THE TOOL TRIANGLE

My new bench from Rio Grande.

My studio. Deceptively clean!

I finally got my new jeweler's bench the other day and Paul put it together for me over the weekend. I'm so excited! I've been waiting for it for a long time. I'm always interested in how other people arrange their work spaces. Of course, the arrangement depends on the kind of work you're doing and how much space you have. I'm lucky enough to have plenty of space (if there is such a thing!) but I'm little limited due to the pitch of the walls because it used to be an attic. It's taken me a while to get the space how I like and how it works best for me. I intend to use the new bench mostly for soldering so I can keep my propane/oxygen torch set up all the time. It will also be great for filing, forging, and sawing as it has slots built in for a bench pin and mandrels. I have a lab table that I've been using for everything that I do. Now I can use that just for metal clay, assembly, resin and other things where I need to spread out as well as classes that I teach in the studio. I have a small table behind my lab table where I will keep my tumbler and can do patinas and other finishing tasks. Next to that, directly behind my chair is a mechanics type tool chest where I keep most of my tools. This is great, but from now on I'll be keeping most of the hammers and other tools that I use most in a holder that hangs off of the side of the bench. This will really free up space in the tool chest, which is bursting at the seams. I think the new bench will sit next to the tool chest at an angle. This way I can reach almost everything I need from my chair. I have kind of a tool triangle now! As long as it's not like the Bermuda triangle and I disappear! I already sort of do that anyway.