Best construction boards according to redditors

For metal minis there are typically two generally types of solutions.

1. You can get foam trays from a wide variety of companies, either pluck style or with pre-made compartments. This works well, I have four ArmyTransport trays that hold two factions worth of Infinity models. There are also nice bags made to hold the trays.
   
   
2. You can glue magnets on the underside of the base and stick them to metal sheets in some sort of container (or a metal toolbox). Sometimes this may require a little creativity to figure out the best way to "stack" multiple layers of metal sheets but fortunately Infinity doesn't use a lot of minis so one sheet may last forever.
   
   For instance, I'm magnetizing my Star Wars Legion models this way.
   
   I'm using this 13x13 container with has 4" tall "levels":
   https://www.amazon.com/Snapware-Seasonal-Ornament-Storage-Container/dp/B00FXLTSI6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1522936303&sr=8-1&keywords=ornament+storage+13x13
   
   I'm using this 12x12 sheet:
   https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000W6ZMQY/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1
   
   The sheet drops right in, I've secured it with some double-sided tape or you can use glue or whatever. Then I put 6x2mm magnets on the bottom of each figure. You'd want to check the Infinity bases to make sure how thick a magnet will fit the recess but basically that's the process. Metal minis are heavier so you might want a slightly bigger magnet or perhaps two smaller ones. There are probably recommendations online somewhere.
   
   It's fairly cheap, very expandable, and should be able to hold nearly any game.

https://www.amazon.com/Artificial-Grass-Synthetic-Fescue-Sizes/dp/B0716Y8VQQ/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1536803920&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=artificial+turf&psc=1

You've got a pretty understanding wife. Link below:

Sealey APSPB Steel Pegboard Pack of 2 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001SFU3SU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_NKUBCb39RJ5BY

Stainless Supply Stainless Steel Pegboard (Various Sizes Available; See Drop Down Menu) - Selected Size: (16"x16" - 304 [2-pack]) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U2X26XO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_XDPqyb4WM7PG8

Strap in, this got kind of long! I hope it's useful to someone.

I too have the "need a lot of bins and boxes and whatnot" situation because of my and my partner's hobbies. I sew and crochet and embroider and work with leather, and he works with electronics and 3d printers and so on. We share a small (10' x 10') room for our workspace and all of our most commonly accessed supplies.

Being someone who gets fixated on ideas frequently, I suggest that you open up your search to other options other than interlocking boxes. The reason I say this is that I am surrounded by bins and have been working with various sized bins to access things for a long time and I am tired of them. The problem is similar to what many other posters have mentioned: Getting items out of the boxes (even if they are small) is an Ordeal, especially if you have multiple boxes out, or if the box is very full and hard to put back together.


In general, a rule of thumb is to think about how you'll put your item away rather than how you'll access it. When we want access to something, it doesn't seem like a big deal to undo bins, bags, boxes, slide heavy things around, etc. because we get a reward at the end (yay, it's the thing! shiny!). After that, the idea of undoing all that stuff seems like a pain in the arse, and we just don't want to do it? (and what if we might need another thing from that bin? So, consider how you'll put it away, rather than how you'll get it out when designing a storage solution.


So, I am now moving away from the lidded box approach and encouraging my partner to do the same. Having watched Adam Savage's video describing first order retrievability, I am moving in that direction (although not yet to his ninjery level). Here's the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWQAYfGxsPE.


I suggest the following types of storage for smaller objects. Bins still work OK for larger objects but someday I'd like to move away from that too.

• Akro-Mills Parts organization drawers. They come in many different sizes and types. They are durable, versatile, come with their own drawer dividers, they are wall mountable or usable on a desktop surface. We use these for all of the objects we reach for frequently for different applications (memory cards, bulldog clips, popsicle sticks, magnets, command hooks). https://www.amazon.com/Akro-Mils-10144-20-Inch-16-Inch-Hardware/dp/B003P2UOCO
  
  
• Stanley Organizer boxes. These boxes are extremely useful when you have a lot of tiny objects of different sizes to sort (like nuts, bolts and hardware or amigurumi eyes). There are bins in each storage thing that are fully re-arrangeable and removable - you can get several of these and customize each one to your needs and then pull out just the little bins you're interested in to work on. These have their place, but are best used as 'project' or 'many of one type' oriented storage https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-25-Removable-Compartment-Professional-Organizer/dp/B00005QWYF
  
  
• This video on using plastic bins as drawers. I did this for my two 4' workbenches and I love it. This allows me to quickly swap out project specific bins if I need to, and I now have the ease of access of drawers with the containerized pleasure of bins. I use these drawers every day for things like webbing and elastic storage, crochet hook storage, sewing machine accessories, sewing patterns, etc. I have currently taken to reserving one bin per workbench as a trash can and omg is that useful to have an in-table trash can - I'm thinking of drilling a hole in my benchtop so I can just swipe bits and pieces directly into the trash. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kjyg6RWDlZw
  
  
• Pegboard / slat wall. I personally like the metal Wall Control brand because I have a love affair with magnets. I use this for thread storage (I can thread my machine directly from the wall, without moving spools around!), bobbin storage, clips, pins, tape that gets used daily (painters, duct, electrical, etc), instant access tools are mounted on magnetic bars attached to the board. I also stuck magnets on the back of a bunch of stuff (empty soup cans, plastic bins from the stanley boxes, thread locker, sewing machine oil, etc) and now I can just kind of throw those items at the board and they stick. Extremely efficient and functional. The various hooks and things are also highly useful. Comes in many different sizes and shapes (and colors!) with accessory kits optimized for different situations. https://www.amazon.com/Wall-Control-30-WGL-200GVB-Galvanized-Organizer/dp/B002LZSWFW
  
  
• A tool chest (even if you don't have "normal tools"). We use this for hand tools - it is really nice to have screw drivers, wrenches, utility knives and tape measures at our finger tips. Ours holds a ton of stuff, fits on our metro wire shelving perfectly, and has held up like a champ in the 3 years we have it. Also it's metal, so I can stick things to it with magnets. We have this one: https://www.amazon.com/Excel-TB2105X-Blue-26-Inch-Steel-Chest/dp/B002BETIQA

Amazon. They do both horizontal and vertical. Link

Ordered Theseand bought some spacers to put behind them at Lowe’s. I just used the thinnest wood strips I could find on each corner. Pegboard hooks are the cheapest on Amazon as far as I could find. Tried all the local stores, but they all had maybe 10 hooks for $7. You can get 50 hooks for 10 or 11 dollars on Amazon.

could get something like this and then shape it in the way of the cover? https://www.amazon.com/M-D-Building-Products-84327-020-Inch/dp/B007NG6EQI?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s01

I use styrene thermoforming sheets:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JL63C7N/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1&fbclid=IwAR3PXpJ63HXVBxBC219D9ApE4xY2c7e5rGbemqg31Gg72IsYE6BKNnplGPg

It's a really easy material to work with. It comes in sheets of various sizes and thicknesses, you can use a variety of glues to bond it. To cut it you just need to score it with a razor and then snap it along the edge.

To hold the sheets together you can use Evergreen square tubing or L rails. These are made of the same kind of plastic and used by scratch model builders and model railroad folks. They come in a crazy variety of shapes.

Between the sheets and rails you can build damn near anything.

Almost anything should work. Cheaper but still strong would be fibreboard: amazon link and I'm sure you can get it at any hardware store. Even cheaper/thinner is chipboard which is pressed cardboard.

If you're even more low-commitment than that and don't care what it looks like in the back or how long it would last, I'm pretty sure any cardboard, flat plastic or any other sturdy flat material would work just fine in a pinch too with some glue or screws.

I was going to get this kind: https://amazon.com/Wall-Control-30-HP-1632-GV-Horizontal/dp/B00AM2CG76/

I think what I'll do is put the center holes into a stud, then do the four corners with drywall anchors. I'm sure that should be more than sturdy enough, just not ideal.

I’ve been thinking of making my own grill insert using this

M-D Building Products 57398 2-Feet by 4-Feet EM-2 Expanded Aluminum https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007JD4QSS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_PgDzDbVAGM1TH

Not 100% sure what the difference is (might just be depth of unit/quality of construction), but this is the actual product on Amazon. Similar, but not quite the same. The actual product is about $20 more expensive on Amazon (although that price difference drops if you have prime).

You could buy some sheet aluminum, or use a few layers of the can. Places like Home Depot or your local hardware store will also have sheet aluminum. Look for flashing. Also, if anyone is getting a new roof near you, they will have a lot of small scraps they would probably be glad to give you.

If you are comfortable doing some extra work, I would consider cutting a hole in the door for a decorative mesh insert, and reinforce the hole if the door a hollow core, and add some trim as needed.

Edit: I am not suggesting the use of such a large insert, example is just for a suggested style.

I used 1x1 foot galvanized steel sheets I cut to size to fit in the box with a pair of sheet cutters https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000W6ZMQY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Ahh. I see what ya did there. Lol

God bless amazon. Wall Control 30-WGL-200GVB Galvanized Steel Pegboard Tool Organizer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002LZSWFW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_kFVzCbPRPTAQH

This is the kit not just the panels and it's currently $66.97 on Amazon.

El Linko:

I was also curious, so I found this searching around on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Wall-Control-30-HP-1632-Horizontal-Pegboard/dp/B00AMM2CPC

Looks similar. I want to try to find one that is just a small square for my wall though.

thanks for the help. 12mm seems to be on the larger side of what I can find. do you think a 3.2 mm rubber or 6 mm cork would work? any feel for what you'd prefer out of those, or if there is something that is better than those two options?