Rod Sorting/Storage idea

[madisonandmain]

Everyone here has been such a wealth of inspiration and full of amazing ideas, I thought I would try to reciprocate.

I found some thin, clear, small diameter plastic tubing at Lowes/Home Depot that works great for sorting smaller quantities of glass. The tube is supposed to be for fluorescent rod storage, but cuts easily with scissors and is clear. I cut the tubing into shorter strips (about 2"-3") and use it to keep same color stringers and rods separate in the same storage slot.

It also works great for sorting rods that are being used. I did use the ice tube idea for a long time - worked GREAT - but, I kept loosing my small stringers in the deep pockets.

With the clear tubes, I can band them together, or put them in another container, and see the longer and shorter rods. As a bonus, I cut a few shorter ones, and now I don't loose my stamen stringers

The tubes are about 1.5" in diameter, which is great for keeping small numbers of rods from leaning too much, and if cut along the length, they curl in and become even narrower. I put mine in a stepped makeup display I have, but they also work great for sorting in large jars (maybe add sand to raise up the shorter ones?)

I think I might have explained it far more complicated than it is - I tend to do that - so if anyone is interested, I can post a pic.

[Sherena]

Pictures help us Visual Learners!!!

Thanks,

Sherena =)

[madisonandmain]

The clear tubes are called 'tube lamp guards', and are about 6 feet long.

The pics aren't amazing, but I hope everyone gets the idea

[Sherena]

Thanks for posting the pics, those look like it will beat the old plastic spice containers I have been using for my stringers.

--Sherena

[madisonandmain]

I've used several, and I probably have 'over sorted' my glass but, I love the versatility of the thin tubes

[chrisdd]

Great idea, thanks for the tip!

[LAJ]

the ones in the bottom photo look square or is it just my imagination? Those would be even better. Less wasted space.

[madisonandmain]

Square would be great! I put the round tubes into a store display I happened to have. It has several stepped compartments, but the comparments themselves were too shallow to stand up the rods. When I split the tubes, they pressure fit perfectly.

[jaci]

This is a staples file crate (knock off $3 version) with pvc piping. I don't remember what size, but whatever fits your needs...
This is now FULL. I have 2 of these, each tube holds about 1lb of glass.
I also put wheels on the bottom so it sits under my work bench, and rolls out when i need more.
I love them!!!!

this thread has ALOT of great ideas in it!
http://www.lampworketc.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=38681

[LaurieBSmith]

Originally Posted by madisonandmain

I've used several, and I probably have 'over sorted' my glass but, I love the versatility of the thin tubes

I'm not sure one can oversort, can they? Unless it slows you to a crawl when working... I've always wanted to be so organized ....

[Listenup]

Yep, that's what I use for me Effetre/Moretti rods. Lets see if I have a pix ....

My DH built me the wooden box I have them in. The front of each tube is labeled with the color.

[jesgen]

The clear tubes sound great if they do not cost a lot.
I made a stringer holder by spliting tubing in half and mounting it at a bit of an angle. The angle keeps the stringer from falling out but yet it does not take up much space in nearly an upright position. Having the front open, one can see and access any lenght stringer. The half round shape keeps stringers from hidding in hard to get at corners.

If I were to make a new stringer holder, I would put unsplit tubes behind the split tubes to store extra full lenght stringers and use the split tubes in front for sorting/storing stringers that I am using.

[Jude Rose]

These are really great ideas, guys. I have tidy workspace envy.