tabletop organizer

[bdmicarta]

I had an idea to build something like this and decided I would build a mockup as proof of concept. The end table next to the sofa where I normally sit is also close to the garage door so that is where I keep car keys and things like that. I was putting them into a "valet tray" but it didn't work very well. It seemed that whenever I wanted to find something it was in the bottom of the tray covered up by papers and other stuff. I had the idea to build an organizer, I measured all of the bits I wanted to organize, and I cut out strips of cardboard and glued them together. In the photo you can see sunglasses, reading glasses, a light, a pen, a Leatherman Charge and a Manix 2. There are screws on the side to hold car keys.

The thing does work well. Everything has a place and it is easy for me to find and grab something quickly. My next step needs to be cutting down some of my scrap oak lumber and making this for real out of wood. I also have ideas to build a bigger version to use at my desk. I have ideas for integrating a knife holder into it too so I have a small fixed blade available at my desk when I need to open a package or something like that. I've decided I'm going to build the mockup for this one out of foamcore board and hot glue.

 

[barleywino]

I had an idea to build something like this and decided I would build a mockup as proof of concept. The end table next to the sofa where I normally sit is also close to the garage door so that is where I keep car keys and things like that. I was putting them into a "valet tray" but it didn't work very well. It seemed that whenever I wanted to find something it was in the bottom of the tray covered up by papers and other stuff. I had the idea to build an organizer, I measured all of the bits I wanted to organize, and I cut out strips of cardboard and glued them together. In the photo you can see sunglasses, reading glasses, a light, a pen, a Leatherman Charge and a Manix 2. There are screws on the side to hold car keys.

The thing does work well. Everything has a place and it is easy for me to find and grab something quickly. My next step needs to be cutting down some of my scrap oak lumber and making this for real out of wood. I also have ideas to build a bigger version to use at my desk. I have ideas for integrating a knife holder into it too so I have a small fixed blade available at my desk when I need to open a package or something like that. I've decided I'm going to build the mockup for this one out of foamcore board and hot glue.

Great idea, better than drawers

 

[555]

I see your prototype is maxed out.

You know what they say when building a garage, build as big as you can or you'll regret it later.

Cool idea, I like it.

 

[eveled]

I made something similar out of an old bread box. It looks like a small roll top desk.

I assembled the inside out of pieces of wood paneling and hot glue. Added a handle to the top and it is my portable office.

I went with paneling and hot glue to keep it lean. And maximize the space.

 

[eveled]

 

[bdmicarta]

Here is the latest prototype. After how well the one worked for the sofa table I decided to make one for my desk. My desk had the same problem- things would be hard to find, typically underneath something else and maybe covered by papers, there wasn't much space on the desk and nothing had its own designated place to live. Now everything has a place to be, with things stored vertically they take up less desk space, and they won't be covered up by papers. This prototype is made from 1/4" thick foam core board put together with hot glue. It took a little time to cut out the pieces with a utility knife and straightedge but gluing together was quick. It measures 8" x 5" x 3.5" tall, smaller than it looks in the photos.

In the photo you can see a calculator, pens/pencils, scales and rulers, reading glasses, and flashlights. On the end I included a sheath for a fixed blade, in this case a Spyderco Mule that I put wood handle scales on. I've had the idea for a "knife stand" for my desk for a long time and couldn't come up with a good idea for it. People have wooden stands on their desks for a pen or pair of pens, I didn't know why nobody had done this for a knife so I did it.

 

[bdmicarta]

I finally built the final version of the sofa table organizer. I salvaged a piece of oak from the center raised panel of an old kitchen cabinet door. I sawed the wood to smaller strips that turned out to be about 11/16" thick. I resawed them, planed and sanded off the saw marks and original varnish, and ended up with boards between 1/4" and 5/16" thick. I'm not very good at this and my boards vary but it doesn't matter for this type project. I glued the pieces together then finished with minwax prestain treatment, minwax gel stain, and danish oil. These are all products that I already had.

In the first photo the finished product is setting front of the first cardboard prototype. In the second photo it is fully loaded with sunglasses, reading glasses, knife, multitool, ink pen and flashlights. It is easy for me to grab something when I'm ready to walk out the door, I don't have to search for it.