be out on your bench, and when you've learnt that isn't good...you'll put it all away in drawers .

^ this

I hate a cluttered working environment.  I always try to put everything away at the end of a work session unless I'm actively adjusting something that's on test.  Tidy desk, tidy mind.  As mentioned above, looking for a lost part is 100 times easier with a clear desk.  I also have a laminate floor, which helps.

18 hours ago, thor447 said:

 

Looks like enough lume there to paint a battleship Thor

Edited February 11 by MikeEll

[GregG]

Thanks everyone for adding in their thoughts.  I really like the gridfinity system that tomh207 showed.  It's also clear that I will definitely need numerous shallow drawers as opposed to the few deep drawers that I have.  Gridfinity also had a drawer system if i remember correctly, but that will probably cost more in filament and wasted time in failed prints than if I simply bought a set of drawers.

[thor447]

5 hours ago, MikeEll said:

^ this

I hate a cluttered working environment.  I always try to put everything away at the end of a work session unless I'm actively adjusting something that's on test.  Tidy desk, tidy mind.  As mentioned above, looking for a lost part is 100 times easier with a clear desk.  I also have a laminate floor, which helps.

Looks like enough lume there to paint a battleship Thor

Yeah, there is a good amount in there.  I wasn't expecting that much when I ordered it.  It is good lume though, haha!

[MikeEll]

1 hour ago, GregG said:

...but that will probably cost more in filament and wasted time in failed prints than if I simply bought a set of drawers.

Keep an eye on Facebook marketplace for draw units.  They come up fairly frequently.

[tomh207]

8 hours ago, GregG said:

Thanks everyone for adding in their thoughts.  I really like the gridfinity system that tomh207 showed.  It's also clear that I will definitely need numerous shallow drawers as opposed to the few deep drawers that I have.  Gridfinity also had a drawer system if i remember correctly, but that will probably cost more in filament and wasted time in failed prints than if I simply bought a set of drawers.

Greg, gridfinity has stackable bins too so you could knock something together yourself or there are a couple of gridfinity generator sites kicking around which might help if you don’t have CAD skills yet.

 

Tom

[GregG]

I ended up buying this set of drawers, https://a.co/d/eQ2HpBo.  Was $100 but on sale for $50 (probably one of those perpetually marked down prices ).

I really would have liked to have gone with a wooden set of drawers, but ones like this https://a.co/d/jf2Ae0H have drawers that are too shallow (only half an inch, can't fit a single gridfinity tray) and I know from experience that the wooden drawers never open smoothly, and ones like this https://a.co/d/2YGLfsK are expensive.  The one I bought is a good size for a good price, so I pulled the trigger on it.

Edited February 12 by GregG

[GuyMontag]

On 2/10/2025 at 6:19 AM, tomh207 said:

If you have access to a 3d printer have a look at the gridfinity system for drawer organisation.

 

Tom

I had never heard of gridfinity before, it looks really interesting. I'm going to try it with the drawers in my Bisley cabinet.

[tomh207]

26 minutes ago, GuyMontag said:

I had never heard of gridfinity before, it looks really interesting. I'm going to try it with the drawers in my Bisley cabinet.

Now that I have been gifted a 3d printer it’s high on my todo list for sure.

 

Tom

[Knebo]

On 2/11/2025 at 10:33 AM, MikeEll said:

 

On 2/10/2025 at 4:15 PM, thor447 said:

And I see your height adjustable desk! I have one, too. Another game changer.