I struggle with paper storage, not the new sheets of fresh paper. That is easy as they can go in a labelled drawer. It’s the sheets I have used, the ones I have printed or painted on that end up in an ever growing pile. Tissues are easy, they are folded and placed in trays, the nature of their transparency makes it relatively easy to find one I want to use. It’s the opaque papers in particular that are a problem.  They need to lie flat but they just end up in a huge pile.

The nature of my neurodiversity means if I cannot see something I cannot find it easily. As a result I am often buying duplicate items as I don’t realise I already have one… or three already! At home I struggle with drawers and wardrobes in the bedroom, its one of many reason that I hate buying clothes and tend to stick to a limited wardrobe. As my husband does the shopping and cooking I don’t have to worry about the kitchen. But the studio is my domain and collage is my media so the problem needs to be solved.

After a lot of thinking about it I decided vertical paper storage was the answer. I use transparent portfolios for papers A2 or larger, A4 papers are easy to manage in a pile or box. It’s the A3 papers that need taming. I use a lot of A3 drawing and watercolour paper for both printmaking and markmaking. When creating collagraph prints a sheet of A3 100gsm paper is preferable to newsprint to protect the press blankets as it can be used for collage, newsprint discolours. 

Having decided it’s A3 vertical storage I need the search was in for what is available. In short very little! Plenty of A3 flat boxes and drawers but nothing else. Then I found some A3 hanging files, but could not find anything that they would hang it. At least I had a size to work with so bought a pack of ten

I love any storage on wheels. It’s so much better than static furniture. A trolley that was about 50cm wide was next on my list. This one by IKEA is the right width but my search for some kind of box to put on top to hold the files drew a blank. It’s possible to buy hanging file frames but not to fit A3, there is one that extends but it is not high enough. Clearly I was going to have to make a frame to hold the hanging files.

I use polycarbonate catering boards as press beds, they don’t bend and cut easily. The basket on the trolley has holes that could hold bolts through the end panels. The black rails were harder to find. They are designed for converting a standard drawer into a hanging files, but they were shipped from the US and took a while to get here. Alternatives would be a strip of metal attached to the boards, the files have a notch each end that is about 5mm so need something thin to hook over. The overall width is crucial, but a wider trolley could be adapted.

It was only when I had assembled the frame and tried hanging a file did I realise they would slip off the end! I added some brackets that are designed for holding canvas to frames and popped into my local DIY store for some dowel rods. The dowel also provides more stability.

SHOPPING LIST

• IKEA ÖVNING trolley
• Railex A3 files (Ebay)
• 2 x Tenare hanging rails (Amazon)
• 2 x Hygiplas chopping board 30 x 45cm
• 4 x z clips
• 12mm dowel.

Cutting 11 cm off each board with a jigsaw. The width is dictated by the width of the trolley, in this case 30cm, the height by the hanging files.

Two holes are marked and drilled into each board. The boards are secured in place with nuts and bolts.

The black rails are cut to size and glued onto the tops of the boards.

Z clips are attached by drilling through the black rails and screwing through into the boards. This also helps secure the rails.

Dowelling is cut to size. Pilot holes drilled into each end will prevent splitting when screwed into.

The finished trolley with A3 hanging files……

I hope you found that useful! Sally