Call Me Crazy....

[Grahame Case]

..... But didn't Lion used to sell a Workbench Tool and Tape Holder?

I distinctly remember that it swung from an arm which was fixed to the desk somehow, and kept things like tapes and tools well above the bench surface.

I can't seem to find it in the recent catalogue. I'm wondering if any of you folks would know where i could purchase such an item.

We're trying to reorganize and streamline through the back to accommodate more people and the need for assembling larger items on our proteous workbench. and this clutter is just getting in the way.

[Roboframer]

If it's the same one that Eoro mouldings used to sell, it was the 'Toolmate' and it is discontnued, along with the mounboard storage bench it fitted to, and the guilotine that fitted on one end.

I know this as I tried to get the complete set up, just too late!

[Grahame Case]

that would be the one! i wonder if Martin Harrold would be able to find a suitable manufacturer to replicate it?

it was such a good idea.

[Not your average framer]

..... But didn't Lion used to sell a Workbench Tool and Tape Holder?

Yes and I think you will find it was probably made by Thorpe International, who also made the modular bench system and the fabric stretcher where you turned the handle to tighten the tension. I think I they also made an underpinner too! Perhaps you can still get them.

[Martin Harrold]

I'm responding very cautiously to this, having stayed away after getting, I believe, unreasonably flamed on the grey board issue.
The framing table was a creation of Carol Hamilton, who had framing shops in Altrincham and Richmond, and I think was quite successful in its day - I know he sold a lot through Crescent in USA. I believe it went out of production some time ago. It might be possible to make something similar, but nowadays it would only be economic to do so in China. It's possible that it is still covered by a patent or copyright. I think Dave Thorpe made something similar, but he's off running Midas Mouldings now.
Our bench-end guillotine is the same one Carol Hamilton used on his table - we bought the intellectual rights some time ago from the designer.
As for designing and building a swinging arm with tool and hardware holder which could be fixed to a framing bench, that would not be too much of a problem, nor would it be so very expensive. Perhaps readers here might suggest features they would like incorporated.
I'm taking a moment to write this in the middle of finalising our preparations for our 'Your Framing Business' day on Juy 3. We've been delighted by the response from framers wanting to spend a day gaining ideas for improving their business. With 5 days still to go, we've already almost exactly met our target of 120 registrations. This means that the seminar leaders are really going to earn their free lunch - most of the seminars are being repeated 5 times to keep them small and cope with demand !.
We are very much looking forward to our friend Tony Smith coming along around 5pm to formally open our extended warehouse and to cut our 30th birthday cake. He designed our logo 30 years ago. He'll be bringing along his latest painting, of Lewis Hamilton in a McLaren. You'll also be able to see the first picture I ever framed, 30 years ago. It is an original by Tony Smith, of the late James Hunt in a McLaren, in his world championship year. How's that for a coincidence?
If you are one of those joining us, then please do try to push through the crowd and say hello - we really enjoy getting your feedback.

[Grahame Case]

the fabric stretcher where you turned the handle to tighten the tension. .

we had a thorpe international fabric stretcher, unfortunately it broke after being tightened too much in use. tried to get a replacement but to no avail.



Martin, it would be excellent if something like that could come back on the market. I'm always happy with the quality and service that Lion provide their customers, we especially enjoy the smarties , it is a shame that when peoples opinion on what the "right way of doing things is" differs that they can't educate and inform rather than flaming.

Unfortunately i can't come down and see everyone, i'm caretaking the business at the moment - i still remember visitng the trade counter in both your Birmingham locations when i was tiny.

Some Ideas for this item would be :

Storage for several rolls of tape - Different Thicknesses - PH7-70 and scotch magic tape etc. wouldn't necesarraily have to be a dispenser, just something to hold them on.

Pencil and pen storage area - maybe space for rulers etc.

Space for tools such as screwdrivers, the kind of thing you would need on a day to day basis.

also it'd be interesting to see some incorporated storage for hardware but this may not be practical

[Roboframer]

Some of my tool storage/dispensers include ......

A 3 tier sectioned carousel bought from a £1 shop - they were doing a special deal - 2 for £2, but I just got the one! Great for screws and 'D' rings.

Gutters for tape and wire storage.

A wire coathanger for wire dispensal

Bunghees for toll balancers.



Those soft thick plastic pouches with a pop fastener that designer aftershave etc comes in in TK MAX. Staple one to your workbench - great for screwdrivers and pliers.


Something purpose made that incorporates all that would be nice, but then, these things are placed at strategic points, not sure it would be so handy in a central location.

[Not your average framer]

An inspection light underneath might be helpful, but not if it causes heat as well as light. One of the benches where I was trained had one of these, but eventually it was removed because it was a dust trap and obstructed the light to the working area. It did save a good deal of space on the work top.

[Grahame Case]

Something purpose made that incorporates all that would be nice, but then, these things are placed at strategic points, not sure it would be so handy in a central location.

but hopefully this would be on a "flexible/ articulated arm" which could be positioned wherever you need it on the workbench. kind of like the overhead track idea for the tool balancers lion sell, but being able to move freely around the work bench surface.

at the moment we have a modified proteus bench, with a smaller top on it. (shortened by around 8 inches to fit the ultimat on without piercing a hole in the wall)and our workspace is pretty much at a premium. so we need a way of extending it, by clearing the everyday carp off the top of it, and this tool caddy thingymajig would have been the answer.

[Roboframer]

Proteus - nice one - that's what I ended up with instead of the other thingy, which I think was much nicer - couldn't remember the name.

I have two units, side by side - one inch MDF worktop 8x4', but it's not my workbench - that's a 12x6 foot bespoke job - it would have to be some 'arm' to cover that area!

But above it I have two battens screwed to the ceiling - just in from each end, with cup hooks screwed into that - that's where the tool balancers (bunghees) hang!!!!

On top of my proteus's is my oval mount cutter, a dry mount press ............ a twin CD recorder and a load of junk!

Well not junk - stuff I use - coupled with stuff put there 'for now'

They say the most creative people are surrounded by clutter - I lke that!

But the workbench, the size of a snooker table, is central, therefore cannot 'surround' and that is always organised - that is why I had such a large bench made - I know what I'm like!

[Grahame Case]

i'd love to have a workshop that big! we can't keep anything but the bare essentials out on the desk. and machinery is pretty much in the best location as possible.


hoping to build a purpose built glass/corricor/perspex storage area that will be able to free up about 8 foot in wall spaxce so we can store more moulding. in our custom built upright storage bays.

i'd take photos but the workshop is a bit of a disaster zone right now. wee just did a stock check of the moulding to unify the stock levels with estlite. and to weed out the carp moulding - now on their way to be recycled into chipboard - we still have 3 bays worth of discontinued stock though....[/u]

[Roboframer]

i'd love to have a workshop that big!

It's 30x16' if I remember rightly and solid flint - no windows though.

Thing is before we moved 300 yards here from our first, much MUCH smaller shop, when this was a hardware/bike shop, we never knew a thing about what was out back. The guy was struggling, he let a third of the front shop space go (now an estate agent) to reduce his rent AND an 'L' shaped upstairs room, which he sublet for a pittance - they got their electric supply from his COOKER socket in the kitchen. When we had the place rewired the electrician had a scrotum attack.

Anyway - the old shop had no room for a workshop at all, that was at home in the garage, with me on call. Those were the days - if we had known about this workshop, which was used simply as rear access - totally full of junk - knackered mowers and bike bits - we would have reduced his rent even further, would have had a sub-let in a heartbeat.

Couldn't believe it when we made an offer on the whole place and were shown around.

We have first refusal on the estate agents and the workshop upstairs, where they make computer components, still gets electricity from us (but properly) so they need to keep us sweet!

[Moglet]

They say the most creative people are surrounded by clutter

One look round my workshop at the moment tells me I must be one hell of a creative type...