Storage for penmaking supplies

[jimmyz]

I spent yesterday going through 4 cardboard boxes of pen kits, pen blanks, bushings, drills, refills, and various other pen-related things. Found some kits I didn't know I had, so I don't have to buy more. Yeah!

I do not spend all of my shop time making pens - maybe 25% - but it sure would be nice to find something when I need it and avoid buying duplicates.

How do you store your pen "stuff"? I'm looking for ways to organize things to make it easier to find and maybe not take up so much room. It's especially hard to find a particular pen blank when they're just mixed up in a box. Like to hear some ideas so I can spend the next week or so of snowy, cold weather getting organized. If possible, pictures would be good, but any ideas would be welcome. Thanks!

 

[jttheclockman]

I buy small storage boxes on Amazon or you can get them anywhere. And keep kits in there and make a tag for the front of the box and I have 3 rolling carts that I use for various things and 2 are dedicated to pen supplies and stack them on there. There is one large drawer on each cart that I use for the best kits. I have other rolling tool boxes that I store blanks and supplies. I have way more supplies and kit than what I ever will use. Some kits I bought from people here over the years that were getting out of the business or were moving and did not want to take with them. I have boxes of mixed kits that I bought that way and have no idea what is in them. Just was given a good price so could not pass up. many ways to store kits and supplies. Over the years many people have shown photos. maybe do some searching for past threads on this topic and some people are ver imaginative. me I am as basic as I can be. When I see people hang them on peg board I think to my self boy I would need a ton of peg board. LOL

 

[goldendj]

Shoeboxes with labelled dividers for pen kits, same for blanks, both sorted alphabetically. Small bead storage cases with labels for bushings. Large bins for oversized blanks or big kits.

 

[Woodchipper]

Good organization. Will look at the photos more closely. Have a label printer that can get a workout.
Edit: Getting away from turning with bushings.
I recall a sign in a gift shop: A bunch of grubby looking cave men were sitting around a rock, playing cards. Caption: One of these days, we gotta get organized.

 

[goldendj]

That was actually an old photo. I've since used my Snapmaker to laser cut custom dividers which work better than 3x5 cards