It's a bit out of the ordinary, but I've read of storing the 24" styrene stock vertically in cardboard wine boxes (with the dividers left IN).  Cheap to try - even cheaper if someone gives you the box...or more fun if you have to empty it. 

 

"Strip and sheet styrene storage?"

 

    I store mine in  an old watch maker's parts storage cabinet that I got at an estate sale. It's about 22 inches wide by 15 inches deep and 15 inches tall. Divided up into 8 shallow drawers so plenty of room to spread out a collection of building material and detail parts. You might check Craig's list and see if anything similar is offered.....DaveB

I had the same problem and made my own. I took a three tiered, clear plastic stand up magazine stand and just added dividers to it. That way I have custom slots for all my Evergreen packs.

All the best,

Miketg

years ago when I worked in Architecture, my wife purchased for me a 4 drawer flat file that was made of corrugated paper. it was a reasonable alternative to the metal ones.

 

Chris,

Thanks for the post...interesting solution...will need to investigate.  I have been using a shipping box for my strip styrene:

 

 

 

In my work of attaching color coded precut lengths of 18 ga solid wire, ty wraps and long pieces of shrink tube I use a series of plastic knife/spoon/fork drawer liners.  Most are four bay some are 5 bay.  Nice for sliding around the floor or benchwork.

I don't have or use styrene enough to have suggestion other than the one that I use for storing all of the stripwood that I do have in my shop - many 100's of packs.  I have 4 wood wine boxed that came with dividers in them that I partially replaced to be rows instead of compartments.  Each row is an O scale thickness, 1" up through 12" with the width running from front to back of the row in bundles.

     Jim I always checked first but I went to the local carpet place and would get the cardboard tube that the carpet was rolled up on from out of the dumpster. I would bring A hacksaw with me to cut the cardboard tube into manageable pieces. Choo Choo Kenny

 

I used different sized plastic conduit and cut it to 2 lengths.  This is a bad picture since I'm currently redoing my styrene storage, but I take the label off the package and tape it to the tube with clear packing tape. 

 

Easy to identify and easy to reorder since all the information is right with the product.  

 

For styrene sheets, I use file seperators like you would at an office.  For the larger sheets of styrene (larger than 8X11)  I lay flat in a drawer.

 

Just a reminder that styrene has a memory and will flex back to its manufactured state, therefore it can be stood on end. Wood strips on the other hand will distort and should always remain flat. If you want to change the curvature, angle, bend styrene, it can be dipped in boiling water for a short period and it will change its memory. I did this with curved passenger car ends by cutting the curvature in a piece of wood for a mold and inserting the styrene between the two pieces of wood, then dipped the wood in boiling water for a couple of minutes. the boat tail Observation has kept its shape till this day. Stephen

Hi All,

Thanks to everybody for your replies.  Some things I have already considered.  There are some new ideas too that I will pursue.

 

I'm going to rule out the flat files as they are just too deep from front to back for the space that I have to work with.  I'm not ruling out the various vertical storage methods.  However, I had hoped for a flat solution so that strips of varying lengths could be stored in the same area without the shorter ones disappearing into the tube or box.

 

I will keep looking for a suitable chest of drawers, but not forever.  

 

Thanks again,

Jim

That's the reason I keep the strips in the bag...simply invert the bag to select the desired length.

Storing styrene strips, wood strips, rail or any of that type of supplies can be done using mailing tubes, plastic conduit tubes, paper towel tubes and any of this type. Cardboard boxes of all sizes can be used in any type of configuration you choose. These items can be standing or laying on there sides. The key to all this is space and quick identification. We modelers can innovate any item for our use. Keep it simple. Using recycled items can be thrown away if a better idea arises. The way it works for you is the best way.

happy modeling.

Nate

Is there any room under the dresser or under the bed?

Hi RoyBoy,

Actually at the moment there isn't any extra space under the bed.  I have too much stuff!  But truly I would like to keep the modeling supplies next to my work space anyway.

 

But thanks for the suggestion.

Jim