Choose Metal Or Galvanized Tin Buckets Over Plastic For This Storage Idea:
Simple, sturdy, compact and portable… this galvanized metal bucket makes a great storage solution for your polymer clay jewelry making tools and supplies.
It is small enough to sit on your work table, but big enough to store lots of tools that are easy to use and return to their place. Which is a good thing since most of us artists’ workspaces can get pretty chaotic!
I like metal buckets over plastic for this purpose because of their sturdiness and weight. Plus, the thin rim of the metal bucket is perfect for hanging many pairs of jewelry making pliers and cutters.
On the inside of my storage bucket pictured above, are a couple of tin cans holding brushes, mandrels, files, dowels, needles, spatulas and carving tools. There is also a rectangular acrylic box that holds templates and cutters, As well, there are rulers, hammers, a clay measurement tool, acrylic sheet for rolling lentils and my acrylic rolling pin… all stored in the center of the bucket.
Overall I have over 50 polymer clay jewelry making tools and supplies in this little half gallon metal bucket! Now that’s what I call efficient tool storage!
Here are some other polymer clay storage articles you may want to check out as well:
- Best Craft Storage Boxes for Your Clay and Jewelry Beads
- Fimo, Premo, Sculpey Clay Storage Ideas
- More Ideas for Polymer Clay Plastic Storage Boxes
I forgot to mention, choose a low wide bucket for this type of storage rather that a tall thin one. You will be able to see the tools better and the bucket will have more stability!
I have a small paint bucket that came with a canvas “Bucket organizer” that fits over the edges and also works very well for this type of thing!
Great tip Julie! Thanks for popping by!
I like this idea! A galvanized metal bucket for storage, not what I would have thought of first. Makes ya think! The metal’s perfect, since you won’t have to worry whether clay residue will react with it. I have so much stuff (from so many “cross-over crafts”) that I think this would be a great idea for storing a large portion of it. I’m in the middle of a big revamp right now, and I’ve already got some of my storage planned. But this is a cheap alternative, and everything stays super handy (I hate having to open drawers or boxes when I’m in full creativity mode.) Thanks for this idea, Cindy. I like it!
Thanks for commenting at this blog post, Phaedrakat. It’s GREAT to see some of these older threads showing up in the “Recent Comments” side bar…. so that others will hopefully get the chance to read them as well.
If anyone else wants to follow Phaedrakat’s lead on this, I for one (along with many other readers here), would absolutely love you for doing this.
PS: One of the best places to find galvanized buckets like the ones I talk about in the article above, is at your local Dollar store.
I love it when someone comments at an old thread. It often leads me to something really cool, like the bucket storage, above, or the very useful 2-sided heart mold I discovered yesterday. Thanks, Cindy, for all of these amazing articles, as well as this tip about where to find the galvanized/metal buckets!
This idea sounds very interesting and unexpected for me. I store my tools inside a plastic box but it’s so uncomfortable. The box takes a lot of space and prevents me.
Now, I’m going to use galvanized buckets as storage. I have only big buckets but I know a good site [Apromera] where there are buckets of all sizes.
Thank you for the article.
Glad you liked the idea Ella! I have more recently upgraded to a more oval shaped bucket that works even better, because I can lay my jewelry hammers inside. If you have a tall bucket that could fall over, make sure to add something heavy to the bottom (if you’re not using hammers) so that the bucket is stable. Thanks for sharing your bucket resource! I hadn’t seen that on before,
I knew it! You’re Canadian! Yay! Always looking for Canadian crafters online – just because.
Actually, I was looking for ideas for bead and tool storage and found you on YouTube. My hubby and I just took my office (bedroom) apart and we’re putting it back together to make a more efficient office/craft room/dog kennel room. I’m finding it a challenge, but in a good way. I think your idea with the metal buckets will be good for me. I’m also going to hang as much stuff as possible, to get it up off my huge new counter (SO happy with my huge new counter!)
Anyway, thanks for the video!
Glad you liked the “Canadian” bucket idea :) thanks for your comment :) :)