New paint rack design

Hobby Nirvana

Recently I have been struggling for space on my hobby desk what with all the projects, bits and paint pots scattered all over it. Having access to a laser cutter at work and seeing some of the designs floating round on the internet I thought I would give it a go and create my own.

My first attempt was a turntable utilising the bottom of a microwave to make it turn around. While reasonably successful it proved to be slightly unstable and actually not very functional. My paints ended up piled by the base rather than being placed on the rack most of the time. It also did not store as many paints as I had so I needed another anyway, so back to the drawing board I went.

Attempt one, the spinning wheel

So my second attempt was a 3 tiered rack that could sit at the back of my desk but was easy to store and access the paints when I needed. After numerous attempts (every time I fixed one mistake and re-cut the design I discovered another one that needed fixing...urgh!) I finally got a design that I could at least assemble (but still with flaws. In the pic you can see the tabs at the front of the second tier that are not supposed to be there, and some slots are slightly ill fitting, including the back which was an absolute bugger). Also please note the pile of paints at the bottom. This is why a) I need a paint rack and b) I need a bigger one! So onto the design of the four tier beast.

The privileged few

Here is a pic of some parts before assembly. They are basically cut from a sheet of 3mm mdf and assembled like a jigsaw. The piece to the left is the back of the shelf, and all the slots are for each shelf tab to slot into. The problem was that being a numpty I got some mis-aligned so fitting was very awkward and involved some very British swear words. This has now been removed completely from the 4 tier and slightly less expletives were used when assembling as a result.

Jigsaw pieces

Ah the four tier! You think it would be so simple to copy amd extend certain parts and voila, Bobs your uncle! But no, not if I have anything to do with it. 4 attempts later and I have the design finished (I say finished but I had to revisit it again after the final cut for more tweaks). This one was slightly simpler as I took out the back part so the shelves are supported by the end stands and a couple of supports in the middle of each shelf. I learnt from no 3 that simpler is much better :). Anyway all my paints are now tidy and I have a cad drawing that I can cut more if needed. Sorted!

Side view

The shelf supports

The four tiered beast

A tidy desk leads to a tidy sock drawer

Being a sucker for punishment I am now trying to make one for all my vallejo paints that are currently perched precariously atop my spinning wheel design. I might also design a swear box to go with it :)
Nafnaf out!

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