Me Too!

Glad its not just me...

I cleaned off my workbench and found another mess under it.... along with so many forgotten projects.

Not only am I a MR nut, Im also a Amateur Radio Operator ( Ham ) and there seems to be a requirement to be a HAM and a PACK RAT!!!!!

I found a nice solution is to have more than one workbench..... and ya they are a mess too. I have a MR bench, a electronics desk and another desk thats piled up with waiting projects.

Birds of a feather

Randy,

We are definitely birds of a feather. I'm a ham radio operator too! Part of the junk I'm speaking of is assorted electronics stuff!

Michael, W4HIJ

Is it genetic?

'cause I have it too.

Last time I saw to top of my workbench was......... well, ..... I don't remember when.

And I added an old table to be my "modelling table".   Same problem..

Good luck.  And wish me luck too.

Just read all the replies and

Just read all the replies and smiled. I, too, have this situation. I have Model railroading, electronic projects, woodworking and machine shop projects and tools all in a 2 car garage in Texas. The 3 "work surfaces" are mounded up with "stuff" so to establish the next surface, I put "a (as in one)" tray balanced on a wood barstool. That soon became over burdened so another stool and tray were in order. Actually finished the flatcar project without dumping the trays on the floor, and am now clearing the junk away. I may put some of it outdoors in covered containers, until some "room" can be made in the area under the roof. If an original work surface ever shows again, a small party will be in order.

Bob T

Number 1 Skill We Could All Learn

I've actually encountered this at work and it has been our big break through.

As a personality, my biggest challenge is to start a task and then see it through To Completion.

Following this "simple" maxim would result in fewer piled projects and more completed projects, hence higher satisfaction and better control of the chaos in our lives.

Because otherwise, I'm totally with you - my pile of cannon fodder could hold off the Redcoats!!

Identify the Sources

I have the same problem. I'm trying a few methods to deal with it. 

1. I sold 80% of my N scale stuff. I should sell more.
2. which projects am I likely to never finish. I started with the oldest ones and have been abandoning them.
3. eBay! Cut back on auctions. I buy tons of stuff I don't really need.
4. Online shopping. I buy extra stuff with every order just in case I need it, or if it's on sale. Stopping that.
5. Latest and greatest. I've tried to stop going for all the latest craze products.
6. Buy it when I need it. Sometimes more expensive, but not if you count all the money you save not buying the things you never use.

Just what I'm doing. I still have a long way to go. For some reason I just bought a dozen cars I might need off of eBay.

No Psychologists Wanted-

Whew!  Looks like we all need Intervention Therapy.  

But I know I sure don't want it.  Just like Greg and Bob, I got all kinds of cool stuff.  But I think it would put me in the funny-farm to get rid of any of it.  I don't really buy much that I don't need.  Except those two cabooses that Walthers had on sale...  And those dozen ore cars to go with my existing 4 dozen.  (I really want to get up to 8 dozen total.  My birthday is in October, if anybody wants to know....)

I think my particular problem is that I have a sort-of-short attention span.  I get going on a project, and as soon as I come to an issue that needs to be resolved, I stop to think about it, and start another project.  I justify it that I am "mulling over" the first issue.  So I have 2 diesels in the midst of a complete overhaul.  A Bachman steamer that's all disassembled for total rewire to put in DCC, 5 "unpainted" locos waiting for paint jobs, 2 old Athearn chassis half-way thru re-motoring.  And that's just the train projects........

The therapists would say that admitting you have a problem is the first step.  So, YES I have a problem.  Then they say the second step is to take initiative to resolve it.

So I'm going to build another work table.......