More money than sense?

[awrylemming]

I received an amount of money today that I've been planning to buy my new torch etc with - I am ordering a mega minor, oxycon, ventilation - I am considering a creation station as I have some joint problems, does anybody else use one and what do you think?  My major problem is a worksurface as I have a tiny space in my living room to set up - it needs to have room for my torch and kiln, a shelf underneath for the oxycon and room for tools and presses etc.  If I cover it with steel does it need to be a certain thickness?  And, if you had a bit of spare cash, what would you buy as part of your set up?

[♥♥Tan♥♥]

Definitely the creation station, I couldn't live without mine and the difference it makes is amazing. You don't need a shelf for your oxcycon, its big and will need to sit on the floor although it has wheels so is easy enough to move. Steel doesn't need to be a min thickness as soon as the glass hits it then it starts cooling so you are ok with thinner stuff.

Spare cash......hmm, frit, glass, proddy tools

[Billie]

I have a creation station.  I would always recommend one, but a I've seen a lot of people at demo's use things like blocks, or tin cans with cushioning on top to support their arms.  Basically, there are cheaper ways to go than a creation station. For a work station, when I first started, I used a kitchen trolley from IKEA.  On top of that I had a couple of large patio tiles that I found in the shed, and on top of those I had a sheet or stainless steel from B&Q.

You don't need a shelf for the oxycon to sit on.

[amareargentum]

Ikea had steel covered kitchen tables which I think some people on here have used. May be worth a look.
http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/80059652 Good luck

[Jolene]

Have a think about some kind of glass storage too if your budget will stretch.

[awrylemming]

Unfortunately, I have to put all electrical items on a shelf as my ground floor is infested with slugs (damp, bad landlord) which have already killed two of my white goods by crawling inside and frying on the electrics.    I don't really want to risk it with any other expensive stuff!

[Lush!]

Ooh, that sounds horrid!  Oxycons are very heavy Sue, its gonna have to be a big strong shelf. 

[Billie]

Urgh!!!  Can't you report him to the council?  That's horrid!  I'm sure landlords, even those renting privately, have to meet minimum standards, don't they?

Some of the IKEA trolleys have shelves... You could measure and see if an oxycon would fit...?

[jammie]

what about raising the oxycon with a bricks and blocks affair and getting a slug repellant or killer!
I really like my creation station for resting my elbows on. Somewhere  to keep presses glass and frits etc nearby is good.

[♥♥Tan♥♥]

Slugs dont like copper foil and I belive there is lengths of sticky copper foil on the market to repel slugs, might be worth putting a band around your appliances,certainly cheaper than replacing them!

[Josephine]

I was going to suggest the copper foil too.

I have the ikea table shown above. I think they are brilliant. I got their this chair to go with it.  http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/30067522  careful because it comes taller version too which would be too high.

Creation station is a yes from me. If you are going to do a lot of beadmaking it's important to be comfortable working, you don't want problems with rsi or carpal tunnel or anything like that.

[GaysieMay]

Hi Sue, I have a creation station and love it, I also use a couple of car cleaning sponges for under my elbows too as you only get thin pads on the station.  I use large old tiles for a flame retardant surface saving more money for glass!  Have fun setting it all up and get some salt down for those slugs - hear they love it