Designing a Model Making Station | I Like To Make Stuff

I redesigned one of my Rolling Tool Carts to become a Model Making Station with trays for paints, new tools, and a taller design! Get 20% off everything on the site - both subscriptions and everything in store by going to kiwico.com/mak... or use the promo code, MAKESTUFF #sponsored
TOOLS & SUPPLIES WE USED(affiliate links):
Rolling Tool Cart Digital Plans: iliketomakestu...
kit.co/iliketo...
kit.co/iliketo...
kit.co/iliketo...
MUSIC: share.epidemics...
A while ago I made a Rolling Tool Cart that housed all of my leather working tools and accessories. I really liked the idea of isolating hobby-specific tools from the rest of my dirty shop. Making this tool cart mobile is really important because it can stand alone as a work platform. Recently, I've rekindled my love of model making, building, and painting and I think that tool cart form factor would work really well.
This model making tool cart will need some adjustments from the original plans in order to maximize functionality. First, I will make the cart taller so that it can be a stand-alone work station. Working without hunching over is really important after working with the original. Second, I want to continue the dual-sided access that the original offered, but make some custom trays instead of more drawers. Lastly, I want there to be a pull out table top to add more work space to the top level. I cut down some plywood in the same manner as the original, but accounted for these updates.
The dual-sided access that I created in the original rolling tool cart is really handy. The casters on the bottom allow you to move the cart around, and having the drawers open from both sides works perfectly. For this new model making station, I kept one of the drawers but added a shelf to house some portable trays. I have a lot of model paints. There are a few standardized sized of paint bottles so making a tray to house them all is pretty easy. I chose to draw out this repeating pattern using Fusion 360 and cut it out on the laser cutter. You could easily drill all of these holes, but I have access to the laser, which was much faster. I split the trays into 2 separate platforms so you could access them from either side and you could pull out just the grouping you needed.
This cart will serve as a platform not only for model making, but for engraving and fine detail work as well. My friend Bobby Duke uses a rotary carver in a lot of videos and I've always been interested in that tool. The tool has a foot pedal, the carver, and the motor that needs a place to hang. Rather than just attaching the mounts to the side of the new cart, I added the pieces to a smaller piece of plywood that would attach to the side. This way, I could remove the tool hanger entirely without affecting the cart.
The custom hangers for each of the carver's pieces were made from some thin scraps of walnut. I traced the tools' profile onto the plywood board and used some CA glue to affix the wooden holders. Then I drilled some holes into the top edge of the plywood to accept a bent metal hanger for the motor and another to mount a magnifying glass. After attaching the new tool holder board, the updated Model Making Station was done.
This project was centered on problem solving. It just so happens that I had previously solved a similar problem. I'm not one to waste time or reinvent the wheel, so rather than designing something from scratch, I just modified something I knew worked. Being a maker, I've had to fight the urge to focus on the problem at hand and ignore a possible solution that could be around me. This was a prime example of seeking inspiration from something you've seen and changing it to fit your needs. Don't be afraid to seek inspiration, I'm not the first person to make a rolling cart, and I'm sure I won't be the last.
Subscribe: bit.ly/ILikeToM...
Check out my TopVideos!: bit.ly/ILikeToM...
Learn 3d modeling, get digital plans, and cool merch at
iliketomakestu...
Want to support ILTMS? Get exclusive content and more...
www.iliketomake...
FOLLOW:
/ iliketomakestuff
/ iliketomakestuff
/ iltms
#ILikeToMakeStuff
About I Like To Make Stuff:
We have lots of projects including woodworking, metalworking, electronics, 3D printing, prop making and more!
These videos are our attempt inspire and empower others to make the stuff that they want to have. Hopefully you'll see something here that will inspire you to make something that you're passionate about!
Designing a Model Making Station | I Like To Make Stuff
• Designing a Model Maki...
I Like To Make Stuff
/ iliketomakestuff

[@dr_pepsi_4831]

Angled metal is from the disc golf basket episode! 👍

[@Miniac]

This is my kind of hobby crossover!!

[@cyberneticwarmachine]

wow the coolest comment crossover!

[@redwillow1853]

Miniac it would awesome for you two to do a collaboration vid together.

[@Wordsnwood]

+1 for the Tron shirt. I've heard that Disney is actually planning a Tron3 movie.

[@forby_]

Woah for real? Nice!

[@Iliketomakestuff]

I heard that too, but I don't want to get my hopes up (again). I'll believe it when I see it :/

[@robertwolinski7294]

It'll happen when Valve releases Half-Life 3

[@Wordsnwood]

I was in college when the original Tron came out.. Definite nerd excitement here.

[@TheBetBop]

been waiting all week for this. congratulations on 3 million subscribers!!!!!

[@Iliketomakestuff]

THANK YOU!!

[@crash0zero]

I need to make something like this for my crafty things too... Also, I was thinking of a quick and easy way to fix that shelf dato being too big. You've got all that iron on edge banding... you could just add a strip to the bottom of each side of the shelf that fits in the dato... that will fill up the extra space, and you can sand the strips back to adjust the fit to where you want it. Or, if you're feeling really froggy, you could cut a strip of the edge banding in half length wise, and put it inside the dato itself... maybe use a soldering iron to press it in place. Either way, awesome cart... so much better than the plastic POS I got off of Amazon to hold my airbrush paints.

[@NicholasRehm]

Mmmmmm yeaaaaaaaa organization

[@LoganLovell]

I couldn't help but think of the scene in Toy Story 2 where "The Cleaner" comes in and fixes up Woody for Al's collection

[@balisticjoe]

1. You can put the mat you just made on the slide out table 2. Put French cleats on the sides so you can easily move the side tools from cart to cart

[@Nurse_Lucy]

I like the French cleat idea. I don't know why, but when I saw him building it, I just assumed it WAS going to be one.

[@podboi825]

Use some edge banding as shims on the pull out surface, it's also wood so it should be smooth enough to still glide freely. Those should be thin enough to not make the surface bind but thick enough to reduce the slack when you pull the surface out somewhat fully. I mean I'm not sure but it's worth a shot and is easily reversible if it doesn't work.

[@blazmalezic]

"In the meantime I'm going to take some metal wire...." That thing is staying there for good. It's just like using TODO comment in programing 😂

[@markmurphy1205]

For the sliding table you can add a stop block on the bottom of the board. One on each corner in a diagonal. Then add a stop in the screw or block in the frame to prevent the table from falling out when you pull too far. If you place the stops at the diagonal corners you can pull the table to either side.

[@judas587]

This is awesome . You are Bob the Builder

[@mfwoodshop]

In the to wide dado. You could fill the gap with some of the edge banding. Also the the metal came from the disc golf project. Nice build Bob

[@Nurse_Lucy]

You could put edge banding on the slide out surface (like a frame) to thicken a little to make up for cutting the dado a little too big. You could also double up or use 2-5 mm strips at either end just to keep stuff from rolling off since it will always tilt slightly down and away from the main work surface

[@mjsimunovich013]

Thanks for this video because it’s given me ideas. The metal piece is from when you made the bike rack for the peg board where you put the helmets, bike tools and other biking essentials. For the bare side you can put pliers, masking tape holder, masking paper holder (basically it’s like a paper towel holder), you can put place to put all your airbrush hoses and parts holder and mount your airbrush motor on top, and so much more.

[@YouCanMakeThisToo]

I really like how you took a design you already had and then customized it for a new purpose. I'd be so tempted to try to make it something different.. just because.

[@Iliketomakestuff]

Yeah, I have to fight that urge a lot :)

[@ChrisShenar]

Love it...The *only* thing I'd change would be to mount the motor upside-down so the flex shaft doesn't have such a sharp bend.

[@jerryjohnsonii4181]

Awesome Model Making Cart !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@flamethegame1]

I should really get back to watching your content. It's so high quality!

[@Iliketomakestuff]

Thanks so much!

[@debrhodes7021]

Another great video with so many creative ideas! So much inspiration in this video! Thank you for sharing!

[@eflizotte]

Oh man those casters are super cool... I’ve not seen that before

[@ThatGeekyMaker]

Awesome! I'd actually like to see a video of you using the cart to build a model.

[@jeromebender4739]

Hi Bob, concerning the sliding panel and the 'too-tall' datto, you could fix the 2 issues with a strip of PTFE tape that will fill the tiny gap and that will provide an excellent slide without wax.

[@cliffdoes_stuff4012]

It certainly looks 1,000 times better than the old shoebox that all of my modelling paints and supplies are currently stored in. Excellent video and congratulations ILTMS team on 3 million subscribers!🖖

[@Iliketomakestuff]

Thanks so much!

[@twincities69]

As always, another amazing video! Thanks Bob!

[@williambuckley1185]

you are a very good teacher because you talk about everything you are doing, and you never speed your video's up, that's why I love your video's and watch each one of them. So thank you, keep up the great work :)

[@jeditsuyoshi]

Disc golf!

[@Iliketomakestuff]

BINGO!

[@scottdreitlein363]

Love the idea of keeping all the items together for a particular project. That's always a big issue in any workspace, organization! Simple carts are a great idea, just need the space for them. Maybe even smaller wall hanging portions on a French cleat. Thanks Bob, gave me some ideas to optimize my space and keep my work surface clear.

[@matthewdaniels1147]

Awesome project and a fun build to watch!

[@davidMlavallee]

That looks like part of a disc golf basket to me!

[@heathnelson]

Great intro. Not sure why I like it so much but it hit me just right today. Good work guys!

[@p11_studios]

Could you do a video about making mistakes/dealing with regrets in projects? I’m always so obsessed with making sure I do things the best way the first time that I almost never even finish the project

[@matimico]

For the side panel, you can also use a french cleat system, a bit narrow than the width or the cart, for te hole of the metal bracket. the same for the other side...

[@j.t.jackson5545]

Have you thought about making the hook that the motor hangs on adjustable in height? All you would have to do is make a longer metal rod and then add a thumb screw through the panel to the rod to secure it at the correct height if you needed some adjustment for more reach.

[@justinbanks2380]

An easy fix for your sliding work top would be to put four little blocks on the bottom to act as catches. With one set on one corner (one on the bottom of the sliding piece and one on the upright stationary) that would catch and stop from coming out if pulled one way, and the other set doing the same, but only catching when pulled from the other way. Hope that makes sense. If you were looking at it from the top down with the piece sliding to the left and right, you'd have a small block on the the underside of the top right side of the sliding piece and the catch/stop on the top left side of the upright (so they come together when pulled to the left) and then another on the bottom of the lower left side of the sliding piece and a catch/stop on the lower right side of the upright (so they come together when pulled to the right.) This would be a quick and easy fix and would keep your work shelf from being able to fall out either side.

[@baylorbear6566]

Super cool project. I do skull carving as a hobby, and that set up is exactly what I've been wanting as an all in one workspace. Dremel, paints, lights, etc. Thanks for another great build!!

[@WeekendBuilds]

Just a note, depending on how much you use your flex shaft, having it lower than your work surface with the actual shaft bent like that can cause excess heat build up in longer runtime use. Just keep an eye on it and make sure you keep it lubricated. I ran into a similar issue with my Foredom flex shaft. Overall great build!

[@ToastGod]

This may sound a little lame, but I was inspired by your videos to try something myself, but with cardboard! (Its the only material I have in bulk right now lol). I made a box to hold some switch adapters. It has two "layers", the bottom floor has two special pieces that had weird, specially made shapes, so I made small walls to hold them in. Then i made a removable top that has the two pieces I use most often. I used the padding from the packaging it came in to pad the bottoms so they wouldn't slide! It was a fun little project to pass the time with, and I wanted to thank you for giving me motivation to make something so cool!

[@rockscho1]

Love the cart. I do carvings and use same set up. I have used a adjustable 2 to 4 foot paint stick.

[@coffeedudeguy]

Solder station next, with USB battery power and fume extractor? I wonder if magnets will be useful in the sliding shelf to act as some sort of stop on both ends, to 'hold' the shelf before fully disengaging?

[@tx51210]

Might consider a two direction drawer slide to remove your sliding dado fit on the next one. Nice project.

[@justinparker8929]

You used that to make your Disc golf basket!!! Love your videos. Thank you for making them.

[@justinparker8929]

@iltms did I get it right?

[@mikeweddleton2489]

You could use a french cleat for the piece that holds your motor, light, etc

[@FredMcIntyre]

Awesome work Bob! 😃👍🏻👊🏻

[@brian_did_something]

I think that bent piece of metal is from the grill you made for the fire pit. I think this was the anchoring mechanism you made to keep the post from spinning when you moved the gril itself.

[@EricAyala-ot]

Cool. You added a sonic screwdriver!

[@FacelessMage117]

It would be awesome, to route out a channel into the side of the sliding workspace and a matching routed out section on the shelf itself up to a certain point. Then adding a thin strip of wood at one end. This would stop the table sliding out all the way on one side. Then for the opposite side, Route out a taller DADO and add strips of wood on the opposite side of the worktop..That way it would slide out enough on both sides, but wouldn't be able to slide out all the way on both sides.

[@ETBOOST-sf3yl]

You can glue felt tape inside the dado or bottom of the shelf and it should make it a little bit tighter and make it slide in and out easier...

[@forestbirdoriginals4917]

Pro tip: if the dado is too loose, put a strip of cheap UHMW tape on the bottom. It slides cleaner and will be tighter tolerances.

[@geoffjohnston1531]

Cool projects, it gave me an idea to build a work station of similar size to yours maybe slightly wider. I'm a Plumber and I do a good amount of bathroom remodeling and heating work where I usually end up with my tools on the floor which means lots of bending down! Not anymore. Thank you.

[@ralphvanthoff]

Nice one Bob, keep making more stuff!

[@Iliketomakestuff]

That's the plan! Thanks!

[@denvir17]

Use some hard beeswax on the bottom of your drawers that touch with the cabinet and they slide loads better :)

[@everydaylife7677]

Great video once again! I love your content!

[@Iliketomakestuff]

Thanks so much!

[@andrewbrown8148]

Great project, Bob~! I too have made a few similar mobile workstations for my shop. Looks like we used the same casters, but I purchased them for one station and put Rockler's caster mounting plates on all of them. My stations don't move around "a lot", so it's no big deal for me to play "pit crew" and pull the castors from one to pop them onto another. I may later add more at some point, but for now it works great and I saved some bucks. Thanks for the video~!

[@stephenmoncrieff2056]

I love it!! Making something to help him make stuff!!

[@Erik-pr2rf]

Cool Idea.... i know some of my model making friends would love this idea i shared it on my model kit FB group

[@jacksat2252]

Hi, you could iron some edgebanding on the bottom of the board on the sides to take away the slop or play.

[@linkinprk1981]

If the motor is going to semi-permanently live on there, it seems like flipping it upside down you be a benefit, and attaching it to the side Perhaps one of the latching mechanisms for home fire extinguishers would be a good fit to snap around it but also allow for removal if necessary. with ti flipped you get more range for the tool itself and the cord leading to the petal is also facing the floor, where it will be used

[@kwerk2011]

This. Also four pins in the top, and a simple template made for locating holes, allowing a "disposable" top to be fitted. Any modelmakers surface is going to end up covered in cuts, scratches, paint and glue and will eventually become unusable. Also the too-wide dado could have been quickly fixed using some of the edge banding Bob seems to have a good supply of.

[@StephenTimperley]

You should embed magnets in the upper sliding tray, two on each side. I want to say you did that on the old cart? But then it'll stay in place when it's closed, and the magnets can double as a stop to keep the tray from falling out either side when it's open (like the front magnet in the cart wall can connect with the back magnet of the tray). I hope that makes sense.

[@TheSmugglersRoom]

Man, this little project checks so many boxes. Especially the paint sorting. Thanks Bob!

[@Sensei_Jaq]

Love this project bob! I hope to see more like this! I have a second reconstructive surgery on my ankle, and your videos got me through it last year, and they are this year as well! Hope you and your family are well!

[@user-zt1be1ti6q]

You could address the extra dado size problem, by adding a strip of veneer on the sliding edges of the bottom of the retractable shelf.

[@CopyCatCo]

I am very envious of your collection of paints. I'm just starting to get a decent set of them put together.

[@Ricky_Camacho]

The Steel Rod is from the outdoor grill/firepit.

[@robb1267]

Came here for this but you beat me to it.

[@bradleymilstone]

I think it was from the Frisbee Golf Basket

[@simulatedfish1995]

@@bradleymilstone disc golf. Frisbee is a brand and they don't make discs for golf

[@bradleymilstone]

Simulated Fish you understood what I meant...

[@Gorefarded]

That piece of metal was definitely from the trike!

[@CarieSaad]

How bout making a rolling tattoo station (for tattoo equipment & supplies)? Lol. P. S. - Love the bloopers man. Wish more youtubers did that in their vids.

[@laytonpratt]

That is awesome man 👏. I’ll have to make some of these if I ever get the space

[@Iliketomakestuff]

You should! They're super handy 👍🏼

[@rq170fly]

Great build. I'd weld a horizontal tab so that motor wont be able to jump off when its on.

[@mikeregester25]

This is a really cool project. I think I may just make the trays as boxes with dado-ed dividers since I don’t have a laser cutter and I don’t trust myself to get all those holes exactly right.

[@darthnihilius9071]

Love your channel and videos. Would like to see you build a locker. Like one you'd see in a locker room (pads, helmet, etc.)

[@wowdogeful]

This channel is proof that you can still be successful on KZbin by making high quality content instead of clickbait or shitty memes

[@hunterdavis7504]

The piece from a prior project was the disc golf basket!! I remember thinking how unique and awesome of an idea that was to make the basket. 😄

[@chuckh5011]

Have you thought about printing a small .5 mm shim that runs the whole length of the extra work surface and gluing it on the bottom of the work surface? it may also help with the friction of the slide.

[@kevingo2892]

the hook for the motor , if you think of the letter C the motor will not fall off bend the end up 20mm and bend up another 15-20mm, creating a C adjust to suit clearance

[@kuravani1963]

a very nice useful project. Thanks

[@johncaldwell1190]

This is a necessity that will be added to my scale modeling setup. As usual great video.

[@Iliketomakestuff]

Glad it was helpful!

[@matt_1984_]

@@Iliketomakestuff For the rotary tool, why not add a small set screw in the base so you can lock the arm in place and the torque from the motor wont cause it to swing wildly?

[@DaBuzzKilla]

You should make a rolling cart for all the tools required to make a rolling cart.

[@frankbusuttil2572]

Nice build once again Bob. Paint trays should have been rotated 90 degrees so both trays were accessible from both sides.

[@garythree]

Very cool 😎 your level of organization never ceases to amaze me.

[@MatsuoLano]

Thanks Bearded Bob, another fine project. Stay safe!

[@jsnthmpsn]

Love it, to shim up the dado gap and allow drawer to slide smooth . . . use edge banding to shim. Banding on banding slides almost too well.

[@Kkuts37]

FABULOUS!!

[@josephalfaro9316]

If you were to glue strips to the pull out work surface and make it more of a tray it would help keep things from rolling off but the thickness of the strips would take up that play in your dados too. I actually really like the use of “scraps” mismatching, it came out looking really nice 👍

[@Iliketomakestuff]

Thanks Joseph!

[@smeffrey1236]

Hey Bob, great video!!! I will definitely be making myself one of these "all-in-one" carts. I do a lot of soldering and circuit board work. One of these carts would be perfect for all my extra solder/components, boards, soldering irons, etc. I will also try and mount my soldering iron such as you have with your motor. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@Dudae_]

Incredible effort, regardless of being similar to the leather working cart. One thing that would make it even better is if you'd made that shelf or the top surface a little recessed so you could plop on that rubber mat you mad on the previous video. Gotta have something for version 2 😉

[@fafhrd0023]

Maybe consider some thin (e.g. 1mm) ptfe/teflon sheet strips on the dado "sliders" for the pull out draw. Might close up the excess gap and improve the feel overall.

[@matthysloedolff]

I don't have the floorspace for a cart, but what this video did do is give me an idea of how to better organise my tools currently scattered and piled up on shelves. Thanks for the great video, Bob!

[@Torsan1977]

Small purpose built carts make me happy. 😀

[@rebeccak918]

This reminds me of Jazza's hobby box!

[@trauts2003]

bob. put some magnets on the bottom of you paint holders and shelf to keep them more stable.

[@nevet1212]

The paint trays are definitely on my to make list.

[@squallxgamer]

Adam Savage vibes! Nice work.

[@dauls]

This is actually perfect for my home office, I have a couple shelves with way to much Art Supplies that I could easily combine into one cart like this and free up a bunch of space.

[@tdoggcat]

***You should make a connect four board with the circles.***

[@joshuaerwindelossantos1987]

I think that the piece of metal rod Bob used is probably in the outdoor grill project video

[@xxepiphoneyxx]

You are about two steps away from being the next Adam Savage! Good stuff! I will definitely build one of these for my wife's crafting station!

[@allanfink546]

I would suggest you add a bench peg, or even a GRS benchmate.

[@peterpe5851]

Would be actually nice station for somebody with really tiny workshop or just a room within a flat where there is no place for dedicated workshop

[@nickmeriweather587]

Perhaps you could cut a rabbit on the end of the slide-out work surface and add strips for extra thickness to close up the gap in the dado? Dunno if it would be worth the effort though 😅

[@Metalloys]

Hey : real nice work - well thought out. Here's my chip : @16:26 regarding that extendable wood piece - you could have made it longer to make it rest on the full length of the slot, and when you don't need it you push it in and the extra length would be on the back side and shouldn't bother you.