Tip 37

Tip #37: Don't Lose Those Tools!

I don’t know about you, but I spend about half my time looking for tools. Here are some ideas that might help you with this problem.

Lose your Chamois in your bucket of throwing water?

Stick a corner into an empty film canister, close the lid, and it will float. Or tie the chamois to a 1” fishing bobber.

Lose your Pin Tool?

Glue a block of foam to the side of your wheel or another handy place, and poke the pin tools into the foam for storage.

Lose your throwing tools?

1. Get a small rectangular plastic organizer (sold in drug stores, Target, Wal-Mart, etc.) These are often used for organizing drawers. Keep this on your throwing surface and return all tools there. If you use a square throwing container, you can often hook these directly on the edge of your container. Just be sure to get a kind that has a lip. For example, the utensil holders that hook to dish drainers.

2. Put a table right beside your wheel, and place your tools there between uses. Something that can work great in place of a table are a couple stacking storage bins. These plastic bins have flat surfaces on top, and doors that open in front, and are often used for storing dog food or other dry goods. You can store other items inside while you use the top for your throwing tools. (Find these at Target, Wal-Mart, etc.)

3. Clip some clothespins to the rim of your water bucket (the spring type). You can rest long tools across them.

4. Make a “table” that is level with your wheel head, by sawing a piece of countertop (Formica covered particleboard.) Curve it around your splash pan, and make holes for your throwing buckets. Use 2x4’s to raise it to the proper height.

5. Another option, especially if you have a wheel that doesn’t have its own platform, is to take an old end table or coffee table and cut a U into it so it slides around your wheel. Saw the legs to the appropriate length. This will give you a nice big surface for your tools.

Losing tools in general?

1. I have found the best way to store large tools is to throw my own pot for them. You can make it just the right size for whatever needs storing, and have your handiwork around all the time! Platters are useful for laying out a bunch of tools in a row.

2. Clear plastic storage bins can also be used for storing tools (horizontally.) The shallow ones are best because you don’t want to be sifting through a deep pile of tools. I have all my extruder dies in one, for example, and sponges in another. A silverware drawer organizer could also be useful here, as it would have dividers.

3. A silverware holder from an old dishwasher is excellent for holding tools, and it has a handle for portability.

4. There are commercial tool caddy’s available. These are especially good for tools you will travel with, or expensive ones you don’t want to get banged around. You can see some caddy’s at: http://www.bigceramicstore.com/Supplies/BrushToolCaddy.htm

5. Or you might be an apron/tool belt person. This works especially well when you are moving around a lot, perhaps on large projects or making tiles. Check out those offered by DooWoo at: http://www.bigceramicstore.com/Supplies/DooWooTools.htm

6. One potter I know stores his tools in sharp builders sand with some oil mixed in. He says it keeps the tools clean, free of rust, and he doesn’t have to sharpen as often. (I’m not sure how you tell them apart when they are hidden in the sand, but I suppose you could color code them, or just learn the handle shapes.)

7. For large items like rolling pins, and/or seldom used items, I use one of those plastic rolling carts with several drawers (again, Target or Wal-Mart). The ones with shallow drawers are better than the ones with deep drawers.

And here’s my final piece of advice. Have 2 or 3 of everything, at least the inexpensive tools. When you lose one you can grab another, and the lost one will turn up soon where you least expected it.

Another good idea was sent in from one of our readers, Lydia in Ontario:

I'm always misplacing tools. Suggestion for storing some tools and sponges after washing them, and between uses - I have one of those 3-tiered wire hanging baskets which contains quite a lot and is especially good for larger items that don't fall through the holes and for sponges. Everything dries well because of the air circulation and it's all at eye level.

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